Save Water, Save Money

To save water is to save money on your water bill — one of the best practices to make sure you’re not wasting cash. It can definitely be very helpful if you’re trying to budget and build your financial future.

If you want to know how to conserve water and lower your bill, try these practical and easy tips. While it does look like a small amount to save each month, it can still add up.

Shorter showers

Are you into long showers or hot baths? If yes, this most probably makes your water bill much more expensive.

The good news is you can switch to short showers without noticing much of a difference. Start with using a timer to know how long you spend in the shower. This can serve as your benchmark for improvement.

Try to rearrange your shower ritual from what you normally do. Shampoo and condition your hair simultaneously for a single rinse. When sitting under hot water, wash your body with your hands instead of just standing there. Aim to spend at most five minutes in the shower.

Fill up the dishwasher to save water

When you’re using the dishwasher or laundry washer, only wash full loads before putting it through its cycle to save water. A partial load uses an equal amount of water and energy. So make sure to fill up your laundry or dishwasher for a much more efficient process.

Turn the tap off while washing dishes

Pre-rinsing your dishes can help save water. Put a couple of centimetres of hot water in a basin, then scrub off any remaining foods using a dish brush.

Use enough suds to clean your dishes. Too much suds means more water for rinsing. When washing up, rinse the small and cleanest stuff first. And when you’re done, you can even pour the used water onto your plants.

When you brush your teeth or you shave, turn off the water if you don’t gargle or wash your face yet. Running water during these activities seems harmless, but it can wreak havoc on your water bill. Always turn the tap off when you’re not using it.

Also, you can wash fruits and vegetables in a filled container instead of under running water.

Wash clothes in cold water

Warm water needs to be heated, which requires energy. Around 75% of the energy required to do laundry goes into heating the water. This is one of the reasons cold water can help you save more money. Cold-water detergents and setting your washing machine to 60 degrees Fahrenheit complete the process.

Furthermore, cold water is not harsh on clothes, making them last longer. Using cold water retains colours, size, and shape. Heat breaks down dyes in clothes, and it can cause shrinkage. The same logic can be applied for line drying clothes instead of putting them in a hot drier.

If you liked our “Save Water, Save Money” and find it useful, check our blogs regularly for more information on how to get out of debt and updates on the best budgeting apps in Australia.