/ Better Living

Painless penny pinching: At home

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01:03 PM EST on Thursday, November 18, 2004

Sherri Brennen

--Check your thermostat. Set it a little higher in the summer and a little lower in the winter. Even a change of one degree can save you money each month.

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A change of one degree on your thermostat can save you money each month.

ther--Keep your curtains open in the winter to let the heat from the sun in and keep them closed in the summer to keep the heat out.

--Check for air flow at the bottom of your doors. If you feel a breeze, this can mean significant heat loss, so install a simple seal or door sweep.

--Wait until your dishwasher is full before your run it and don’t use the drying cycle. Open the door and let the dishes air dry.

--Use the cold water setting on your washer. Your clothes will be just a clean and using less hot water every month will really help to cut your utility bill.

--Fill your washer, add detergent and let laundry soak over night. Then run the cycle in the morning. This will help to get clothes cleaner without adding extra laundry products.

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Review your phone bill.

--Review your phone bill and try to get back to the basics. Don’t pay for extras, like call waiting, that you don’t really need.

--The same thing goes for your cable bill. Cut back to only the basics you really want. If you pay for a premium channel for a favorite show, check the video store to see you can rent the episodes instead.

--Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs and turn out the lights whenever you leave the room.

--Don’t forget to turnoff the TV when you’re not watching.

So, try these few painless penny pinching tips for effortless saving.