Roasting chicken

Roasting chicken
The Noun Project

It’s often cheaper – and faster, of course – to buy an already cooked chicken. Coles sells rotisserie chickens 
for as little as $4 each, a money loser designed to get 
people in the door. At other stores, they’re a little more, while an uncooked whole roaster typically starts at $10 in a supermarket. Treat yourself once a week, and you stand to save as much as $182 annually, not to mention more than 150 hours of cooking.

This is the secret that makes KFC’s fried chicken so crunchy.

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Sweeping up after you track in dirt

Sweeping up after you track in dirt
The Noun Project

In many countries, it’s customary to take off your shoes as soon as you come 
inside. Adopting a no-shoes policy is an easy way to keep your house cleaner and your family healthier. About 85 percent of all the dirt in our homes is tracked 
in on shoes, say the experts at Family Handyman. And that’s not the worst of it. According to a study at the University of Houston, more than 26 percent of shoes 
carry Clostridioides difficile bacteria, responsible for many cases of stomach distress, into the house. Another small study at the University of Arizona showed that 96 percent of shoes track in faecal matter. A simple solution is to keep a mat or shoe rack just inside your front door.

Carrying a heavy key chain

Carrying a heavy key chain
The Noun Project

Take any extra keys and doodads 
off your key chain. The weight can wear on your ignition and cause it to stall.

Filing all your bills…

Filing all your bills…
The Noun Project

Sure, you’d like 
to skip the bills 
altogether, but getting statements electronically instead of on paper means you’ll have less clutter and therefore will spend less time sorting, filing and shredding. Some companies will even give you a 
financial bonus or discount for going paperless. Ask your bank, utilities and credit card issuers whether they’ll pay 
you to sign up for ­e-statements and automatic payments, which save you even more time.

…And Paying them by cheque

…And Paying them by cheque
The Noun Project

If you’re going paperless with statements, why not do the same with payments? Most banks offer online bill-paying options, or 
you can pay companies directly. State-of-the-art encryption technology should keep your personal information safe, as long as you use a secure internet network (not public wifi).

Stocking up on light bulbs…

Stocking up on light bulbs…
The Noun Project

Compared with 
incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs last far longer and use about 75 per cent less energy, which translates directly into smaller electric bills. The latest generation of energy-saving bulbs give off excellent light and fire up quickly.

Check out these 11 extraordinary uses for ordinary household items.

…And batteries

…And batteries
The Noun Project

According to Wirecutter, it takes more than 15 disposable batteries to equal the power you’ll get from one rechargeable battery. Yes, rechargeable batteries cost more, but they will pay for themselves after about five charges. And be sure to recycle used batteries. It’s safer, as ‘dead’ batteries might still carry enough charge to create a spark (and a fire hazard).

Thawing over frozen food

Thawing over frozen food
The Noun Project

According to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), your refrigerator temperature should be set 5°C. Setting the temps any lower won’t make your food last longer and will push up your electric bill. If your appliance doesn’t have a built-in thermometer, buy one at a hardware store. Also, to keep things cool, spread the food around in the fridge and freezer so air can flow properly. And stop standing there with the door open – you’re letting warm air in!

We bet you didn’t know you can freeze these foods. 

Throwing away leftovers

Throwing away leftovers
The Noun Project

Speaking of the freezer, anything fresh or cooked can be 
frozen, according to the food pros at Taste of Home. That includes fresh vegetables as well as cooked eggs and pasta. Don’t throw away those peels and scraps, either. They can go right into a compost bin or pile instead. Make one at home, or find out whether your city has a central drop-off location.

Here are 14 reasons you need to stop throwing away eggshells.

Plugging into power strips

Plugging into power strips
The Noun Project

Many are simply extension cords with multiple sockets. What you want is a surge protector, which looks like a power strip but is designed to shut off if 
it’s overloaded or if the current exceeds 
a certain level.

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