10 Ways Save Money and Live Green by Organizing Your Household

Buying property makes us part of a community, much moreso than living in an apartment complex where our neighbors change every few months. The transition from a renter's mindset to a homeowner's mindset can seem overwhelming. Suddenly, there is so much to maintain and keep track of. Repairs that used to take a phone cal to the management office to get done are now your sole responsibility. It can be tough to know where to start.

There are loads of businesses that would like to make that renter-to-homeowner transition (appear) easier for you, but of course you'll have to pay. Usually a lot. It's so tempting to call a repair-person out at the first sign of trouble - or to buy umbrella home repair insurance, etc. However, getting established in your neighborhood, getting references from neighbors, and doing a little homework can not only help you save money, it can make you a more responsible homeowner. Here are 10 ways to take control of your household and get some peace of mind.

Get references for repair companies, electricians and the like, before you need them.

One of the best perks of dog ownership is that it forced my husband and I out of our house for daily walks. On those walks we met most of our neighbors, exchanged contact information, opinions about local business and basically became part of our local community. Apartment dwelling has a higher turnover of residents, so getting to know your neighbors can be tricky. For homeowners, it's essential. If you don't know your neighbors and don't get around so much in your own neighborhood, talk to coworkers, family members, people who work in the businesses you already frequent. Ask for references everywhere. And when you do get a recommendation from someone, ask them what they liked about the person they're recommending. Remember to check your recommendations with your local Better Business Bureau to find out about recent complaints, and if there have been any, how the company handled them. If you don't have much contact with your neighbors, look for recommendations and reviews at Yelp.com.

Keep manuals where you can find them quickly and easily.

Some people find it helpful to attach folder pockets to some of their appliances and keep the manual right there with the machine. Others like all of their manuals in one place. It depends on what's easier for you. Stuffed in a drawer or the back of a cabinet, however, are not ideal places to keep manuals.

For appliances and household machines that you don't have manuals for - go online.

Look for sites like Appliance Journal. Additional resources for finding manuals can be found at Appliances411.com . Visit The Caregiver's Library to learn how to set up a Household Operating Manual.
Educate yourself on how to make small repairs yourself.

Two great site for trouble shooting household gadgets and appliances is How Stuff Works: and ACME Howto .

Take responsibility for your household's environmental impact and save money.

Measure your Eco-footprint at conservation.org and check out the EPA's Household Emissions Calculator. Get an energy audit .

Shop and eat locally.

Support your local businesses - from the locally-owned coffee shop, to the farmer's market. You can check online to see if your city has independent business alliances, like Austin, for example: .

Go to Neighborhood Events

See if your neighborhood has a neighborhood association. Does your community have a local newspaper or website? Check it out online. Find out what's happening in the area, who the local business owners are and get to know the area with these publications.

Get involved

Now that you're a property owner, you'll feel the direct impact of how your local government collects and spends your property taxes. Get involved. Find out who your representatives are and what issues they support. Go to local government meetings.

Find your local library.

Libraries are great places to check out books and other media, certainly, but it's also a great place to meet neighbors, find out about local events, and youth and adult programs. Still having doubts? Just remember you're paying for local libraries so don't waste this local resource.

Take Classes - Local gardening, hardware and home supply stores frequently have free or low-cost classes which will help tame the new territory that is home ownership, and give you another opportunity to meet neighbors, ask around for recommendations for services and learn more ways to take care of your home.