113 Recession-Proof Money and Energy Saving Tips

Phew. It's finally done! I got my act together and put my list of 113 tips on saving money and energy into writing. Besides 113 short and concise tips on how to save money and energy the .pdf file contains useful additional links to free downloads and complimentary information. The 16 page ebook is absolutely FREE and can be immediately downloaded. I hope you will enjoy reading it as much I enjoyed writing it.

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Toxins: Hand-me-downs Can Protect Your Baby

Parents who buy hand-me-downs or used articles for their baby don't need to be ashamed - Buying or accepting second hand articles is not just great for your budget, in fact it is great for the health of your little one too.



German pediatrians at the institute of risk assessment warn that brand new products often contain toxins that infants are exposed to with little or no protection.
Therefore, parents are advised to find an intelligent mix between used and brand new products for their offspring.
Particularly problematic are newly built and furnished nurseries, where babies can be exposed to a multitude of toxins found in new cribs (varnish fumes), rugs and carpets (fumes from glues) and of course paint (fumes).
The same can be said for textiles; pesiticide leftovers in the fiber, toxins in the dye. And just think through how many machines and hands those fabrics went before they reach your home. Since second hand clothing has been washed several times before it reaches the skin of your baby, it is actually the healhier choice.

Reusable Green Tea Bags

There are two ways how to reuse your green tea bags. One way is to simply let it steep twice.
The second way is to save the tea bags after the first usage and then dry and collect them. Once you have accumulated about 5 bags, they can be sewn up in a cheese cloth and then used to bathe in. Yep, particularly green tea is very good because antioxidants can also be absorbed through the skin.

Other highly recommended herbal teas are:
Raspberry Leaf
Peach
Chamomile
Apricot
Ginger

Stand-By Electricity Usage

All electric appliances that have a remote control or have a digital display are on stand-by of some sort and still draw up to one third of their electric supply while in "hibernation" mode. This refers to TVs, DVD players, microwaves, laundry machines, etc. It is a good idea to plug appliances into a power switch and to turn it off completely when not in use.

The Day The 18 Month Old Dryer Went on Strike

Well, this is new. A dryer that heats but refuses to blow air and turn. Hence a heater, not a dryer. A Whirlpool that was. I had to say it. Repairs and parts nowadays easily cost more than buying an entirely new dryer. What to do, repair or buy another new electric dryer? While debating I chose the 3rd option. I invested a few bucks in a laundry line and started air drying our clothes in the basement. I guess that's what basements and attics were for in the old days. Never have to worry about a dryer going on strike again. Good for the environment, good for the electricity bill, nice exercise. I think we have a winner.

Along that line I can only recommend the Whitney Design 5147 Indoor Folding Drying Rack, Chrome for $25.30. It is sturdy and can be used inside as well as outside.
Or just get an old-fashioned Lehigh RC20 20-Foot Retractable Clothesline ($10.42)





My mom always used the Crawford-Lehigh LA84P-1 Large Capacity Deluxe Parallel Clothes Dryer and loved it ($47.99). This model is probably more for outside usage.

ZipLoc and Other Plastic Bags

Who said Ziploc storage bags bags can only be used once?
They are made out of plastic after all and can be turned inside out, washed, dried and reused. Personally, I prefer the plain no-name brands offered by Target or Aldi.

Small plastic grocery bags can be used as in-liners for small trash cans. Larger plastic bags (e.g. from Target) suffice as trash bags for your regular kitchen trash. Remember to recycle, it keeps the actual amount of trash to a minimum. Most plastic containers can be recycled these days.

There's no need to pay for something that most stores are giving away for free.