Frugal Family: Tips to Save Around the Home

When we first started the Frugal Family column, the goal was to offer weekly specials around our area. However, not everyone may be as concerned about where to shop for deals as they are about saving money in more practical ways.

Cutting coupons isn’t the only way to save your pennies. And we all know, pennies make nickels, nickels make dimes, etc., etc.

In this week’s Frugal Family, we’ll outline some basic tips on how to save money around your home by being attentive to your everyday electricity and water consumption. Not only will this save your family money, it will also help save the environment.

Here are some ideas:  

• Hang your wash to dry rather than use the dryer.

Dryers use huge amounts of electricity, which ultimately will increase your monthly electric bill. Even if you don’t have a place outside where you can hang a wash line, set something up in your bathroom or basement. It might be a little extra work and take a little more time, but you won’t believe the savings you’ll see on your energy bill.

• Always turn the water off when brushing your teeth.

Dentists recommend we brush our teeth for an average of two minutes. Some people leave the water running from the faucet the entire time they brush. This is not only wasteful in terms of water consumption, but it also uses electricity. Wet your toothbrush, turn the water off and only turn it back on to rinse. If everyone in your family does this every day, imagine the savings you’ll see.

• Run your appliances in the non-peak hours.

If you absolutely have to run your dryer or if you use a dishwasher, always wait until later in the evening to turn them on. The cost of electricity during these “off-peak” hours is significantly less than during the day and will save you money if you’re willing to wait to clean those dishes.

• Put half-gallon milk jugs filled with sand inside your toilet tank.

Sounds crazy, but it will cut down on the gallons per flush resulting in a lower water/sewer bill at the end of the month.

• Turn off the A/C.

During the warm months, we want to be assured that when we come in from the heat and humidity we will be welcomed by 70-degree spring/fall-like temperatures. Despite what people may say about maintaining a constant cool, it’s much cheaper to turn the A/C off while you’re out. Sure, you want to be comfortable in your home, so click it on when you get in. It will only take a few minutes to cool things off. Those few minutes of patience will save you a bundle at the end of the month.