Save Money at Home

Save Money at Home With Sustainable Living Tips

In this time of increasing debt and climate change, New Zealanders can are starting to realise that there are many things they can do to reduce their household expenditure, while reducing their impact on the environment.

• Energy Conservation
• Environmental Education
• Environment Issues

Looking fore some starters to get you on your way to a cleaner, greener lifestyle, and some more cash to enjoy it? Learn how to reduce your household expenditure and save the planet at the same time.

Use Nature to Your Advantage
Dry your clothes on a clothes line or clothes airer outside. The sun is a great way to sanitise your clothes, especially cloth nappies. A 5kg load in an 1800W dryer costs around 75c each time. For the average family (if you do 10 loads a week) that is $7.50 per week or $390.00 a year.

Pull curtains when the sun goes down to keep heat in the house. Where possible have curtains with thermal backing as less heat escapes through these. In summer keep curtains pulled during the day to keep the sun out and the house cool.

Cooking Cash Savers
Covering your pots when cooking will retain heat, and mean the food will cook quicker.

Ensure your fridge and freezer seals are still in good working order. If there is cool air escaping the unit will need to work overtime to keep things cold.

Use a microwave for quick and convenient cooking. It only takes a minute of power to cook some frozen vegetables.

Cook more than one thing when you have the oven on. Most of the electricity is used in heating up the oven so once it is on make the most of it. Rustle up a batch of scones, muffins or biscuits. Alternatively throw in a pizza or some chicken pieces and use them for lunches.

Defrost your meat in the fridge overnight. The fridge is running anyway so save on additional electricity by deciding the night before what you are having for tea the next night.

Water Wonders
Use only cold water for clothes washing.

If you live rurally, or in a large city where you pay for your water, consider a front loader washing machine when it comes time to buy new whiteware. Front loaders can use as much as 25 litres less water per load of washing. While they might be slightly smaller and more expensive than top loaders, the price is far more comparable and you will save on power and water usage. Also most models now have a range of wash cycles and options so the cycle time is a lot shorter than they used to be.

Reduce, Reuse and ..
Recycle as much as you can. Find out from your local council what is able to be recycled. Set up an area of the laundry, garage or basement so it is easy to recycle. Most councils in New Zealand offer curbside recycling so there is no excuse for filling the landfills.

Grow a Green Thumb
If you grow vegetables yourself you will save on your grocery budget and you will now exactly what you are eating. Even if you only have a small section you can grow some salad greens or radishes in pots. Grow a potato in a bucket, or some tomatoes up against a wall. There is enormous satisfaction in growing your own food and it doesn't cost much. A pottle of 6 seedling plants is less than $5. Fruit and vegetables do not need to be sprayed with chemicals to flourish.

Consider a worm farm and/or a compost bin. This is great way to reuse your green waste such as fruit and vegetable scraps, lawn clippings, leaves, and even weeds! Feed your fruit and vegetable scraps to your worms, and reap the benefit later as they produce a wonderful fertiliser for your garden.

Motoring Modifications
Petrol saving is easy. Consider how you are driving your car. If you accelerate and brake heavily you are using more fuel and putting unnecessary wear on the car.

Turn off the air conditioning if you don't need it as it may use up to 10% more fuel.

Keep your tyres inflated correctly according to the tyres.

Plan your trips out carefully and try to do as little driving as is required. Rather than doubling back on yourself organise your trips to take the most efficient route.

If you don't need to take the car, leave it at home or at work. Use a bike, bus or train to get to work. Invest in a good pair of shoes and walk where possible.

Final Tips for Sustainable Living
Consider installing insulation and/or thermal curtains to keep your home warmer in winter.

Turn off lights and appliances when not needed. Even in standby mode many appliances draw power including DVD players, microwaves, washing machines, TV's and phone chargers. By turning off appliances at the wall you could save up to $75 a year.

With a little bit of organisation you can reduce your bills, and your impact on the environment.

For more information on environmental conservation, check out the NZS.com directory.

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Lifestyle images from Flickr: Kitchen Garden, Yoga and Wine.