Many people are searching for ways to save money around the home, even as the recession that shook Britain is starting to, well, recede. However, that doesn't mean we're out of the dark yet - and even if there wasn't a foul economy bringing us all down, it's never a bad idea to save money wherever you can. So if you're looking for tips on how to save money, read on.

The saying goes that charity starts at home - and so that goes for saving money too. If you're hoping to save a little extra cash, the first place to start is around the house. You might be surprised by just how much money you can save by switching your routine at home, and you can even save with practically no effort at all. You can start by taking care of the environment - that is, by using less electricity and gas. By switching off unused lights and only turning on the heating, hot water and various appliances when you need them, not only will your utility bills go down but you'll be doing your bit for the planet too.

That's just the beginning of things. In fact, one of the easiest ways to save money around the home is by lowering your bills. Another way of saving money on heat is by installing proper insulation and looking after your boiler - both of which are long term solutions to help you save money.

On top of utility bills, there are also bills such as your television, internet, phone and mobile phone to think about. Bills such as these are the type that are easy to reduce with barely any effort at all. All it requires is a little time - time you can use to research the services you're receiving and which of them could save you money. Due to the fierce competition between media service providers, it could easily be the case that you could be getting the same package you're already receiving but cheaper. Another option to consider is that, by combining all of your services into a single package with one company rather than getting different ones from many, you'll save a significant sum.

However you decide to save on your household bills, whether you want to start by focussing on gas and electricity or you want to change your phone and broadband supplier, you can be sure that a few simple changes can go a long way - saving you not only a nice amount of cash, but helping the environment as well.