In today's economy, with millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet and pay the bills, saving money is at the forefront of our minds. Pair this concern with growing ecological worries about water shortages cropping up in areas where groundwater used to be plentiful, and it's clear to see that water conservation ought to be one of our top priorities. Not only does conserving water trim our monthly utility bills, but it also helps preserve a natural resource that's becoming scarcer and is often wasted. To that end, we've compiled a list of ten easy ways you can use less water at home.

1. Water your lawn at night. Watering during the day is far less efficient because most of the water will evaporate before it soaks into the ground.

2. Wear clothes more than once. Whenever possible, wear your jeans sweaters, or blouses several times between washings. Not only will you save water, but you'll find your laundry duty is easier to manage as well.

3. Use the dishwasher. Did you know that hand washing dishes uses twice to three times the water that the dishwasher requires to clean the same amount of dishes?

4. Only run the dishwasher when it's full. Remember, the dishwasher will use the same amount of water to run one load, regardless of whether it's full or only partially loaded.

5. Work out in the morning. Millions of Americans do their exercise routines in the afternoon or evening, and as a result, end up showering two times each day. If more of us exercised in the morning, one shower a day would be sufficient.

6. Turn the water off while you soap up. Even if this step only takes you one minute, think of it this way. If you use an 8 gallon per minute showerhead, and you multiply this step times four people in your home and times 365 days per year, you'll save over 11,000 gallons of water annually!

7. Install low flow showerheads. Going from a water wasting showerhead to one that sprays more lightly will only cost you a few dollars, and it will add up to big savings over the course of a year.

8. Use rainwater to irrigate outside plants. If you don't have rain barrels at the bottom of your drain spouts to catch rainfall running off your roof, just use some large buckets. You'll be able to gather a lot of water that doesn't cost you anything to use!

9. If you have old, water-wasting toilets in your home, put some bottles into the tank. Simply fill up a few empty soda bottles with water, and insert them into the toilet's tank. The bottles will displace some of the water that is flushed, saving you a little bit of water every time someone uses the toilet.

10. If you're replacing at toilet in your home, consider buying a low flush or, even better, a waterless toilet. While this may sound unappealing at first to some homeowners, with a little research, you will be shocked at how far this technology has come. There are many new options in waterless toilets today that fit seamlessly into the standard residential bathroom.

Conserving water is something that's so easy to do, if we are conscious about our habits and routines. With just a few simple steps, not only can we put a dent in our monthly water bills, but we can also feel good about the fact that we're doing something good for the environment, and ultimately making a positive impact on the world around us.