The Young Money Club

Smart Thermostat

Older Model thermostats can eat up tons of energy and money. You might turn yours up because you’re hot or cold, and then leave for the rest of the day, having forgotten to set it lower again. The heat stays on high and you end up paying to heat or cool your empty house all day.

Programmable thermostats, on the other hand, let you set different temperatures for different times of the day or week. You might set it to be colder at night and warm once you wake up. Some are even smarter and can sense your presence, allowing them to adjust based on when you arrive and depart. Some even have apps that let you adjust temperatures when you’re away from home. The less energy you use, the more you’ll save. It’s estimated that a switch to a smart thermostat can save you between $100-$200 annually. You can check out the top rated smart thermostats below.

Reusable Grocery Bags

Reusable grocery bags may seem strictly Eco-friendly and offer no financial value, but many grocery stores offer incentives to bring your own reusable bags. Target, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s are just a few of the many places that will give you discounts for helping out the planet. These discounts are often per bag and can pay for themselves very quickly. Below you can check out the top rated listing on Amazon.

Rechargeable Batteries

Investing in a full set of rechargeable batteries for all your home electronics is a small way that is often overlooked as a way to save money. Everything from TV remotes to smoke alarms use batteries and in the long run you can save money as well as keep chemical filled batteries out of landfills.

Swap-able Head Toothbrush

It’s recommended that you change your toothbrush every 3-4 months (sooner with sickness). This is something very few people make a habit out of and can easily slip the mind. Toothbrushes with swap-able heads are a convenient, less wasteful way to save money. Instead of swapping the entire toothbrush you can buy a pack of heads and just swap those as needed. It saves you from having to buy new toothbrushes every time and keeps more waste out of landfills. I have a version of the one below and love it.

Reusable Water Bottle

The average american spends about $5 per week on plastic water bottles. If you’re consuming about one water bottle per day, that comes out to 300+ bottles that will most likely end up in a landfill. Most people don’t know that “recyclable” water bottles can’t be turned back into water bottles again like recyclable aluminum cans can. Making the switch to reusable can save you on average $250+ per year, as well as save 300+ plastic bottles from being used. The top selling amazon bottle is listed below.

Efficient Shower Head

The average shower uses about 17 gallons of water and lasts about 8 minutes. Implementing low-flow shower fixtures can be a great way to cut down your water usage as well as your water bill. Depending on the fixture, this switch can save you anywhere from 25-60% on your water. Now I know that not everyone is going to be willing to use a trickle of water to do their whole shower, this is why I have listed the option below. It has 6 different settings allowing you to save water when you want to, while also giving you the option to use more when you need to.

Shower Timer

Most people have never heard of a shower timer before but it’s probably exactly what you think it is. It’s a waterproof timer that you can put in your shower to make sure you aren’t spending too much time just enjoying the warmth. You can check out the one below but there are cheaper ones that don’t require batteries like this one.

LED Light Bulbs

LED light bulbs can save money in the long run but may only be worth it to some people. The high cost of LEDs compared to your average incandescent light bulb can be off putting. The high cost can also make it take much longer to recoup your initial investment. You can check out more information and a calculator here to see if it’s worth it for you.

Reusable Paper Towels

Most uses for disposables paper towels can easily be accomplished by reusable paper towels. Whether its simply reusable hand towels or purpose built rolls of reusable squares, these alternatives can save you money and reduce your trash output. You can check out one option below.

Water Filter

Switching from bottled water to filtered tap water and save you A LOT of money. One family saved about $400 per person by making the switch. You can read more about that here. I previously mentioned the benefits for the environment that eliminating water bottles can have. I personally have a Brita filter that in my opinion creates better tasting water than most bottled water. You can find the one I use below.

Sink Water Aerator

Water aerators on your sink faucets can help to cut down your water bill by a surprising amount. These small, cheap devices can save you anywhere from 25%-85% on your water usage depending on the flow rate. For more specific numbers you can check here. Below is a middle of the road aerator that comes in a 2-pack.