With the economy going the way it is going, saving money is at the top of many of our priorities. There is a lot of things you can do to save a little cash, here are some quick ideas to get you going.

1. Find a little cash to put into a savings account every month.
2. Create a budget and make sure you and your family stick to it.
3. Learn DIY, simple jobs can be done by yourself and save hundreds.
4. Stop eating out. Even small purchases such as a sandwich can add up.
5. Get crafty and start making your own cards and gifts. The effort is appreciated by many.
6. Always go during sale time if you need to go shopping.
7. Trawl the internet for coupons. Companies hike up their prices so that they can give discounts
8. Visit your local library for books and dvds instead of buying or renting.
9. Consider buying second hand goods, especially electronics as their price goes down quickly.
10. Make sure you keep your possessions in good repair so you don’t have to replace them.
11. Write a shopping list of needed items and stick to it
12. Visit your local bulk buy store and buy in bulk.

With today’s problems with the economy and the credit crunch, we should all be looking at ways to save ourselves some money. Many people are finding themselves in debt because of the soaring price of food and household bills. The biggest rise in costs to the average household is gas and electric. Unfortunately, these are two things that we cannot live without, so here are some simple tips that will help you to save money on your heating bills. They will also reduce your carbon footprint too,

1. By turning your thermostat down just one or two degrees will make a lot of difference. You will probably not even notice the adjustment, but this will help save you money and help the environment.

2. If you spend most of your time in one room for long periods of time and you have a gas or electric fire, why not use that to heat up the room you need. This will take less energy than a central heating system trying to heat up the whole house and the room will get warm really quickly.

3. Keep doors shut when you are trying to keep rooms warm. There is no point in having your central heating making your living room nice and toasty, while you stand chatting at your front door with your neighbour. Your heating system will be working extra hard to get rid of the cold, therefore costing you more money.

4. Use door runners to stop drafts creeping underneath. You can even make these yourself out of an old pair of tights stuffed with material from old clothes.

5. If you find there is a draft coming in through the side of one of your window panes, simply run some masking tape down it to block them out.

6. Wear extra clothes. If you are sitting in your house in a t shirt complaining that it is cold, it is so much more cost effective to simply put a jumper on rather than spending money on your heating.

7. Make sure your radiators are working to their full potential. You may need to bleed them to get the best out of them.

8. Remember to turn your heating off at night. You don’t need it on when you are asleep, so set the timer to come on about half an hour before you wake up and it will be lovely and warm.

9. Remember to switch it off when you go out. It is pointless in spending money on heating a house that no one is spending any time in. If you like your house to be warm when you get in simply set the timer again.

10. If you can afford it, have cavity wall insulation implemented in your property. There are many schemes that local councils run to cut the cost for home owners to help them with their energy bills. Walls that are insulated hold so much more heat in, reducing the amount of time you need your heating on.

11. For extra warmth without turning up your heating, why not light some large candles in the room you are spending time in. It is surprising how much heat they give off.

12. After you have finished cooking, leave  your oven door open. This lets a lot of heat out for a fair while after the oven has been switched off.

13. Insulate your loft. Insulation should be at least 8 to 10 inches thick in order for it to be efficient. This could cut your heating bill a great deal as heat rises, so you need to stop it escaping.

14. Try and stop yourself turning on the heating as soon as the first slightly cold day arrives. You will find that you get used to the extra warmth and will be switching it on every day. Try and wait until it gets really cold.

15. Double glazed windows are far more efficient at keeping out the cold rather than single glazed windows. If you can afford to double glaze your home, it is money well spent that will help to reduce your heating bill every year.

If you combine all these tips, you will soon notice that your house is warmer and your heating bills are lower. You can also know that you are doing your bit to help the environment as well as helping your wallet.