Go Green, Save Money & The Planet

How to Stretch Retirement Income by Being Green
Save Money, Boost Available Cash in Retirement & Help the Planet
by Carol Finch

Being a green consumer isn't just beneficial to the environment. Those on a low retirement income can stretch and save their money by following a few basic tips.

Having less cash to live on in retirement than anticipated can be difficult. Many seniors find it hard, especially when newly retired, to make their budget stretch. Looking at living a greener and more environmentally friendly lifestyle may save some cash and even make some money.

Reducing Electricity Costs May Help Save Money in Retirement
Although many general living costs are reduced once people retire, some may actually increase. Living at home all day, every day, instead of going out to work may increase energy and utility costs. The following tips may help reduce spending and, therefore, save money. For example, it may be worth:

•Reducing thermostats and hot water heating controls by a couple of degrees until a comfortable level is found.
•Hanging clothes whenever possible to dry them.
•Getting into the habit of turning off lights when they aren’t needed.
•Switching to energy saving compact bulbs where possible.
•Not leaving computers, TVs and other electrical items on stand-by but turn them off when not in use.
•Looking at buying energy efficient appliances when old models need replacing.
•Focusing on heating the rooms that are most used and not wasting energy on heating those that are rarely used.
•Following the advice of the Department of Energy and minimizing air conditioning usage by using awnings that could cut up to 77% of solar heat on windows.
•Considering replacing air conditioning with ceiling fans.
It may also be worth looking at other utility costs such as water and sewage and how savings may be made there.

Save on Water Usage and Boost Retirement Income
According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program the average household could cut about $170 off a $500 annual bill for water and sewage by making water savings. The average retired household may be smaller than the norm but there is still cash to be saved here. For example, it may be worth:

•Taking short showers rather than long baths.
•Running washers/dishwashers when they are full (this will also save on electricity costs).
•Turning water off when brushing teeth and shaving.
•Fixing leaks and drips as soon as possible.
•Scraping dishes before putting them in the dishwasher rather than rinsing them.
•Using kitchen/cooking water to water the garden.
•Controlling the use of hoses (driveways and sidewalks can be brushed and cars can be washed with a bucket of water).
•Replacing old appliances and fixtures as necessary with WaterSense certified products (these could cut usage by 20%).
Those that need to replace water appliances or fixtures may be able to claim a rebate for certified products.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524