Save money with a Clothes Airer! You bet.

What's a clothes airer? Well, if you live in the US you may never have heard the term. It's an English thing, you see. For real savings on your laundry you hang your clothes near the ceiling and....well, better let Mr. Williams explain it:

5 Eco Ideas That Make Real Savings
By Richard N Williams

We are all told about the impact we are having on the environment and we are all encouraged to buy eco-friendly products as greener alternatives, however, many eco ideas cost many and whatever savings they make to the environment impact our wallets too.

However the advantages of living a greener and more natural way, recycling and adopting and eco-friendly lifestyle, should save us money not cost it!

There are many ways we can help the planet and also save money and some of these savings to both our pockets and the environment can be massive, here are five green ideas and eco-friendly products that can really make a difference:

5. Open fires - this may sound contrary to living an eco friendly way but by burning recycled waste you can heat your home without relying on mains gas or electric that comes from power stations. Using log makers that compact recycled material in to tight logs will ensure the waste burns slowly, providing more heat and less smoke. As well as a log maker keeping materials dry in a log store will ensure you get maximum heat and less smoke.

4. Energy saving light bulbs. These use five times less electricity than conventional bulbs and last a lot, lot longer too. Nearly all types of bulb fitting have an energy saving light bulb alternative.

3. Pure wool duvet. Returning to natural materials isn't just environmentally friendly but natural fibres like wool is far warmer than manmade fabrics. A 100% pure wool duvet will allow you to have the heating off at night saving a tidy sum on your heating bill.

2. Eco clothes airer. Keeping the tumble dryer off saves us on our electricity bills and protects the environment but having clothes lying on radiators looks cluttered and prevents the heat from warming the rooms. Eco clothes airers are ceiling mounted and make use of the heat trapped under the ceiling so the radiators are free to warm the room as the clothes are being dried.

1. Heating and insulation. Perhaps the biggest savings on our bills and the best way to reduce our gas and electric consumptions is to ensure the loft is well insulated and that our heating systems are well maintained and serviced. A faulty boiler or bad insulation will cost you a fortune and the increase in use of power will harm the planet too.

Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in eco friendly products and innovns. Please contact us if you are interested in recycling, eco gifts an eco clothes airer or other great green ideas.

Energy Saving Light Bulbs, more than just a green alternative to standard bulbs

Everyone knows that energy saving light bulbs cost more but are much more earth-friendly. Another great feature about the real savings of energy saving bulbs is that they typically make only 25% as much heat as conventional bulbs. My study was always hot and stuffy, with two PC's running most of the time. The man at the hardware store suggested I replace all the bulbs in the room with energy savers. What a difference!

Not only is the room cooler, but the light from the energy saver bulbs is much softer and more natural, like sunlight. I didn't think it would make a difference but I was wrong. I went back and bought a dozen more energy savers and replaced most of the bulbs in the house.

Energy saving bulbs are much more than a real savings in terms of cost. They are a green alternative that really is a vast improvement over the old hardware. I highly recommend them!

Real Savings on Grocery Gas Discounts?

How about those gas discount cards you get offered at grocery stores? Are they a real savings or just another come-on to get into your pockets? Here's a few comments from a contributor who can clear the matter up for you:

We've all got them. Those plastic cards with the names of large grocery chains and warehouse stores printed on them. Those bits of plastic are good for in-store discounts, and they are very valuable for that. Some of them go one step further and offer cents off on the gallon at their own pumps as well. Both of these are excellent marketing tools for the corporation, and they benefit you as well.

However, there is one point where you, the buyer, should beware.

If the store offers a gas discount for simply having a card or for buying a gift card with no surcharge, you've got yourself a deal. The trouble comes in when the store requires a minimum purchase in order to get the discount. One store in a nearby town gives a discount of 10 cents per gallon on a single fill up when you purchase $100 in groceries.

If you took them up on that deal, how would you actually save? This store has great prices on milk and eggs, and they often run terrific specials on meat items. However, their bread is pricey and their produce, although beautiful, is far more expensive than the local superstore. When you purchase $100 worth of groceries there, you will undoubtedly spend an extra $20-$30 over what you'd spend at the cheapest grocery in town.

How much can you save at the rate of 10 cents per gallon? This depends on the size of your tank, of course. The average car has a 15 gallon tank. At the rate of 10 cents per gallon, you'll save $1.50 on that fill up.

Even at that, there are a couple of ways you can still win at the discount gas game. 1. Only purchase items that cost less than other stores, such as the deep discounts on meat and milk. 2. Bring your boat or your dual tank truck when you fill up. With a 50-gallon fill up, you'll save $5.00. Does that make it worth the trouble? Only you can answer that question.

And now I'd like to invite you to check out Penny Pinching Meals, a cookbook that will save you time and shrink your food budget with your family happy and satisfied. See the free video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXdaHLb0RAo

Rosey Dow is CEO of http://www.ExpertsinFocus.com