It is often the case that a frugal lifestyle can make a big difference to also helping the environment.
These are some tips which will help you save money and the environment
1. Moderate Heaters and Air Conditioners.
To heat the house an extra 2 degrees becomes relatively more expensive and contributes to increased carbon emissions. Try getting used to having the thermostat a little lower and the air con a little higher. Just by wearing an extra jumper you can make a big difference to your bills and the environment
2. Maximise Insulation
You can save heating bills by maximising the insulation for your house. This can involve investing in upgrades such as loft insulation, double glazing and cavity wall insulation. Check to see whether the government or agencies may be able to subsidise this. My local council (Oxford) provided cavity wall insulation for free!. The above will pay off in the long run. But, you can also make immediate savings by cutting out drafts, closing windows and using thick insulated curtains.
3. Only Boil What You Need.
To Make a cup of tea, my lodger used to boil a full kettle, enough for 12 cups! Not only does this take longer, but it uses energy unnecessarily. Eventually, I got round to asking him to only boil minimum and it will make a difference to saving money and energy. Similarly when boiling vegetables don’t have the pan boiling for 30mins, there’s nothing worse than overcooked brussel sprouts!
4. Cycle and Walk.
Nearly 50% of all car journeys are less than 3 miles. All of these journeys could be completed by walking or cycling. Both of these types of transport are much cheaper than other filling up with petrol (gas). This is especially important with the price of oil being so high. As an added benefit it will also help you get fit!
5. Turn it Off.
Everyone know we should turn lights off when not in the room, but less well known is the cost of leaving electrical appliances on standby. If you leave your TV permanently on standby you will unnecessarily use electricity and energy.
6. Re Use Things
In the past, the motto was ‘make do and mend’. Today’s attitude is ‘throw it away and buy a new one’. We don’t have to goto either extremes, but, before you start buying new items, ask whether you really need it or you could make do with something smaller.
7. Buy a Smaller Engine Car.
Is there any benefit in buying a 3 litre car which could theoretically do 170mph? If you want to make a big difference to your petrol bills, insurance and road tax, by a smaller engine car and help reduce pollution levels. This is one decision that can make a big difference. (my 1.4 litre Ford Focus, is still pretty nifty and doesn’t cost £60 to fill up a tank, yet…)
8. Reduce Your washing temperature.
If you reduce the temperature on your washing machine to 40degrees most washes will have the same results but use less power and energy. Also if you have the facilities for drying avoid using a tumble dryer, but use natural heat from the sun.
9. Take a Short Shower.
A shower can save a lot of money compared to a bath. Unless, like my lodger, your shower lasts for 30 minutes on the hottest possible temperature 
10. Energy Saving Light Bulbs.
They are now becoming compulsory in the UK, but there may also be other electrical appliances where buying a lower power variety can save both money and energy.
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SAVE MONEY ON YOUR HEATING OIL
Consumers are frustrated and up in arms by soaring home heating oil prices.
No one knows if home heating oil prices will rise or fall by the next heating season. But whether you buy now or later, there are some things you can do to get the best deal possible.
Don’t just get a price from one heating oil dealer, get it from three. No, that’s not a typo, 3. Do your homework. If you talk to 5 people that heat their home with oil, I bet 3 out of 5 are paying a different price. Are people getting ripped off? No, that’s a harsh word to use. I call it creative marketing.
Try going into the winter with a full tank of oil. Prices are usually lower in the summer. It’s very likely they’ll be at their highest in the winter. Don’t wait until the cold weather arrives to fill your tank.
Oil traders are not just on the floors of commodities exchanges in New York or London any longer; They’re in the offices of oil companies and buying groups such as Pilgrim Oil Group, constantly scanning computer screens linked to global markets, looking to take advantage of small shifts in oil prices so they could pass the savings on to their customers. http://www.oilforless.com
nice saving tips
my personal saving tips are
•Buy Cheaper Clothes – There is no need to buy expensive clothes in order to look fashionable. You can still look good by buying cheaper clothes. There are many discount clothing shops around. My personal favorite is Primark.
•Cut down on Junk foods – Burgers, fizzy drinks, sweets, potato crisps and takeaways are more expensive and do not nourish your body like the less cheaper vegetables, fruits and water.
•Kill the habits – last April the government increased the taxes on cigarettes and alcohols. Not only is cigarette and alcohol expensive but it is deadly to your lungs and liver.
•Stop Gambling – It is foolish for any one to gamble because the house always wins. The odds are always stacked against the player by those who own the game. Luck never favours the player and even if the player win once there is always the temptation to play again and thereby lose everything.
•Cut down on driving – Running a car can be very costly especially as petrol prices, insurance and road taxes continue to rise. The best action is to abandon your car and use public transport. But if having a car is a must, why not consider buying a less powerful, more fuel efficient car. Your running cost will be lower.
•Avoid using credit cards – Do not buy anything you can not afford with a credit card. Credit cards are an expensive way of borrowing than your local bank loan which offers better rates and better terms for you.
Finally Put your saved money in a high interest savings account. Banks such as Barclays, ING direct, kaupthing Edge offer good saving account rate
On #5, you should not just turn your appliances off. You should also unplug them. Plugged items still consume electricity.
Hi Thanks for the tips, wish I could get my other half to take short showers! Come and see my money saving tips, thanks
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