Fifteen Money-saving Tips

With the economy in the state that it is everyone is looking for a way to save money. Here, I have compiled some tips to help you save money without interfering with you lifestyle.

1. Sign up for your utility company's "time of use" plan. Doing dishes or laundry during off-peak hours, usually late in the evening, can help to slash your utility bill by up to $50 per month.

2. Close your closet doors to reduce the amount of space you are heating or cooling. Annual savings, up to $50 on your utility bill.

3. Visit freecycle.org before you purchase new tools, electronics or furniture. This is an online community where people trade their gently used items for what they really need. Saving possibilities are endless.

4. Throw out that extra fridge in the garage that is only used for holding drinks. Odds are that it is the most inefficient appliance in your home. You could save up to $200 per year on your electric bill.

5. Schedule regular maintenance on your furnace and air conditioner. This could help to save up to $200 per year on heating and cooling costs.

6. Forget about commercial cleaning agents and make your own. All you really need to keep your home clean and fresh is white vinegar, bleach and baking soda. Go to thegreenguide.com for recipes. You could save an average of $50.

7. Splurge a bit on a battery charger and rechargable batteries. With this one time investment of about $40 you could save an average of $100 per year.

8. Set your water heater between 110 and 120 degrees. There is really no need for it to be turned up to the maximum temperature. This could save you up to $30 per year on your gas or electric bill.

9. Use your laptop instead of the family desktop. A laptop uses batteries instead of electricity, saving you up to 80% on your electric bill. Bonus: you can surf the web from the comfort of the couch.

10. Install a ceiling fan to help push the heat back down where it is needed. You can get one for about $60 and it will save you up to $100 in the first year.

11. Stop buying bottled water and install a water filter under the kitchen sink. You can get one at most home improvement stores for around $50 and it can save you up to $360 per year. Plus you won't have to wonder what is happening to all those plastic bottles.

12. Install a Smart Strip for electronic devices. Electronics still use energy even when turned off. The Smart Strip will cut the electricity to electronics when not in use, saving you up to $240 per year.

13. Most retail stores will meet a competitors price. Comparison shop for everything from appliances to clothing and you could save up to $150 per year.

14. Use your microwave instead of the stove top. It uses about half the electricity and won't heat the house. This could result in savings of about $40 per year.

15. Install a shower timer in the kids bathroom. They are available from showermanager.com for about $139 and you can set the timer to five, eight or eleven minutes. Annual savings, about $200 per year.