Kate Copsey had one question for her real estate agent two years ago: Which of the 500 homes for sale in the northern Atlanta suburbs would allow her to hang laundry out to dry?

That whittled it down to about 10 choices, she said.

Copsey, 50, who lives in Roswell, had been hanging clothes out to dry her entire life. She's owned two dryers in 20 years and saves about $500 annually on her electric bills based on an estimate from her utility.

"It just seems ridiculous to use it for things like sheets and clothing when the sun's out," Copsey said. "I'm not a tree hugger per se. It just seems like common sense."

Because Copsey separates her clothes — light from dark, jeans, shirts, for example — she ends up washing seven or eight loads of clothes a week. But because she hangs our nearly everything to dry — socks are among the small exceptions — she uses the dryer only once.

"It's part of life," she said. "We know everybody can afford a dryer, but that doesn't mean you should use it."

— Kristi E. Swartz

31 ways to save

• Want to save on food? Ask your neighbors 
• Frequent diner saves with coupons by e-mail 
• Shopper works grocery sales 
• Teenage flash for less 
• Fun, cheap getaway as close as a state park or two 
• Borrowing from library cuts costs for avid readers 
• Gamble pays off in lower expenses 
• Exerciser not waiting for DVD to come out 
• Coupons bite into cost of dining out 
• Find it for a fraction of the original price 
• Purge baby items at consignment shops 
• Brazil beckons for savings-smart traveler 
• Old sol  and 'common sense'  cut electric bill 
• Cost-cutting is par for the course 
• Rack up with sales, off-season garments 
• Shopper charts the best prices 
• Public swimming pool refreshing, affordable 
• More-efficient ride picks up cash flow 
• Clean Air deal sweetens switch to a car pool plan 
• Personal trainer trims costs and fees 
• Mom shops early for school needs 
• 'Kids eat free' nights stretch family's budget 
• RVers cut back, consolidate trips 
• Teacher Web sites offer ideas, freebies 
• Mom 'not too proud' to snag a bargain 
• Cheese plates, movies fit budget 
• Take a walk to library; watch a movie for free 
• Volunteer shows way to free theater seats 
• Catch Braves in action for mere peanuts 
• Portrait of thriftiness in designer-wear garb 
• Businessman finds cheap gas via phone 
• Shopper takes bite out of grocery bill 
• Have your own way to save? Please share it with us
• Your Money: Strategies for stretching your dollars
• Saving Dough: Resources for stretching your food dollar