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Have you ever thought about how much water you use in a day? Well, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average family uses 320 gallons of water per day. Water is one of the most basic needs in our lives but just like other human necessities, we need to pay a monthly bill to keep our taps running.

However, the sad news is that many households are struggling to pay water bills every month but there is always a solution.  Although it’s not possible to get rid of the bills entirely, there are ways to cut your water usage and reduce your water bill.

Here are the 7 easy steps to reduce your water bill cost.

1. Repair Leaks

Do you know that 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day? Shocking, right?  These small leaks like running toilets or kitchen taps could not only be dumping gallons of water down the drain but also your money.

For example, if you want to know whether or not your toilet has a leak, add 5 drops of food coloring to the tank.  After 10 minutes, if the bowl has changed color then know there is a link. Therefore, one of the best ways to save water as well as reduce your bill is to take care of the leaks as soon as possible.

2. Utilize the Dishwasher

According to the EPA, running your dishwasher uses less water than hand-washing your dishes. I know you are wondering how that is possible. It’s simple; a modern, efficient dishwasher uses around four gallons of water to clean a full load. However, if you hand wash you are likely to use 27 gallons of water to wash the same amount of dishes.

That’s a big difference? Plus, if you consider how much energy saved by not heating all those gallons of water, you will definitely save some dollars. However, if at the moment you don’t own a dishwasher, try stopping the drain and fill the sink with soapy water and clean all the dishes. After you are done, rinse them with running water.

3. Minimize on Your Shower Time

Everyone deserves a long hot shower to wash away all the cares of the world. Sadly, the longer you linger under the water, the more your water bill skyrockets especially if you are a large family. To reduce the cost of your water bill, try making it a family policy to take shorter showers.

Moreover, to prevent water wastage, you can go the extra mile and replace your old shower heads with low-flow or high-efficiency showerheads. Also, you can purchase the “Navy Shower” which enables you to shut off the water while soaping and turning it back to rinse off.

4. Water Your Lawn at Specific  Time

Apart from avoiding watering your lawn every day you can also reduce the amount to water loss by watering at specific times. Mostly this is early in the morning or late in the evening unlike during the day where water is lost through evaporation.

In addition, you should ensure it’s not windy when watering since a lot of water will be lost in sidewalks and driveways. Efficient sprinklers also come in handy since they prevent the irrigation system from turning on when it’s raining. Finally, you should also choose native plants to plant in your yard. Keep in mind, there are many plants to choose from which require little watering to sustain them.

5. Ensure You Cover the Pool

It’s true a pool requires a huge amount of water but that should not be the reason to pay extra money on your water bills. The best way to handle this is by covering the pool when not in use, this way you will get to reduce evaporation. By accomplishing this, the pool will be refilled less frequently thus saving water and reducing the water bill.

6. Avoid Running Water When Shaving or Brushing Your Teeth

Although its common sense, many people forget to close the tap when shaving or brushing your teeth. With this mistake, you end up wasting water which increases your water bill. For a simple solution, if you are shaving and want to rinse off the razor, place a cup with warm water near the sink and dip it there.

7. Collect Rain Water

If you are in a position to collect rainwater then don’t hesitate to do that. Attach a rain barrel to your home’s downspout to capture roof runoff. Nonetheless, if you cannot afford a barrel you can use a water cistern or any large container and will store the water for future use such as watering the lawn or garden.

Conclusion

When it comes to saving money, every bit of effort counts and from the above list, it won’t cost you a lot to make the necessary changes. Try these easy steps and get to see a positive effect on your bill. Remember, you won’t just be reducing your water bill but also playing your part in conserving the precious water.

I know you love your car, but I bet you don’t enjoy paying for car insurance especially with the cost of it rising by the minute. However, no matter how expensive it might be, the law requires you to have auto insurance and there is no avoiding that.

But wait a minute?  Just because the law requires you to pay doesn’t mean the auto insurance has to cost you a fortune to get the coverage that you need. Yes, it’s true that apart from the cost you will pay, insurance companies also consider other factors. These usually include your age, driving history, your living area and level of coverage.

Nonetheless, you still can save some money on your auto- insurance and still get quality coverage by just following these 6 simple tactics.

1. Compare Insurance Companies

Comparing companies might seem like an obvious starting point to many car owners but sadly it’s not. Every insurance company is different and their premiums are known to vary, that’s why it’s essential you compare their quotes.  With easy access to the internet, you get to search for dozen of insurance companies and get to compare the multiple quotes in minutes.

Furthermore, if you have held your auto insurance policy for several years, it wise you also review it. This is to ensure you are not paying too much on your coverage yet there are other companies with better offers. Remember that, switching insurance carries could save you hundreds of dollars every year but also keep in mind, the cheapest option is not always the best one.

2. Combine Your Policies

It’s no secret that most car insurance companies give discounts to clients that have more than one policy with them. Therefore, if you have multiple insurance policies such as life and homeowner’s insurance policy with different companies, you can opt to combine them with one carrier.

In some cases, having all your policies at one company can save you between 10% and 20% on all your coverage.  However, before you take the final step of combining the policies in one company, you should ensure you get the best option for all of them. Note that, for a great place to start, check out the guide to renters insurance and see how to combine other insurance policies with your car insurance.

3. Take Up a Defensive Driving Course

A defensive driving course is another simple tactic to help you save money on your car insurance coverage. If you take the optional course, most insurance providers are willing to give you a monthly discount if you show proof of the completed course. The good news is that this is a quick and simple way to save you some hundred dollars per year.

In addition, these classes will help you to be alert on the road and help you avoid any incidents or accidents. By learning how to react in certain high-risk situations, you get to save more money when you prevent any damage to your car or yourself. Is this not a win-win situation?

4. Pay Your Premium in One Go

Although it is possible to pay your car insurance on a monthly, quarterly or semiannually basis, it’s convenient to pay in one go.  For example, if you are used to paying on a monthly basis and you are charged a 5 % processing fee, you get to save $ 60 per year. That’s great, right?  Nonetheless, it’s important to read all the terms and conditions of each policy before deciding which ones work best for you.

5. Maintain a Good Credit Score

What most people don’t know is that insurance companies use as much information as they can get to price auto insurance policies. That means if you have some issues with your credit report, this can negatively influence your premiums. Therefore, if it has to do with paying the bills, ensure you pay them on time and work on lowering your credit card debt. Additionally, another way to be sure you’re getting the good credit you deserve, always check your credit record frequently.

6. Consider the Car You are Driving

I know you love your car, but are you forced to pay more insurance because of its make or model? When it comes to the make, the insurance company considers if the car is manufactured in the country of a foreign one. If it is a foreign car, you are likely to pay more on your premium because of the accessibility of body parts and body shops. When it comes to model, the fancier your car is the more expensive it is to insure. Sure, the fancy car is great but are you willing to pay extra of thousands in insurance for it?

Bottom Line

Saving money on your car insurance can be simple if you are willing to change some ways. Just apply the above tactics and be ready to have some extra money in your wallet.