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Powerful money saving tips

News
WITH the current economic climate, everyone is trying their best to avoid unnecessary expenses.

WITH the current economic climate, everyone is trying their best to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Report by Life’D

Being economical does not mean not enjoying life, not eating out once in a while or not taking vacations. But it does mean managing your financials intelligently and not paying through your nose for products or services you can get for free or for less. And that’s where the following list comes into play: Following these tips won’t make you cheap, but you will get financially wiser.

Energy saving Rise early Rising early can make a man “healthy and wise”, but it can also save you money. By becoming an early bird you enjoy more daylight hours so you’ll end up spending less on electricity.

Go solar

If roof solar panels are available where you live, consider them as a worthy investment. Not only will they save you tonnes of money on energy bills and protect you from rising energy costs, but they will also reduce your carbon footprint.

For a one-time investment you can dramatically lower or even eliminate electricity bills. Some US states and local authorities offer tax incentives, rebates and financing options to ease down your upfront costs!

Don’t overuse your air conditioner/heating

Even when it’s really cold you can save a lot on heating bills by dressing properly. The same goes for super-hot days. Do you really need the air conditioner on? Dress minimally and open the windows.

If you’re lucky you may enjoy some cool breeze. It’s refreshing, chilling and it’s free.

Prefer energy saving light bulbs

Energy saving light bulbs are becoming the standard in the US and in many other countries.

Even if you’re used to soft yellowish light at home you can achieve the same effect with energy saving bulbs. They cost more than the good old incandescent bulbs, but you will make your investment many times over by reducing your future electricity bills.

Monitor your electricity consumption

Did you know that using a kettle is one of the most power consuming home activities you can do? If you don’t believe me, check your electric meter the next time you heat water for your coffee and see how it goes wild.

So switching the kettle over and over is not going to do your electricity bill any favours.

Be mindful with regards to other activities like washing clothes, using the dishwasher, the air conditioner, the water heater etc. It’s worth checking with your electricity provider if there are low fare periods during the day in low consumption hours.

Use rechargeable batteries

Although they cost significantly more than their one-off counterparts, rechargeable batteries are not only more environment friendly, but they also save you heaps of money during their life cycle. You will also avoid buying a bunch of batteries for onetime use only to see them leaking inside your flashlight after months of disuse. So use rechargeable batteries whenever you can: For your camera, flashlight, Nintendo etc.

Time yourself

Every morning when I set the water heater on I set my timer for an hour ahead. I know how much time is needed for the water to heat up so an extra 20 minutes won’t make the water any warmer. But it will increase my electricity bill!

And these numbers add up. So setting up timers for any activity with a predictable timeframe such as charging batteries, cooking or heating up water — can be a huge money and energy saver.

Unplug your phone charger when battery is full

This may sound silly, but we’re all guilty of it: Have you ever unplugged your phone from the charger once battery was full, but left the charger plugged to the mains? Well, although the charger is not charging, it’s still consuming energy and wasting your money as long as it’s plugged in, so be sure to unplug it!

Turn off your computer when you don’t use it

Unless you’re downloading a large movie file to your PC or performing other maintenance tasks, your computer does not need to be left on during the night. So put it to sleep or better yet, turn it off.

The same goes for your desktop’s screen and other peripherals. Not only will you reduce energy costs, you’ll also sleep better without the constant buzzing noises.