You often hear stats about how if you give up that morning cup of coffee at Starbucks, you’ll be saving x dollars per year. That’s great, but some of us just aren’t ready to give up that shot of energy in the morning. That’s okay! There are many other small changes you can make in your life that can add up to big savings over time. Here are a few to consider:
Get water when you go out to eat.
When you purchase a Coke at a restaurant, it can run you around the same price as a whole two-liter at the store. You can save yourself around $730 a year by ordering water instead of soda once a day. The savings go up if you are avoiding pricy mixed drinks, wine, or any other alcoholic beverage. Save these treats for at home. Want to take it a step further? Skip the restaurant meal altogether every now and then. You can probably make the same meal at home for a fraction of the price.
Give your library some love.
With apologies to book stores and video rental places – why aren’t you just going to the library? It’s free! Local libraries are some of the most versatile sources of entertainment around, but most people don’t even realize it. Today’s libraries loan out books, DVDs – some even have video games! And all of these eitherepletely free or at a very low rental price. Even better, most libraries allow you to reserve new releases and items on your “wish list.” Take advantage, and save a few dollars at the same time.
Sure, there are the old standbys of unplugging things when you’re not using them and replacing older lightbulbs with CFLs – both good ideas – but did you know your microwave can save you money? Using your microwave instead of your oven uses up to 50 percent less power. Who knew? These small changes can save you several dollars a month which adds up in the long run.
Full loads, please.
You know that little dial on your washer that asks if the load is small, normal, or large? Apparently you should always go for large – or “full” – loads. This is because several small loads end up using a lot more water than one or two large ones. A similar rule applies to running the dishwasher. It uses the same amount of water whether it’s full or not, so load it up before you turn it on. For an added cost-saving bonus, let the dishes air-dry instead of using the heat cycle.
Lower the flow.
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