A large down payment on a home can make the difference between a mortgage you can afford and one you can’t. We know saving for a down payment can feel overwhelming – but we’re here to help! In this ongoing series, we offer a simple tip each issue on how to save for that down payment and meet your home-buying goals. Today’s tip: Trade your incandescent lightbulbs for long-lasting LED bulbs
This may sound silly: How much money can you really save by using different lightbulbs anyway? A lot, it turns out! “If we consider lighting as a single appliance, it can be as much as 25% of your home’s electricity consumption,” notes The Environmental Center website. “Switching to energy-efficient lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills.” LED lights, the website adds, can last more than 25 times longer than traditional bulbs. If you replace even 25% of your lights where they are most used, you can cut your lighting energy bill in half.