BOTTOM LINE: Using a plastic film over your windows in the
wintercostsyou$30to$100(dependingonthekit)butcansave
you20%to30%inenergyexpenses.
Replaceolderwindows. Windowsinolderhomescanbeasignificant sourceofheatloss,increasingenergycostsbyupto30%.Newwindows
cancostupwardsof$1,000each,butrebatesareavailablethroughthe
Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY Retrofit grant program. Consult
with a certified energy adviser to qualify for rebates of up to $60 per window.Ifit’stoomuchofastretchtospringfornewwindowsnow,use asmanyoftheotherstrategiesaspossibletoloweryourenergybillsand thensetasideyoursavingsinaTax-FreeSavingsAccount(TFSA)ora
standard high-interest account for a window fund. You’ll be surprised howitaddsupinjustafewyears.
BOTTOMLINE:Newwindowsareexpensiveatupwardsof$1,000
each but can lower your heating and cooling costs by 30%. As a bonus, new windows can also increase the value of your home whenyouarereadytosell.
Hangdrapesandblinds. Useyourexistingheavyinsulateddrapesto saveyou8%to15%inheatingcosts.Togetwarmerforfree,closeyour
drapesorblindsatnightandonshadedsidesofthehomewhileopening
them on sunny days. Drapes can also keep your home cooler in the summerbyshadingyourhomefromthehotafternoonsunlight.Heavy
insulatingdrapescancosthundredstothousandsofdollarsdepending
onthenumberofwindowsandthesizeofyourhome.
BOTTOMLINE:Existingdrapesandblindscanbeopenedorclosed
forfreetokeepyourhomewarmerandcutyourenergycostsby8%
to15%.
Close doors in rooms not frequently used. Keeping both exterior andinteriordoorstightlyshutandavoidingfrequentinandouttraffic costsnothingandlowersyourenergycosts.Usepaddeddoorrunnersor
rolledtowelstohelpreducedraftsunderdoorways.
BOTTOM LINE: Closing doors and placing a rolled towel under
doorwaysisfreeandcansaveyou2%onyourenergybill.
Electricity
We all need electricity to light our homes and power our appliances.
Despitethisconsiderableneedtodrawonhydro,youcancutyourcosts
byhundreds,eventhousands,ayearbyadoptingfrugalandeasyenergy-
saving habits. From how you light your home to choosing the more energy-efficient electronic devices, here are numerous ways to add moneytoyourpocketwithoutfeelingshockedbydrasticchange.
Lighting
Turnofflights. Keepingyourlightsonwhennooneisintheroomis costingyou.NaturalResourcesCanadasaysitcostsbetween$200and
$250tolighttheaveragehomeeachyear.A100-wattbulbleftonforan hourcosts1cent.But300wattsofunusedlightsleftonforthreehours eachdaycosts$11ayear.
BOTTOM LINE: Save $11 a year by turning off unused lights for threehourseachday.
Installlightdimmersaroundyourhome. Dimmingalampby25%
increaseslightbulblifebyfourtimesandsavesyou20%onelectricity costs.Dimmerpricesstartat$10eachandcangoupto$80.
BOTTOMLINE:Inexpensivedimmerscost$10eachandareafrugal
waytosaveabout$50ayearontheaverageelectricitybill,while
extendingbulblife.
Install a motion sensor outdoors. Installing a motion sensor outdoors can serve as a security light and save you money. Leaving a 100-wattbulbburningfor24hourscosts25centsaday.Switchingtoa
motionsensorcosts$50andsavesyou$90ayearbyonlyswitchingon
whenneeded.
BOTTOMLINE:Ifyouinstallamotionsensoritwillpayforitselfin justoversixmonthsandthengoontosaveyou$90eachyear.
Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps
(CFLs). At $2 to $5 each, compact fluorescent lamps cost five times morethanconventionalbulbsbutuse25%oftheelectricityandlast8to 15timeslonger.
BOTTOM LINE: Switching to compact fluorescent lamps may cost
you$100intheshorttermbutsavesyou75%onlightingcostsover
thelongerterm.
Makeuseofnaturallight. Openthedrapesandletthesunshinein.
Using natural daylight over electricity costs you nothing and saves on energy. Also, choosing to paint rooms in lighter colours and opening blinds can brighten your living space. Using natural sunlight and switchinglightsoffduringthedaycansaveyouhundredsofdollarsa
year.
BOTTOMLINE:Usingnaturallightinplaceoffive60-wattbulbsfor
eighthourseachdaysavesyou$11ayear.
AppliancesandElectronics
Turn off electronic devices. Turning off your unused electrical devices like gaming consoles and computers is an easy way to save electricity. By turning on your computer only when needed for three hourseachdayratherthanrunningitcontinuously,youcansaveupto
$75ayear.
BOTTOMLINE:Turnoffelectricaldeviceswhenthey’renotinuse
andsavehundredsayear.
Pulltheplugonstandbycosts. Plugged-inelectronicsareexpensive becausetheycontinuetodrawpowertolightupclocks,supplychargers
andbeonstandby.Thisstandbypowercancontributeto10%ofwasted
andexpensiveenergyloss.Ifyouneedareminder,leaveanotebeside
yourelectronicdevicestounplugthem.
BOTTOM LINE: Unplug these power-drawing devices and save a
whopping10%onenergycostseachyear.
Useasurgeprotector. Tosavemoneywhilekeepingyourelectronic devices plugged in, consider buying a surge protector for $5 to $20.
Surge protectors can be switched off while electronic devices are plugged in, thus reducing standby power consumption. Using a surge protectortofullyswitchoffyourhomeentertainmentsystemwhennot
inusecansaveyou$5to$10ayear.
BOTTOMLINE:Useasurgeprotectortolimitstandbypowerwaste
andsaveyouhundredsayear.
Water
Heatingwateristhesecondlargestdrainonyourenergybill.Byusing
inexpensivehotwatersavingstrategiesyoucansaveconsiderablecash
whetheryourentanapartmentorownahome.
Turn water temperature down. Turning down your water heater’s temperatureto60°Ciseasyandfree.Forevery10degreesyoudecrease
the tank’s temperature you save 3% to 5% on your energy bill. You won’tnoticethedifferencebecausethehotwateryouuseisatamuch
lowertemperaturethan60°C.
BOTTOM LINE: Reduce your water heater temperature to 60°C to save3%to5%onyourenergycosts.
Fix leaky taps. A leaking hot water tap slowly drips your money downthedrain.Seekaprofessionalplumbertoplugtheleakorreplace
the gasket in the tap yourself. Because some leaks can waste enough watertofillabathtubinafewdays,it’swisetostopthedripsandsave somecash.
BOTTOMLINE:Aleakyhotwatertapcanbefixedwitha$1gasket
and save you $50 a year on energy costs. Consult a professional plumberforafewhundreddollarstosolvemorecomplicatedissues
sooner.
Insulate hot water pipes. Keep the water hot for less by installing insulating sleeves on the hot water pipes in your home. Special foam insulation pieces can be purchased at a hardware store for 30 cents a foot.Startbycoveringthepipesnearthehotwater
tankandworkyour
way out to all easily accessible pipes. Be sure the insulation is a safe
distancefromanyopenflameorothersourceofignition.
BOTTOMLINE:Pipeinsulationcosts$10to$20perhomeandcan
saveyou$50ayear.
Install a solar water heater. Adding a solar water heater to your traditionalwaterheatercanadduptosignificantlong-termsavings.A
solarwaterheaterusescollectorpanelsinwhichwateriswarmedbythe sun;yousavemoneybecauseitdoesn’tcostsomuchtoheatthewaterin yourwaterheater.Professionalsystemscostaround$5,000andqualify
foranecoENERGYRetrofitgrant.Ahome-builtdo-it-yourselfsolarwater systemcostsunder$1,000.
BOTTOM LINE: A homemade solar water heater costs $1,000 and
cansaveyouupto$300peryear,whileprofessionalsystemscost
$5,000andcanqualifyfor$1,600ingovernmentenergygrants.
CHAPTER7
Cleaning
Cleaning our homes has become a multi-billion-dollar brand-name
business. Between super-specialized cleaners marketed to help remove grimefromthenorthwestcorneroftheshoweranddisposableoptions
convincingusit’spossibletohaveasparklinghousewithoutanounceof effort, there are hundreds of products designed not only to clean our homesbuttocleanoutourwallets.Butkeepingyourhomecleandoesn’t
need to be an expensive endeavour. Many cleaning products can be replacedorenhancedwithitemsyouprobablyalreadyhavearoundthe
houseatafractionofthecost.Allittakesisalittlebitofelbowgrease andsomecommonkitchenstaplestocleanregularspillsandwashthe
dirtaway.
I’ve been using simple, frugal and effective methods to clean my bathroom,kitchen,windowsandfloorsforyears.Atfirst,Imissedthat
“cleansmell”thatcomesfromusingcommercialproducts,butthemore
Icleanedthewaymygrandmotherhad,themoreIrealizedthatclean
doesn’t have a smell—and I was paying big bucks for that artificial lemonwhiffandexposingmyfamilytounnecessaryharshchemicalsat
thesametime.Thischapterispackedwithcheapandnaturalsolutions
to help you save money not only at the store but over time as well, because cleaning your home on a regular basis helps to maintain the valueofyourinvestmentandreducestheneedtoreplaceitemsbecause
ofsoilsandstains.
Cleansers
Replacingyourbrand-namehouseholdcleanerswithinexpensivekitchen
stapleslikevinegar,bakingsodaandliquiddishwashingsoapcansave
youhundredsofdollarsayear,andatthesametimecanprotectyour
homesurfacesfromabrasivecleansersandstrongchemicals.
Makeyourownglasscleaner. Buyingareusablespraybottlefor$3
and mixing your own glass-cleaning solution containing 1 part white vinegarand1partwatersavesyouatleast$25ayearoverbrand-name
glasscleaners.Usingvinegarandwatertocleanglasssurfaces,mirrors andwindowsalsoreducesthenumberofharshchemicalsinyourhome.
A4-litrebottleofgenericwhitevinegarcostsonly$1.50andcanlastfor months.
BOTTOMLINE:Makingyourownglasscleanerisenvironmentally
friendlyandsavesyouatleast$25ayear.Ifyouhaveanoldspray
bottle,refillitwhenit’semptyandsave$3,whichishowmucha
newonewouldcost.
HomeCleaningSuppliesChecklist
Mildliquiddishwashingcleanser
Bakingsodapaste
Vinegarglasscleaner
Reusablespraybottle
Lint-freemicrofibretowels
Qualityrubbergloves
Toiletscrubbrush
Sinkscrubbrush
Usedtoothbrushes
Spongemopheadwithtowels
Usebakingsodatodeodorize,removestainsandtoscrubtough
grime away. Go beyond using baking soda for deodorizing your refrigerator and freezer by using this inexpensive cleaning marvel for tough dirt around your home. Replacing your arsenal of brand-name kitchen, bathroom and specialty cleaners with a big box of generic bakingsodacouldsaveyouhundredsofdollarsayear.Bakingsodacan
be used for scrubbing without scratching surfaces and is safe for removingstainsfromdishes,countertops,sinksandtoiletbowls.Baking
soda can also remove tough grease and buildup in ovens and on stovetops:scrubusingapastemadebymixing3partswarmwaterand1
partbakingsoda.Thebestdealsonbakingsodacanbefoundatanimal
feedstores,wherea10kgbagsellsfor50centsperkilogram.Baking
sodaboughtatfeedstoresisnotbakingqualityandiscoarserthanretail brands,butthepriceforcleaningcannotbebeatwhencomparedwith
brandssoldingrocerystoresat$5perkilogram.
BOTTOMLINE:Replaceyourbrand-namehouseholdcleanerswith
bakingsoda—notonlywillyousavehundredsofdollarsayear,but
youwillalsoprotectyourfamilyfromexposuretoharshchemicals.
Buy baking soda at animal feed stores—it’s 90% cheaper than at grocerystores.
Removedriedspillswithdilutedliquiddishwashingsoap. Make
an inexpensive all-purpose cleaner by mixing 1 cup of water with 1
tablespoon of generic liquid dishwashing soap in a $3 reusable spray bottle. Use this cleaner to spot-clean dried spills and remove greasy fingerprints throughout your home and on countertops and wood
surfaces.Genericdishwashingsoapcostsonly$2per950mL,sodiluting itwithwaterandsprayingwithabottlecostsjustpenniesaweek,saving youabundleonbrand-namecleanersinayear.
BOTTOM LINE: Cleaning with generic liquid dishwashing soap
dilutedwithwaterinareusablespraybottlecostspenniesaweek
andsavesyoudozensofdollarsayear.
Eliminatesoapscumwithlemonjuiceandwhitevinegar.
Makeasimplemixtureof1cupwhitevinegarandthejuicefromhalfa
lemon to remove soap scum from bathtubs and mineral deposits from sinks and faucets. Soak an old hand towel in this acidic mixture and cover deposits or residue for several hours, then scrub. Vinegar is economicalat$1.50per4-litrebottleandlemonscancost$1forfour.
BOTTOMLINE:Removeexpensiveandharshsoapscum–dissolving
chemicals from your home and save hundreds a year by mixing lemonjuicewithvinegar.Scrubbingdirtandgrimeisfree.
Cleanwood,linoleumandtileflooringwithvinegarandwater.
Forwoodfloorsfinishedwithpolyurethane,linoleumsurfacesandtiles, mopwithamixof1partvinegarwith1partwarmwater.Vinegarcosts
$1.50per4-litrebottleandsavesyouhundredsonbrand-nameflooring
cleaners. The vinegar cuts through grime and leaves a fresh scent throughoutyourhome.
BOTTOMLINE:Cleanyourflooringforhundredsofdollarslessby
mixingvinegarwithwarmwater.
Wipeupspillswhiletheyarefresh. Spillsinthekitchenanddirtin the doorway are always easier to clean when fresh. Attending to everydaygrimesoonercostsyoufarlessincleaningdetergents;ahand
towelandsomeelbowgreaseisallittakestokeepsurfacesfreshand
clean. Proper and regular cleaning also maintains the value of your home and protects the investment in your possessions, making your belongingslastlonger.
BOTTOMLINE:Wipingupspillsimmediatelyisfreeandcostsyou
nothing in cleaning
supplies. Regular cleaning and maintenance protectstheinvestmentinyourhomeandbelongingsandreduces
replacementcostsbymakingthingslastlonger.
CleaningTools
Thetoolsyouchoosetocleanyourhomewithcansaveyoumoneyover
time.Toolslikereusablemicrofibreclothsandoldtoothbrushesarenot only better for your budget but can be healthier for your household environmentaswell.
Useelbowgreaseandagoodpairofrubbergloves. Agoodpairof reusable rubber gloves can last for weeks and makes a great cleaning partnerforalittlebitofelbowgrease.Glovesandelbowgreasecansave youfromspendinghundredsoncorrosivechemicalstoremovestubborn
grime.Besuretohangyourglovestodrytopreventmouldandmildew
growthfromeatingintoyoursavings.
BOTTOMLINE:Apairofqualityrubberglovescosts$2to$5and
savesyouhundredsongrime-removingcorrosivechemicals.
Use an old toothbrush to get into hard-to-clean places. Used toothbrushes can be recycled for cleaning throughout your home for free. Frayed bristles are a perfect match for faucets, tile grout, light switches and cabinet hardware. Toothbrushes are also excellent for cleaningcalciumbuildupinkettlesorroadgrimeonbikechains.
BOTTOM LINE: Replacing your toothbrush regularly is good for
yourdentalhealthanditcostsyounothingtoreuseitasacleaning toolthroughoutyourhome.
Passonpapertowelsandusemicrofibrecloths. Microfibrecloths are woven from very fine synthetic fibres and are perfect for dusting, polishing,wipingandmopping.Thesesoftandreusableclothssaveyou
money because they are effective at cleaning delicate surfaces like computermonitors,theyaremachinewashableandtheydon’trequire
costlycleaningsolutionstoremovegrime.Microfibreclothscomeina
rangeofsizesandweightswithvaryingloopsizes,andcancostaslittle as$5.Saveonexpensiveendlessrollsofpapertowelsbybuyingabunch of microfibre cloths and washing them regularly. They can last years, saveyouhundredsofdollarsandareabetteroptionforourforests.
397 Ways to Save Money: Spend Smarter & Live Well on Less - PDFDrive.com Page 7