Money-Saving Tips for Adding Value to Your Home

Inexpensive projects like these can add a whole lot of value and efficiency to your most important asset – your home.

1 - Unplug: Plugged in toasters, coffee-makers, TVs and other electronic devices in your home actually use a small amount of electricity even when they’re not in use! By unplugging them when you’re not using these devices, you can save electricity and lower your utility bills.

2 - Go with CFL: Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs are an easy way to make your home more environmentally (and economically) friendly. Although they’re a bit pricier up front, CFL bulbs last a lot longer than traditional bulbs and can save you about $30 each in energy over their lifetime.

3 - Slow the Flow: By switching to low-flow showerheads, you can not only reduce the amount of water your family uses every day, but also the energy needed to heat it. On average, you may be able to see a savings of up to $75 per year on water and up to $50 per year on energy bills by going low-flow.

4 - Cool the H20 a Bit: Want to see a big difference in your energy bills? All you have to do is lower the water temperature on your hot water header to 120 degrees from the standard 140. You won’t feel the difference when you wash your hands, but you’ll appreciate the difference it’ll make in lowering your budget.

5 - Clear the Air: Summer is the perfect time to clean and replace the filters on your air conditioning system. A clogged air conditioning filter can increase your cooling costs by 10% or more. Also consider installing a programmable thermostat. It will increase the efficiency of your air conditioner in the summer as well as your furnace in the winter months.

Have other money saving tips you'd like to share? Use the comment link below… we'd love to hear your ideas, and our readers would too.