Seven Super Ways to Save Money During the Summer!
Whether you’re motivated by a less than robust economy or environmental concerns, now’s the time to make reducing, reusing and recycling your summer priorities. Here are some easy and sensible ways to save.
BE COOL-NOT COLD
Limit air conditioning to the hottest days. (And raise your thermostat a few degrees to reduce both your energy bills and the risk of regional brownouts.) Fans use less energy and can effectively cool your home when paired with open windows for a nice cross-breeze.
USE OFF-PEAK ENERGY
Run your dishwasher and do your laundry at night, when there’s less demand and prices are lower.
DRYER ON VACATION
Now that the weather’s warm, it’s the perfect time to limit the drain of the dryer by line-drying your clothes (outdoors if possible).
WATER WISELY
Conserve H2O by watering your lawn in the early morning. Plant drought-resistant native plants (exotic plants need a lot more TLC like fertilizer and water), and use rain barrels to collect precipitation you can use later.
SAVE THE BAGS
Plastic bags sit practically forever in landfill, or, worse yet, pollute our land and seas (where they can kill wildlife). Many stores now charge for plastic bags, too. Use tote bags to save money and the environment. Reuse any plastic bags you still have by giving them to your child’s daycare center or school, or by tying them securely to dog-leash signs in public parks, where pet owners can use them to stoop-and-scoop.
ENJOY THE BREEZE
Running your air-conditioner in your vehicle guzzles fuel. Save gas by opening your windows and using air conditioning only when even a breeze isn’t enough to cool you. (And consider carpooling to work to save even more gas.)
REUSE BUILDING SUPPLIES
If your summer plans include home improvement, save money by visiting a Habitat for Humanity ReStore depot. You save cash, help out a worthy charity, and rescue perfectly good fixtures from the dump: talk about a triple-threat win proposition. (And when removing fixtures from your home, don’t throw them out-donate them, too.