According to Shlomo Cherniak, owner of Cherniak Handyman Services, you can save money by making a few smart swaps around your house. “Switch to LED lights for energy efficiency, weatherproof to reduce heating and cooling costs, and invest in energy-efficient appliances for long-term savings."

This under-cabinet LED light strip is a great place to start. It is easy to install. Peel and stick it under a cabinet, shelf, or bar. Tap a button to turn it on and off. There is no need for an electrician because it is battery-powered. Not only will the LED lights last longer, but you’ll save money (and energy) by not having to turn on the overhead lights as much.

Following Cherniak’s advice to weatherproof is also peel-and-stick easy with this weather seal tape. Identify areas around doors and windows that let heat or air conditioning out, and seal them up with this rubber foam strip. It comes in a variety of thicknesses, widths, and lengths to suit your situation. Your interior will be quieter, too.

Investing in energy-efficient appliances is a long game. But you can start taking Cherniak’s advice now by plugging your appliances into this usage monitor plug to track how much power each uses. This will help you prioritize which appliance to replace and see how much you will save if you do. It shows the voltage, amps, cost, and more on a clear and bright screen. All you have to do is plug it in and plug your appliance into it.

For even more cost-cutting, Cherniak recommends “using programmable thermostats to regulate temperature and reduce energy consumption, low-flow shower heads and faucets to conserve water, and smart power strips to prevent energy wastage."

One programmable thermostat that’s incredibly easy to use? This smart thermostat from Amazon is a clever, AI-connected device that will let you shout at Alexa to turn the heat up or down. Or you can put your HVAC on a schedule so that you don’t heat an empty house or come home to a cold (or hot) one.

Not only will this high-pressure handheld shower head save you money by reducing your water consumption by 30% (according to the brand), but it will also turn your shower into a little piece of heaven. It offers six spray modes — including a stimulating massage and a gentle spray — and it boosts the water pressure so you can rinse off quickly and easily.

This smart power strip lets you control each device you plug into it separately so you can use your voice to turn on appliances, fans, and lights, and to set routines and schedules to turn them off. That way you never leave a light on, a fan blowing, or your coffee maker running, burning through your hard-earned money by accident. It has three plugs and two always-on USB ports.

"In addition to swaps,” says Cherniak. “I advise homeowners to regularly maintain their appliances and HVAC systems to ensure optimal efficiency." Washing your washing machine is a maintenance step that many people miss. A dirty machine isn’t efficient, though. Deep cleaning it by dropping one of these machine cleaner tablets into the machine and running an empty load is so easy there is no reason not to do it. They work on all types of washers. Your dishes will clean more efficiently, so you don’t have to run them through a second time to get baked-on food off.

Keeping the coils on your air conditioning unit clean is another way to help your expensive appliances operate more efficiently. And this air conditioner spray makes that task easy. It cleans the dirt off the coils so the engine doesn’t have to work so hard and removes contaminants so you aren’t pumping those into your air. This all makes your air cleaner and your space smell better, too.

"Investing in leak monitors or smart water sensors can help you quickly detect leaks in your plumbing system,” according to Josh Mitchell, a plumbing technician and the owner of PlumbingLab.com. “Look for devices that can be integrated with your home's Wi-Fi for real-time alerts," he says. Put this Govee Wi-Fi water sensor under your water heater or sink and it will alert you on your phone when it detects a spill. “Early detection can prevent costly water damage and save on water costs by addressing leaks promptly,” he says.

"Upgrading to high-efficiency shower heads and faucet aerators can significantly reduce your water usage,” says Mitchell. Just unscrew your current aerator and replace it with this WaterSense-compliant bubble-spray faucet aerator that conserves water while delivering a boosted spray. “These devices maintain water pressure while using less water,” he says, “leading to savings on both your water and energy bills (since you're also heating less water). Products with the WaterSense label are recommended for their efficiency and performance."

"Addressing minor roof leaks or damage promptly can prevent major, expensive repairs down the line,” says Josh Riutta, a professional roofer and owner of Mikku and Sons Roofing. “Consider preventative maintenance like annual inspections and cleaning gutters to extend your roof's lifespan." Prevent clogs that can cause water backups and damage by installing this gutter guard. It keeps leaves and debris out of your gutters — saving you the hassle of cleaning them — by letting water through and keeping larger materials out.

This gutter scoop makes it easy to prevent gutter backups that could lead to roof damage. It makes the dreaded maintenance chore of cleaning out the gutters so much easier. The shape is purpose-built for digging into gutters without scraping your hand on the shingles. The handle is up high, the scoop is narrow, and the tongue reaches out in front to grab leaves.

Ray Brosnan, Managing Director of Brosnan Facility Management, suggests that you move your small appliances to smart plugs and set up routines or schedules. That way they shut off automatically. Leaving lights, speakers, and other easy-to-forget gear turned on can be expensive. "A smart plug is a great way to cut down on this cost,” he says. “Smart plugs operate most of the time in a standby mode themselves, but cost much less than leaving something like a wireless speaker in a state of suspension."

"Traditional thermostats have homeowners guessing about temperature settings throughout the day,” says Matthew Ferris, a master plumber, HVAC expert, and the founder of Ferris Plumbing. “But smart 'stats like [this Nest Thermostat] learn homeowners' routines and preferences over time to optimize comfort and efficiency. They can be controlled remotely via smartphone too. Homeowners get peace of mind knowing the HVAC system won't run unnecessarily."

Ferris also recommends this ecobee smart thermostat, which is programmable and connects to your phone or smart home — and lets you control it from anywhere — so you can automate, schedule, and use your voice to change the temperature. It is easy to install, has an easy-to-understand interface, and looks stylish on the wall.

"Switching to reusable products, such as cloth towels instead of paper towels, reusable water bottles instead of disposable plastic ones, and cloth grocery bags instead of single-use plastic bags, can save money in the long run by reducing the need for frequent purchases of disposable items,” says Jordan Woolf, owner of Huntsville Roofing Solutions. These Swedish dishcloths, for example, are as effective and absorbent as paper towels but you can wash and reuse them for years.

Using a reusable water bottle is also much less expensive — to your wallet and the environment — than buying water in bottles. And, if you sip from this double-walled, insulated thermos, your water will be icy cold all day. It holds 32 ounces and comes with three lids: a carabiner, a straw lid with two straws, and a flip lid.

Woolf recommends skipping disposable bags and upgrading to reusable grocery bags. You will be happy you did when your shopping becomes so much easier to carry and store in the car because of the flat bottom, structure, arm straps, and handles on this set of three. Carry them in the store, through the checkout, and home without repacking. They are useful for laundry and other chores, too.

"LED lights are a great alternative to traditional incandescent bulbs,” says Woolf. “LED lights not only use less energy but also last longer, saving homeowners money on electricity bills and replacement costs in the long run." This pack of four LED smart light bulbs screws right into the lamps you are using and takes advantage of all the money savings of LED while letting you control the brightness and color from your phone or smart home appliance.

For an energy-efficient alternative to the big light, this thin LED light bar is another way to save money and to make your home more convenient at the same time. Because the LED draws so little power and it operates on batteries, this light bar can replace costly overhead lighting when it’s not necessary. Install it anywhere from a closet with no outlet, to stair risers, to the bottom side of your cabinets. Tap the lens to turn it on and off.

Use an LED puck light to create illumination inside cabinets or shelves — or anywhere that a beam of light would enhance the look or usability of a space. This is a set of two that are battery-operated and peel-and-stick easy to install. You can use the remote to turn them on and off and to set things like brightness and the auto-turn-off duration, or tap them if you’re nearby.

"Adding insulation in attics and crawl spaces and caulking around windows and doors are also effective ways to improve energy efficiency and lower heating and cooling expenses,” says Woolf. And this silicone sealant is a terrific tool to get you started on this project. Load it into a caulk gun and shoot it into cracks and crevices to seal against water intrusion.

For any caulking project you attack, this three-in-one caulk tool is a must. It has every weapon you need to smooth freshly laid caulk, scrape away excess, or push the caulk where you need it. And it is all mounted onto one soft, easy-to-grip handle.

"Installing rain barrels to collect rainwater for outdoor use, like watering gardens or washing cars, can help reduce water bills during dry months, particularly in areas with metered or expensive water,” says Woolf. Place this decorative 45-gallon rain water barrel catcher system under your downspouts and it will catch rainwater and let you use it with the integrated hose. A screen keeps pets and debris out.

"Regularly maintaining your home, such as cleaning gutters, inspecting roofing for damage, and sealing cracks in driveways and sidewalks, can prevent costly repairs later on,” says Woolf. “Consider learning basic DIY skills or attending workshops to tackle minor repairs and maintenance tasks yourself." Meanwhile, arm yourself with this telescoping gutter cleaning wand so you can reach the gutters without climbing a ladder. It reaches 70 inches and the sweeper nozzle rotates 180 degrees.

Add this crack filler sealant to your home maintenance arsenal so you can quickly fix obvious cracks in your stairs, walkways, and other outdoor areas. It’s easy to use and matches the look and feel of your asphalt, forming a watertight seal that can stand up to the weather.

"Swapping old shower heads and faucets with low-flow fixtures can significantly reduce water usage and lower water bills without sacrificing water pressure or functionality,” suggests Woolf. You will never know the water is “low-flow” with this low-flow shower head because it blasts the water through a turbine engine so you feel the water pressure. It comes in four sizes and six colors.

This faucet aerator will reduce the amount of water you use at the kitchen sink and add functionality at the same time. The swiveling head lets you direct the stream of water where you want it, boosts the power of the water to get dishes clean faster, and can go from a bubble stream to a strong blast with a simple twist.

"Automatically shut off power to electronics when not in use, reducing standby power consumption," suggests Craig Young, a seasoned roofing professional and Vice President of Roof Doctors. To do that, you will need a smart plug or this clever and modern smart electrical outlet. It is compatible with your smart home system so you can set up routines and schedules that automatically kill the power to hungry devices when you aren’t using them.

This energy-saving timer is a simpler, analog way to control when appliances draw power. Plug it into an outlet. Plug your appliance into it. And turn the timer to set how long that fan, light, or heater will run. It’s a great way to prevent a space heater or iron running unattended, thereby saving power and preventing fire hazards.

"Sealing air leaks around windows and doors can improve energy efficiency and reduce heating/cooling costs,” says Young. And it’s so easy to do with this weather sealing tape. Just tape it over gaps and cracks and it will stop warm or cold air from causing your HVAC to work overtime. It also keeps dust, bugs, and smells out.

That gap under your door is compromising the efficiency of your heating and air conditioning system. This door draft stopper ends that in just a few seconds. Cut it to size, then peel and stick it to the bottom of the door. It insulates without impeding the movement of the door. It comes in three sizes and five colors.

When it comes to your roof, says Young, "regular inspections (twice a year) and addressing minor issues like loose shingles or clogged gutters can prevent costly repairs down the line. Consider DIY cleaning gutters or minor shingle repairs if you're handy." You don’t even have to think of yourself as super handy if you have this liquid nails roof repair in hand. Squirt it on those dislodged tiles or shingles and stick them down. Once you try it, you will use it for everything.

"Ensure adequate attic ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and damage to your roof and structure, potentially reducing energy costs for cooling,” says Young. If you find moisture up there, investing in a dehumidifier like this one can save money in the long run. It removes moisture from the air, reducing the humidity level to whatever you tell it. That will stop mold, mildew, and rot from setting in. The tank holds 1.4 gallons so you don’t have to empty it often. It’s also Energy-Star certified for efficiency.

You can get an instant read on how much moisture has been absorbed into walls, floors, and other infrastructure by getting a read on it with this moisture meter. Just hold it against the surface and it reads deep into the material and tells you on a bright, clear screen what the moisture level is in there.