In the current economic climate, we all need to look for ways to save a bit of money.

One of the least painful ways of doing this is to cut back on your use of household energy and water. As an added bonus, you will be doing the environment a favor at the same time.

So, what exactly can you do to save money on your utility bills?

There are a lot of different money-saving methods you can use that are incredibly simple and won’t cost you anything – it’s just a question of being aware of them and remembering to use them.

Other helpful measures will require a one-time investment that you can then recoup over and over in years to come.

16 Tips to Lower Your Energy Bills

Here’s a list of 16 money saving tips on how you can reduce your electricity, gas and energy bills. Try some of these techniques as part of your overall personal financial management plan, and watch your utility bills shrink from month to month:

1. Turn the heat down a few degrees and put on a sweater instead. Likewise, if you use an air conditioner in the summer, put the temperature up a few degrees until you start to feel too hot.
2. With a programmable thermostat on your heating system you can set the temperature a bit lower at night when everyone is tucked up in bed. Program the heater to kick into gear early in the morning so the house is comfortable when you get up. If nobody is home during the day, use the timer to save energy and then ensure that you come home to a warm house.
3. Use ceiling fans together with heaters or air conditioners to circulate the warmed or cooled air and save money. The fans are relatively cheap to run.
4. Don’t heat or cool rooms you seldom use, such as the guest bedroom. Keep the doors between rooms shut so the warm or cool air doesn’t escape.
5. Your furnace and air conditioners will work a lot more efficiently – and use less power – if you clean the filters frequently. You should also have them professionally serviced regularly.
6. If you are renovating or building a new house, put proper insulation in the walls and attic to help keep the place warm in winter and cool in the warmer months.
7. If there are gaps around windows and doors, use adhesive insulating foam strips for a snug fit.
8. It takes a lot of energy to heat water, whether you use electricity or gas. Reduce the temperature on your water heater and see the savings add up.
9. Many electrical appliances consume a lot of power even when they are not switched on, if you leave them plugged in. A recent UC Berkeley survey found that idle appliances account for six to 26 percent of household power bills. Get into the habit of unplugging appliances or using a power strip with a central on/off switch for convenience. Some electrical items are particularly big power drains – among them are TVs, microwaves, computers, modems, DVD players, cable and satellite boxes, and game consoles.
10. Use energy-saving light bulbs, which use only a quarter of the power compared with regular bulbs. Sure, they cost more to buy but they last for several years.
11. Switch off the lights when you leave the room unless you are planning to return shortly.
12. Solar powered outdoor lights cost nothing at all to run, and are also a good security measure in your front and back yard, as well as in doorways and by the garage.
13. Regular electric or gas ovens use a lot of energy if you are cooking for a long time. If you use the microwave instead you will save money as well as time.
14. Air dry your laundry instead of using the dryer all the time. Hang your washing outside on a warm day for that fresh, sunny smell!
15. Always make sure the filter on your dryer is free of lint before you start it up. This will make a huge difference to drying time and energy consumption alike.
16. When purchasing new appliances, look for energy-saving models and read reviews of comparable items before deciding which one to get. Old refrigerators, for example, use a lot more power than newer, low-energy models, and can be worth replacing even if they are still working OK.

13 Tips to Lower Your Water Consumption

You can save plenty of money by being careful with your consumption of water, which is becoming an ever more scarce and expensive commodity.

If you live in an area that has a water shortage, you will already be familiar with some of these tips:

1. Shower instead of taking a bath, and make it a short one. Outsized and multiple shower heads have been popular for some years, but many people are saving water and cash by returning to normal-size, less powerful shower heads now.
2. While you are waiting for the shower to run hot, use a bucket to collect the cold water. You can then use this to flush the toilet.
3. Similarly, you should put a pitcher under the tap in the kitchen sink when you are waiting for hot water to appear. Use that water for plants or pets, or to make coffee or put in the refrigerator.
4. Don’t keep the water running while you are brushing your teeth – this is a huge waste. Turn the faucet on again when you need to rinse or, better yet, fill a glass and use that to rinse your brush as well as your mouth.
5. When you are washing dishes, don’t rinse them under running water. Instead, fill the second sink or a plastic basin with clean water and change it when necessary.
6. Fix leaking toilets, pipes and faucets immediately. Check the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms for leaks and drips regularly, and you will save money that would otherwise literally disappear down the drain.
7. Replace old toilets with modern, low-flush models that use a lot less water.
8. Don’t do less than a full load of laundry – this will save both water and electricity. Also, avoid washing items that don’t really need it. You might be able to wear a piece of clothing more than once before putting it in the washer.
9. For the same reasons, you should only run the dishwasher when it is full, and only put in dishes that are actually dirty.
10. Wash your car or motorcycle with a bucket of water, not a hosepipe, and you will save a gallons of water each time.
11. Watering your plants and lawn with a watering can or a low-flow hose nozzle conserves a lot of water too.
12. Get a water butt or barrel and place it under a drainpipe to collect the runoff from the roof. Use the water for plants, pets and car washing.
13. If you have a pool or hot tub, keep it covered if possible when you are not using it. This helps prevent the water from evaporating and needing to be replaced.

If you actively practice these 29 tips on how to save money by lowering your utility bills, it will definitely help your personal finances especially if you’re in a financial crisis.