On Being Practical

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

12 Jul 2008 08:38 AM

Being practical might sound boring. Boring or not, it is an essential quality when it comes to maintaining a household.

If you are feeling the economic crunch, these practical tips might just come in handy. The best part is they are pretty painless.

Conserve Energy

Yes, it's the environmentally conscious thing to do, but it's also practical in other ways. You'll save money by using the fan first instead of going straight for the air conditioning. You may also help avoid power outages if your area is prone to them under heavy power usage. If each of us uses just a little less energy, everyone benefits, and generally in more than one way.

Another good way to save energy is by serving more cold food during hot weather. Less cooking will of course reduce energy usage, not only that which you save by avoiding cooking in the first place, but also that which you will save by not heating up the kitchen (which makes the air conditioning work harder).

Conserve Water

Instead of refilling the kids' wading pool every day, try filling a smaller container (such as a dishpan) to place beside it. Have children rinse their feet before entering the pool. The pool will stay cleaner, and you can simply empty, rinse, and refill the container daily, instead of the entire pool. You'll save a lot of water with this method.

Plan your Trips

When you have errands to run, try to do them in a specific order that will allow you to get as many things done as possible in one trip. It's even better if you can basically make a circle, going from one destination to another along the way, instead of going back and forth. It only takes a minute or two to organize your errands in this fashion, and not only will it help you save gas money, but it may also end up helping you save time (another precious commodity these days!).

Consider "carpooling" with neighbors who have similar errands. While you may not need to set up a formal carpool arrangement, you can certainly take turns with a friend, family member, or neighbor. You can drive to the bank and the grocery store and your friend might drive to the pharmacy and fruit stand another day (or any places you both visit frequently). Another option is to ask your friend for a list and pick up the items he or she needs while you are out, and then she can return the favor when running errands.

A Few Odds and Ends

Learn more about Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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