Modern-day living can be quite a challenge compared to the old days. For one, the pace of life decades ago was slower - at work, in school, business, or the community. For another, the cost of living was lower - purchases, bills, taxes and other expenses. In short, people could do more household saving then than today. No wonder many people pine for the "good old days".

Today's ordinary household no longer runs in simple mode. Thanks to technology, there are many tools, equipments and appliances in the modern household that supports daily life. While these gadgets help maintain comfortable living, they can also use up a lot of resources in order to function - water, energy and, ultimately, money. Any household saving efforts seem futile in this case.

Thankfully, there are alternatives to costly living without necessarily giving up on the modern-day amenities. The secret is to identify the major sources of spending and implement some conscious reduction efforts. Commonly, the major sources of household bills are for electricity, water, and car expenses. Household saving can be achieved when these expenses are trimmed down to more reasonable levels.

Household Saving Tip 1: Save on Electricity

Electricity bills accrue because nearly all household tools use it. Below are some household saving tips to reduce electricity cost:

Switch off electrical equipments immediately after use.Use energy-saving lighting instead of conventional lighting.Use natural light or sun light as often as possible.Use solar -powered equipments.Wash dishes manually and skip the dishwasher.Hang washed clothes to dry in the sun instead of using the dryer.Open doors and windows to cool or heat the house, instead of relying too much in air conditioning and heaters.When using heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, use a thermostat to control indoor temperature.

Household Saving Tip 2: Manage Water Use Wisely

Water consumption at home is another major contributor to household expenses. Not only does the use of water impact the wallet, it also impacts water conservation efforts aiming to save this dwindling resource.

Turn off faucets after use.Regularly check the water lines for leaks or damages and repair as soon as possible.Don't let water flow continuously during hand-washing, shaving, teeth-brushing, or washing dishes.Manually wash dishes instead of using the dishwasher.Use low-flowing shower heads, taps or toilets.

Household Saving Tip 3: Reduce Car Expenses

Car maintenance and use can also put a drain on the household budget. It's time to take a look at ways to achieve household saving in car expenses.

Learn to change the car oil by yourself instead of paying a mechanic for it.Wash the car yourself. It's good exercise on your health and your wallet.Keep your car in good condition to avoid changing cars frequently.Use a car pool to go places, walk, or use a bicycle, to save on fuel costs.

Resource consumption should be conscientiously implemented as part of a daily household saving campaign. Every unit of water, fuel or electricity is precious in the face of the ever-increasing scarcity of these resources. Each household can do its share in saving money and resources with just a few of these simple steps every day.

About the Author

Bill Wight, CEO, Tribal Energies Research - our team is committed in exploring ways to bring green electricity to households in Australia and for the benefit of the environment. Read our blog for updates on cheap and green electricity.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Wight

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Green living is somewhat more difficult in a rented or apartment house than in a house you own yourself, but even in rented space there is still a lot of place for it. If living green is a priority for you, there are many ways to do it, and this article will show you how. Use Energy better. This will help the environment AND help your wallet! Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and reduced vampire power drain will help you most. CFLs help by lasting longer and using a lot less power, compared to conventional light bulbs. The more lights in your house you replace, the better of you (and the planet) will be.

Vampire power usage, or Phantom Drain, is made of small leaks from the mains, into electrical devices that are on stand-by mode, or even turned off. Things like your TV set, phone charger or laptop power adapter can do this, while offering little or no benefits. You are better off plugging them out, thus reducing the wear and tear on them and any fire hazard, should they malfunction when you're not home. You can save around 10% on your power bill if you fix this issue in your home. Better heating in winter, better cooling in summer. Again, your bills can get lower at the end of the month because of this. Check and fix the sealing of your doors and windows, where necessary. If you use your AC unit for cooling, consider getting a ceiling fan as well. They are more environment-friendly and cheaper to run, compared to an AC unit.

Make better use of water. Great solutions here are low-flow shower heads and aerators in your faucets. Other sources say cut your shower time in half, but that's hard to do and no fun at all. Getting a low-flow shower head has the same result while keeping your fun time. Installing an aerator on your faucet will also reduce water used for washing. In case you use a dishwasher, you can make things more efficient by only running it at full load. Dishwashers use the same amount of water and power to complete a wash cycle, whether full or empty, so it paays to only run them when full. Try to do the same when doing your laundry, as the same rule holds true.

Grow indoors! You can start to grow several things inside your home or balcony, one of the simplest being organic lettuce. Plant lettuce in one or several bowls, and once grown you can start to trim the top 1/3 and make your salad. The lettuce plants remain healthy, and will grow right back. Also peppers and various spices and vegetables can be grown indoors. Aeroponics or subirrigation boxes are great ways to grow, and you can also build them yourself. Grow boxes grow plants more successfully than regular plant pots, and are also a great DIY project to get your hands on. You can even make organic compost close to, or inside your home. Thanks to modern compost bins you can even make this in your kitchen with no funny smells involved.

Recycle your waste. Either your home or apartment building offers recycling service, or it doesn't. If it does, great. If not, you can talk to other tenants and if they are open to recycling, take it to the landlord. If getting recycling in your building is not an option, talk to neighbors from other buildings about using their recycling bins. Stop using plastic bags and switch to biodegradable ones instead. Cutting down on plastic waste helps a lot on the long run. Try switching to organic materials in bedding and towels. Rugs, table cloths and other decorations can be switched to organic materials. They will improve your mood and provide a warm comfy environment you can call home.

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