by Trent Hamm
Available in 24 free installments
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17. Make a quadruple batch of a casserole. Casseroles are nice, easy dishes to prepare, but on busy nights, it's often still easier to just order some take-out or eat out or just plop a prepackaged meal in the oven. Instead, the next time you make a casserole, make four batches of it and put the other three in the freezer [41] , Then, the next time you need a quick meal for the family, grab one of those batches and just heat it up -easy as can be. Even better, doing this allows you to buy the ingredients in bulk, making each casserole cheaper than it would be ordinarily - and far, far cheaper than eating out or trying a prepackaged meal.
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18. Be diligent about turning off lights before you leave. If you spend one minute turning off lights before a two hour trip, that's the equivalent of earning $50 an hour [42] . That's some impressive savings, particularly if you do it before longer trips. The key is to use less energy, particularly when you're not using the device.
19. Swap books, music, and DVDs cheaply on the internet via services like PaperBackSwap. You can very easily swap the books and CDs and DVDs you've grown bored with via the internet with others. Just use sites like PaperBackSwap [43] , clean out your media collection, and trade them with others online. The best part? You'll get a flood of new books (or CDs or DVDs [44] ) to enjoy, mailed right to you - for free.
20. Maximize yard sales. I like to stop by yard sales if I see them, but I recognize that often the stuff there is junk. Thus, I'm careful about what I buy and I use clever tactics to find it - and lower the prices [45] , That way, I wind up with a really big bargain - or else I can just walk away with the money in my pocket, having been entertained for a bit.
21. Install CFL (or, even better, LED)
bulbs wherever it makes sense. These
bulbs might cost more initially, but they
both have a longer life than normal
incandescent bulbs and they both eat far
less electricity. CFLs tend to use about
25% of the electricity of an incandescent
- LEDs use about 20% [461. CFLs are
cheaper than LEDs right now and
produce better light, but not quite as
good as incandescent bulbs. My policy? Put LEDs in closets and out of the way places,
use CFLs for hall and some room lighting, and use incandescent bulbs (until the other
bulbs get better) where you read and do other eye-intensive activities. This will trim a
significant amount from your electric bill.
22. Install a programmable thermostat. These devices regulate the temperature in your house automatically according to the schedule that you set. Thus, when you're not home, it allows the heating or cooling to turn off for several hours, saving you on your
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energy bill. A programmable thermostat can easily cut your energy bill by 10 to 20% -and it's surprisingly easy to install [47] .
23. Buy appliances based on reliability, not what's cheapest at the store. It's worth the time to do a bit of research when you buy a new appliance. A reliable, energy efficient washer and dryer might cost you quite a bit now, but if it continually saves you energy and lasts for fifteen years, you'll save significant money in the long run [48] , When you need to buy an appliance, research it - start with back issues of Consumer Reports at the library. An hour's worth of research can easily save you hundreds of dollars.
24. Clean your car's air filter. A clean air filter can improve your gas mileage by up to 7%, saving you more than $100 for every 10,000 miles you drive in an average vehicle. Plus, cleaning your air filter is easy to do in just a few minutes [49] - just follow the instructions in your automobile's manual and you're good to go.
25. Hide your credit cards. Take your credit cards and put them in a safe place in your home, not in your wallet where it's easy to spend them. If you argue that you need it for "emergencies," just be sure to keep a small amount of cash hidden in your wallet for these emergencies. Don't keep plastic on you until you have the willpower to not use it even when you're sorely tempted.
