Save money at home to help save the environment

Saving money around the home can sometimes be a bit tricky - but at a time like now, it has never been so important.

So, what could you do to save money around the home? Take a look at the following three great environmentally-friendly tips that could help you to lower your bills and free up a little bit of extra cash each month.

Cut back on your electricity usage
By making simple changes to the way you use things around the house, you can save a fair bit of money.

So, when you leave a room, make sure everything is switched off - that way, you won't be wasting any electricity and causing unnecessary harm to the environment.

You should also make sure everything is switched off at night before you go to sleep - then you won't be wasting any money overnight.

Useful:

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/jun/17/householdbills.consumeraffairs

Open windows - don't use air con
When it gets a bit too hot, don't just stick the air conditioning on, open the windows to cool the place down.

Air conditioning will cost money, and use energy - which will have an impact on the environment. Whereas opening the window won't cost a thing, and if it's a nice day, it's a good way to bring a bit of fresh air into your home!

Useful:

• http://www.wisebread.com/living-without-air-conditioning-can-save-big-bucks-this-summer

Put a jumper on - don't use your heatingRather than putting the heating on when it gets too cold, put a jumper on to warm yourself up.

Heating your home every time you get cold will cost you an absolute fortune - and you won't be doing any favours for the environment either. So next time you feel a bit chilly, grab some more clothes, snuggle up and save yourself some money!

• http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/Take-action/Money-saving-tips/Seasonal-suggestions/Tips-for-a-greener-barbecue

So, by following these simple tips, you should be able to save a bit of money around the home while helping to save the environment too!

However, if you are already experiencing some real difficulties with your bills (because of debts, for example), the chances are that a few simple changes won't be enough to get you back on track. In this situation, you may want to look at ways to improve your debt management skills to free up the money you need for your bills.

False Economy: Top 5 ways NOT to save money this winter

Given the state of the economy and rising cost of living for many households, saving money is a hot topic at the moment, especially with traditional spending hotspots on the horizon like Christmas.

However, with so many so-called experts offering their opinion on how to slash your spending, it's difficult to know who to listen to. So we've put together a handy guide on the things you shouldn't do to try to save money – which, conversely, should actually put a few quid in your wallet as a result.

1. Don't cut back on your insurance
When you're up against the wall financially, insurance can seem an easy way to cut money from your budget instantly. Although central heating insurance may sound like an absolute essential, recent research has suggested that as many as one in five are going without contents cover, largely as a result of the recession. However, this can have dire consequences – suffer a burglary, flood or fire and without cover, you'll be left high and dry.

2. Don't hire cheap tradesmen
If you find a plumber, electrician or builder whose rates look too good to be true, they probably are. However, there are ways to still get repairs and maintenance done cheaply through having the right type of insurance. For example, get boiler coverage and you'll be able to call on a fully qualified tradesman to carry out the work. In many cases, you'll only have the excess to worry about, a fraction of the cost of the callout fee for many tradesmen.

3. Don't leave car problems to fester
When money's tight, it can be easy to ignore what you believe to be a small problem with your car, keep calm and carry on. However, minor rattling in the gear box or a stiff lock can develop into bigger problems if they're not given the attention they need. So head to the garage and nip them in the bud sooner rather than later.

4. Don't wait until the last minute to book your holiday
Although is common advice for holidaymakers to wait until up to a week before a holiday, this isn't always the best way to save money. Not only will it reduce the types of destinations you go to, but you're also likely to be more desperate – and up paying a little extra to secure your break as a result. Therefore, it's worth going the other way and booking many, many months ahead – the prices at these times can often rival even the best last minute deals, with the added bonus of a wider choice of destinations.

5. Don't spend too much on renovating your house
Although this is a common way to boost the value of your home, especially in a depressed market, don't go overboard. With house prices still expected to continue falling, the value you add to your home could be swallowed up by the general state of the market – a position no one wants to be in.

This was a guest post from Alex at diynewbie.org

Getting Ready for Nice Weather

So the weather has been pretty decent in my parts, so it's time to get things ready for sping and summer. Here's what I've done so far:
- fertilized the lawn ($30 for Scotts)
- bought and planted a tree for front yard ($20 including a $10 off coupon)
- edged the borders (free with my EdgeHog tool)
- bought deck cleaner and stain ($40, but I might return both as I need to figure out to propoerly apply the stain to a deck that's already been stained)

Coming soon I'll have to mulch, do annual plantings, set up the garden, and figure out that staining situation. Also, I'm looking into residing the house and getting a new stoop, but that's a much larger project obviously.

Homes In Other Countries

House Hunters International Takes the Top Spot

Guest Post by by Haywood Morales

Television today is diversity at its best. However, if you are like most people, including me, you want to learn something new thats why after seeing this Direct Tv HD Specials Information I got Directv. A very enjoyable and educational way to do this is to watch House Hunters International. It is, without a doubt, at the top of the list in available real estate shows.

When you watch House Hunters International, you get a chance to see what life is like in other countries. The real estate agent on the show will always talk about the area. You get to see places that you have never seen before and you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

One of the main things that I love about this particular show is seeing the homes and comparing them to those in my own country. An average home is Japan is much different than the homes in other countries. It lets you see how the other side of the world lives.

The one thing you can count on when you watch this show is entertainment. Watching how others go through the buying process can be enlightening, as well as humorous. Not only that, at the end of the show, you get to guess which home they chose, which is a great game to play with others watching with you. As stated before, it is entertaining, as well as educating.

Looking for a New Kitchen?

you have been following this blog since it began a few years ago, you might remember how I had

completed an overhaul of my kitchen not too long before I started to publish. I got new cabinets,

counters, changed the layout, refinished the floors, and bought a couple new appliances. It was a lot of work, but well worth it.

I researched companies, had them draw up plans, checked their credentials, etc. It was quite time consuming. Recently I looked around for a one-stop shop for quality kitchens that had a good reputation. There a few such companies in United States, but nothing like a company I recently found in the United Kingdom.

If you're in the market for a new kitchen, you might want to check out Kutchenhaus. Yes, the kitchens are German, and the quality is regarded as top-notch. The parent company is the world's largest kitchen manufacturer, and the company has been around since 1945, which is impressive. In case you can't get to a retail outlet, Kutchenhaus kitchens can be shopped for online, and you can request a detailed quote. Even though my kitchen is finished, I still had a good time looking at the complete fitted kitchens Kutchenhaus has available. I wish I had a similar company available to me back when I renovated mine, because I surely would have looked seriously at them.

TV Or Not TV?

I've already answered it- I got a new TV. I've been holding out for years, living with my 27" CRT, waiting for it to die or for prices on flatscreen TVs to come down. I ended up getting a very good deal because I bought a display model. So far, so good. I came into a little unepected money prior to the purchase, so I used that.

Five Thrifty Tips for the UK

UK house prices are up again, making thrift a necessity. Check out 5 handy fiscal tips from What House:

1. Browse new homes in the UK: built to better standards, more efficient, cheaper to run!
   
2. Downsize: do you need that guest bedroom? Or that en suite?
   
3. Cold? Turn the heating down: wear warmer clothes instead!
   
4. Hot? Turn the AC down: open the windows instead!
   
5. Subscribe to the Thrifty Homeowner blog!