According to Consumer Reports, rinsing dishes before putting them into the dishwasher is a waste of time and money since modern dishwashers work better on un-rinsed dishes. It's also a good idea to wait until the dishwasher is full before running it.

The same is true for running your washing machine: Wait until you have a full load. Wash clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot. Almost 90 percent of washing machines' energy consumption is spent heating the water, says EnergyStar.gov.

Be sure to clean the lint trap in your clothes dryer after each use. This helps ensure proper air flow, which can improve the dryer's efficiency, according to BobVila.com. Take the energy savings one step further by purchasing a drying rack and letting clothes air dry whenever possible.

Each of these cost-saving measures might not seem like much on their own, but the savings can really add up. For more ways to save, check out the Department of Energy's website.