Need to spend less? Here are a few pointers
By Sharon Harvey Rosenberg
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
| |||
 |
|
||
Small changes have reduced my home electric bill.
Year over year, we have used 20 percent less electricity due to two minor adjustments. We have switched most of the light bulbs to compact fluorescents or CFLs, an energy-saving option. Additionally, during the day and vacations, we turn off the water heater, a move that generates cool savings.
Those are just a few of the ways of finding additional cash in a tight budget, according to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Palm Beach County, Fla., and the Treasure Coast. How do you cut the fat if your budget already is lean? A reality check will help you write smaller checks for household bills, according to the folks at CCCS.
"Successful saving starts with a realistic look at how you are spending money now and what changes you can realistically make," said Jessica Cecere, president of the service.
For example, consumers can cut electric bills by $50 or more by washing clothes in cold water, using energy-efficient bulbs and installing a programmable thermostat, Cecere said. Here are other recommended changes:
Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is author of the "Frugal Duchess: How to Live Well and Save Money" (DPL Press) and a contributing writer to www.Wisebread.com's "10,0001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget" (Skyhorse Publishing).
