Being a Redneck is more a matter of where your heart lies than where you happen to be at the moment – as you well know if you’re still dreaming of your little piece of heaven.
Many of us have had to scrimp and save before we could afford to buy us a piece of land. If you’re still aspiring to the country life, here’s a savings plan that could help you get your homestead a little faster – and cut your carbon footprint, too.
You know all those little things you could – and should – be doing to save energy?
Well, get up off your donkey’s rear end and start doing them! But don’t just do it to feel superior. Actually track (as best you can) how much you save, and put that money in your homestead savings piggy bank. (Or put it on your mortgage payment – you’d be surprised how much faster you can pay off your loan by adding just a few extra dollars a month.)
Here are a few places to start:
Air sealing – according to Energy Star, air leaks can account for 25-40% of your energy bill. That’s a lot – and a lot of money that could go towards saving for your homestead. So break out the caulk and the weatherstripping!
Your commute – How much do you spend a week on gas? Figure it out. Then, if you live 3 miles or less from work, start walking or riding your bike as often as you can. Ditto goes for those little trips to the store. Plunk the difference into your homestead savings account. (Bonus: all the extra exercise will help prepare your body for country life.)
Hang your clothes to dry either outside or on lines strung in your basement or attic. Figure about 30 cents a load. It may not seem like much, but every bit counts and a year’s worth of dryer loads could add up to more than you think!
Insulate your hot water pipes and storage tank. Pipe insulation and an insulating jacket for your water heater are inexpensive and easy to install, and can cut your heat loss by up to 75%. Just don’t start using more hot water because it’s costing you less – that won’t help you save for your homestead!
How about it? Or have you already started? What are some energy-saving tips you can pass along that save money, too?
Go ahead and post. Who knows, you might just be helping out your future neighbor!
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Man oh man! There are so many ways that people can easily cut out alot of wasted energy around the home. People in rural areas probably take the most advantage of energy savings and green living. These tips are simple yet go a very long way not only in being green, but also in cutting out a few bucks from annual energy costs.