With the economy going topsy-turvy, each household has to rethink its budget to be able to fit into the current economic scenario comfortably. The rising costs, increased expenses, and unsure jobs are the main reasons for the tensions and increased blood pressure for most of the people. With such a mindset, home improvement is the last thing you would want to think of. Add to this the growing environmental concerns, you might as well sit in your box forever. 2014 is the year when we need to start concentrating on budgeting and green living, owing to the fact that the economy and environment are both in dire emergency now. The home improvement tips for the year too center on being pocket-friendly and environment friendly. Here are a few home improvement tips that cater to both these criteria-

CFL Lights- You might have heard this before but is is well worth the repetition. CFL bulbs may cost you more for the moment but being energy efficient, they cut down on your electricity bills significantly. Also, they are more environment friendly than ordinary bulbs.

Neem as insect repellent- You can easily replace the expensive, chemical insect repellents with this all-natural solution. Either you can get neem capsules from the pharmacy to place them in the cupboards, or, if possible, you can simply use neem leaves to keep insects away.

Indoor plants- This is one of the simplest solutions to many problems. Indoor plants have great decorative value, they come in cheap, and they pose no threats to the environment. In fact, having the right indoor plants can keep away many diseases, can purify air, and can add to the general feel-good factor of the home.

Double-glazed windows- These may not be the cheapest option but they would definitely bring down your gas and electricity bills. You would recover from the cost of refurbishing your windows within a year, by saving the same amount from the utility bills.

Get a solar cooker- If you get enough sunlight, you shouldn’t miss on this. Solar cookers are easy to get now and the food cooked is equally delicious. The added benefit is that you don’t waste any gas!

Washer and dryer combo- Instead of having separate washer and dryer, try getting a combo. These are cheaper, they consume less energy, and you are saved from doing extra chores.

Plant trees that give shade in summers- If you are blessed with a nice front garden, make full use of it and plan carefully trees that would give you shade in the summers. This way in summers, you would spend less on the air conditioner bills.

Plant native plants- We all do love fancy flowers and ornamental plants. However, these are more costly to maintain and require more water. It is best to plant trees and plants that are native to your area. If you can manage, you can also plant various herbs and fruit or vegetable bearing plants.

Cleaning supplies- You’d be surprised to know that how efficient are baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice, when it comes to cleaning. You can easily switch a number of cleaning supplies with these. Not only are these cheaper, but they are absolutely harmless for your skin and the environment.

Along with these, you always have the basics to adhere to- switch of unused lights, use dimmers,  close the taps properly, minimize loss of heat, shut down laptop at night etc.  Rather than losing out heart because of the escalating prices, find alternative ways for home improvement. Weather it is energy consumption, household storage solutions, or going green, you’ll always find eco-friendly, economic ways.

Author Bio: Evelyn Kelly is a professional writer. She wants to share her professional experience with her audience. And she regularly write Guest post about Storage services and also cover various other topics related to home, interior decoration, and household storage etc. She loves to spend her time with family and friends.