DIY ways to save money at home

Filed under: Home, Tips

Lately everyone is talking about cutting back on spending and saving money. At our house that has meant reevaluating cell phone and cable plans and keeping the air conditioner turned off.

I was happy to read 18 Things a New Homeowner Should Do Immediately to Save Money by at the Simple Dollar blog by the weekend. The best thing is, many of the money saving tips are not different to new homeowners. certain, those of us that already have homes can’t get the $7,500 tax credit but we can take some other steps.

Follow the jump to see what you can do whether you are a new homeowner or have been in the same place for 20 years.

• Check your attic insulation. whether there isn’t at least six inches of insulation or it’s not consistent all through the attic, add some insulation.
• Lower the temperature on your hot water heater to 120 degrees. We checked ours about a month ago and were happy to see it had already been done. So, double check whether you know you’ve checked before.
• Put a water heater blanket by your hot water heater. We got one for $16 at Home Depot. Measure your water heater first (height and circumference) so you get the right size. There were only two options at our store but one would not have fit so we were glad to have the measurements.
• Make certain most rooms have a ceiling fan and they are set properly. Air should blow down in
  the summer and be pulled up in the winter to do the most efficient job.
• Just like the water heater, wrap exposed water pipes in insulation. Don’t lose heat on the way to the faucets.
• Put up a clothesline or put a clothes rack in your laundry room. We use an outdoor clothesline for all of our clothing currently and it works wonderfully. It’s very breezy at our house which helps keep wrinkles at bay. whether you can’t put up a clothesline get an indoor clothes rack. I am hoping to put in a wall mounted one soon for use in the winter or for more fragile things I don’t want to hang outside.
• Change air filters in your house. Furnace and a/c filters and anything else you have. Helps keep your house cleaner, reduces allergies and just makes things work more efficiently.
• Keep air vents clean and free from obstruction.
• Use CFL and LED lightbulbs.
• Use potential strips for areas like your entertainment center and computer work area.
• Check for air leaks in your home around doors and windows and do appropriate caulking and weather stripping.
• Plant shade trees around your home to help naturally cool you in the warmer months.
• If you need new appliances, go for the highest EnergyStar rating you can find that works for what you need.
• Check out the tax credits available for energy-efficient improvements.

 

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[Source] Christina Clark