18 tips to save money at home

SVOboy · 10-17-08, 05:27 PM

The Simple Dollar is a blog that I subscribe to and really like, and today Trent posted a nice article on 18 ways to save money at home, so I thought I'd share in case it sparked anyone's brain: The Simple Dollar 18 Things a New Homeowner Should Do Immediately to Save Money

cmittle · 10-18-08, 11:23 AM

3. This afternoon I will go down and feel the water heater to see if a lot of heat is escaping.

5. We have already wrapped the water pipes with insulation.

6. We installed the programable thermostat and have it setup, although we may be making some modifications.

9. We are replacing the filter on a very regular basis to try to minimize my allergy problems.

12. We have swapped out CFL's in some of our light sockets. Will continue to do so as the rest burn out.

13. Energy efficiency was a big factor in our appliance purchases except for the dish washer. We don't use the dishwasher (we've run it twice in the last 6 months) and we just wanted something that matched our other appliances.

14. I've got the smart strips on my computer equipment in the office and our entertainment center.

I like looking over lists like this and getting ideas on what we can do to save money and reduce our energy needs while we are finishing the basement and purchasing new things.

groar · 10-18-08, 04:37 PM

Great list, bookmarked.

The best item is certainly the last one, with the link to A Monthly Home and Auto Maintenance Checklist.

Denis.

Daox · 10-19-08, 09:45 AM

Good list. I've done or am doing most of it already. Here are my exceptions and/or notes.

3. I haven't put a water heater blanket on yet. I probably won't go buy one. I do have some insulation laying around I should wrap around it though. The heater is already 12 years old and will be replaced by an on demand unit in the not too distant future.

4. I just picked up a remote control squirrel cage fan for the kitchen since it doesn't have a ceiling fan. I'll be laying it horizonally above the cabinets.

PaleMelanesian · 10-20-08, 02:47 PM

Here's one I generally work off of: Checklist for January Home Maintenance -- Midwinter
There's a page for each month. Some is house related, some is "other", but it helps me stay organized.

groar · 10-20-08, 03:03 PM

Hi Pale, happy to see you here

Great series of checklists

bookmarked.

Denis.

SVOboy · 10-20-08, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Here's one I generally work off of: Checklist for January Home Maintenance -- Midwinter
There's a page for each month. Some is house related, some is "other", but it helps me stay organized.

Sweet, thanks for the links,

toyobug · 10-22-08, 03:24 PM

i've bookmarked all the links! great info. Thanks guys!

10-17-08, 05:27 PM	#1
SVOboy Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 291 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	18 tips to save money at home The Simple Dollar is a blog that I subscribe to and really like, and today Trent posted a nice article on 18 ways to save money at home, so I thought I'd share in case it sparked anyone's brain: The Simple Dollar 18 Things a New Homeowner Should Do Immediately to Save Money

10-18-08, 04:37 PM	#3
groar X-Frenchy: very Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Toulouse, France Posts: 153 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Great list, bookmarked. The best item is certainly the last one, with the link to A Monthly Home and Auto Maintenance Checklist. Denis. __________________ Earth absorbs 1.8 t CO2/head/yr, while a French generates 6.2 t CO2/yr To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. kg saved 06/08-08/09: 1816.9+382.9 (ecodriving / 1420mi not driven) = 2199.8 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. (2.66 kg/l diesel) kg saved by 3kWc photo-voltaic solar panels : 187 kg/yr To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. (59.1 g/kWh) Radioactive wastes saved by 3kWc photo-voltaic solar panels : Long life (>100,000 years) : 2.85 g/yr (0.9 mg/kWh) Short life (<300 years) : 31.7 g/yr (10.0 mg/kWh) Based upon "official" French figures...

10-19-08, 09:45 AM	#4
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Good list. I've done or am doing most of it already. Here are my exceptions and/or notes. 3. I haven't put a water heater blanket on yet. I probably won't go buy one. I do have some insulation laying around I should wrap around it though. The heater is already 12 years old and will be replaced by an on demand unit in the not too distant future. 4. I just picked up a remote control squirrel cage fan for the kitchen since it doesn't have a ceiling fan. I'll be laying it horizonally above the cabinets. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-20-08, 03:03 PM	#6
groar X-Frenchy: very Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Toulouse, France Posts: 153 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Hi Pale, happy to see you here Great series of checklists bookmarked. Denis. __________________ Earth absorbs 1.8 t CO2/head/yr, while a French generates 6.2 t CO2/yr To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. kg saved 06/08-08/09: 1816.9+382.9 (ecodriving / 1420mi not driven) = 2199.8 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. (2.66 kg/l diesel) kg saved by 3kWc photo-voltaic solar panels : 187 kg/yr To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. (59.1 g/kWh) Radioactive wastes saved by 3kWc photo-voltaic solar panels : Long life (>100,000 years) : 2.85 g/yr (0.9 mg/kWh) Short life (<300 years) : 31.7 g/yr (10.0 mg/kWh) Based upon "official" French figures...

10-18-08, 11:23 AM	#2
cmittle Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 56 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	3. This afternoon I will go down and feel the water heater to see if a lot of heat is escaping. 5. We have already wrapped the water pipes with insulation. 6. We installed the programable thermostat and have it setup, although we may be making some modifications. 9. We are replacing the filter on a very regular basis to try to minimize my allergy problems. 12. We have swapped out CFL's in some of our light sockets. Will continue to do so as the rest burn out. 13. Energy efficiency was a big factor in our appliance purchases except for the dish washer. We don't use the dishwasher (we've run it twice in the last 6 months) and we just wanted something that matched our other appliances. 14. I've got the smart strips on my computer equipment in the office and our entertainment center. I like looking over lists like this and getting ideas on what we can do to save money and reduce our energy needs while we are finishing the basement and purchasing new things.

10-20-08, 02:47 PM	#5
PaleMelanesian Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 118 Thanks: 4 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	Here's one I generally work off of: Checklist for January Home Maintenance -- Midwinter There's a page for each month. Some is house related, some is "other", but it helps me stay organized.

10-22-08, 03:24 PM	#8
toyobug avid DIY'r Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: MS. Gulf Coast Posts: 154 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	i've bookmarked all the links! great info. Thanks guys!