Frugal Tips

Came across this article via shakhammer.com. Its got a good list of $ saving tips... and with the kitchen reno budget ever growing, I need all the help I can get!

Some of my favs:

• Unplug appliances you’re not using. Even if an appliance is turned off, it still uses a small amount of energy, if it’s plugged in. This is especially effective if you're going out of town.
• Have an energy audit performed on your home. Many electric companies offer energy audits free. You can call and have someone come out to your house and tell you about changes you could make to make your home more energy efficient.
• Keep your freezer full. It uses less electricity that way. If you have extra space, fill it with plastic water bottles.
• Put a half gallon water jug in your toilet tank.
• Reuse dryer sheets to dust electronics like the TV and computer screen. The anti-static in the dryer sheets will repel dust from your appliances.

On the energy audit front, HandyMan and I need to do some research on the government's ecoEnergy Retrofit program. Homeowners can receive up to $5000 a year by improving the energy efficiency of their homes and reducing their home's impact on the environment. Money in my pocket and saving the environment? How cool is that! Read more here to see if some of your own home improvement plans qualify.