If you've gotten into the habit of unplugging things like chargers, small appliances and electronics when not in use, congrats to you. But not everything always has to be unplugged. Older appliances that lack all the bells and whistles of modern electronics are energy sippers, not hogs. Old and simple alarm clocks, lamps and even washers and dryers that lack LED screens and monitors can be left plugged in. Always focus on the actual energy hogs to save costs, and save yourself the hassle by leaving the old-fashioned ones plugged in.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know leaving your TV, cable box and Wi-Fi router plugged in all day can burn through $150 in electricity costs every year? It's even worse if no one is home during the day to use any of these devices. Because these electronics use energy even when inactive, a simple solution is to plug them into a surge protector with an easy-to-access on/off switch. When you leave for the day, turn it off so it's not wasting power for eight to 10 hours, then turn it on when you get home. The inconvenience of waiting a few minutes for everything to reboot is worth it.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It's no secret that a full freezer is the most efficient kind, since the majority of the energy used is to cool down warm air. A more packed freezer means less air, which means less energy used to cool things down. But what if your freezer isn't full? You can fill up large bags with Styrofoam packing peanuts to fill up spaces, or reuse freezer bags by filling them with water and freezing them flat to act as ice blocks (and they can be used to keep things cool in ice chests when you need them). Any reusable plastic containers (perhaps from takeout) can be cleaned, filled with water and frozen to help fill your freezer space, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION