Got No Dough - Saving Money in Slim Times

As I was pondering the numerous tips for saving money I realized that there are a lot of things we can do to not only save money - but also save the earth.

Water conservation is a great example. Here in Southern California we are in a drought and I hear countless ads on the radio urging people to conserve water. I don’t think that is going to be enough to get people to ration their water more wisely - but we’ll see.

Here are 10 ways to save water (and therefore money!):

1. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
2. Run your washer or dishwasher on a shorter cycle. (Nine times out of 10, your stuff will come out just as clean)
3. Fix all leaks - it usually will just take a washer to fix it. They are very inexpensive and a novice can replace one.
4. Replace your showerhead with a low flow showerhead. Again, a simple fix.
5. Rinse all of your dishes at once instead of letting the water flow while you wash others.
6. Check to see if the flap on your toilet leaks. Put a couple of drops of food coloring into the tank and see if the color leaks to the bowl. Flaps are super cheap and super easy to install.
7. Water your lawn less - 5 minutes will do just fine. Even more important - turn your sprinklers off when it’s raining!
8. Put containers out when it rains to collect water for watering plants.
9. Install faucet aerators to your faucets to restrict their water flow.
10. Don’t let the water run while you’re washing your car.