Most of us like to think that we are following green or environmentally friendly practices with our power usage habits. Yet in many cases, if we don’t keep abreast of new technology, we may be missing some of the best and easiest ways to both save power and thus save ourselves a few – or more – dollars.

How can we make sure our power is ‘green’ without going to all the expense of installing solar panels and other power saving inventions? Using one of the latest inventions of modern technology – the green board – will certainly be a step in the right direction. The

green power board has eight power outlets and can be used to both save standby power and electricity consumption.

It has no batteries to worry about and there are no complicated set-up steps to follow, so you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to use it. You simply plug it in to the nearest power point, and then attach all your electrical items to it.

Two USB chargers have been built into the remote switch. This new technology will give your TV a brighter, crisper picture and better sound as well as saving power.

A good feature of the green board is surge protection provided to two of the power banks. These also have extra space for those larger adaptors, so there won’t be the problem of having to unplug one item so that you can squeeze that other plug into the space. It is broadband and fibre optic compatible.

Better still, the green board has a whopping 6-year guarantee and is wholly Australian made and owned. So you know you are supporting Australia when you purchase it. So if you were looking for another way to save on electricity consumption and protect your electrical equipment, the green power board is the way to do it.

Aren't you glad that the end of the financial year doesn't come at Christmas time? Instead, June rolls around and we have to be prepared for all the extra work necessary to sort out our finances. But why not be a wise owl and get in ahead of time? You can save yourself a bit of stress by being prepared. Get all your receipts to hand and do that bookwork right now. And to start with, how about trying to save money? If you inspect all those phone plans and electricity or gas and insurance bills you may find that switching to another provider can save you heaps. Of course, you know to always read the fine print so you don't sign up for something unpleasant.

You can often save in the home, too by donning warmer clothes before turning on the heater or working with the weather to dry clothes instead of using that convenient but costly clothes dryer. Looking at your saving accounts is another way you may be able to save money and make more interest. Online savings accounts are often fee-free and give wonderful rates of interest compared to ordinary savings accounts.

If you've been putting off buying that new monitor or printer for your business, remember that it is tax deductible. But there have been recent changes to what you can claim, so check that out too.

An emergency fund is good insurance

You may have gone to a lot of trouble to work out a budget so you know just what bills are coming in and how much you'll need to pay them. Then you feel that anything left over is yours to spend how you like. That is true of course; you've earned that money and so you have the right to spend it.

But before you go out and blow the lot on a party or the latest electronic gadget, remember that life has a habit of taking some unexpected turns. And usually money is needed to cover the costs. If you have only enough cash set aside to pay your expected bills, what happens when you get an unexpected one? Your water heater could suddenly develop a serious leak, the car may need unexpected repairs, or illness may keep you from working for some months.

If you've set aside money in an emergency fund such as a savings account or short term deposit, you won't need to worry how you'll cope financially. Sure, you feel that your credit card will get you out of any financial hole, but don't forget you have to pay that back. And if you don't pay it in time, you'll get hit with the highest interest there is. Using a credit card to cope with unexpected bills could well be digging a financial hole that it is very difficult to climb out of. So creating a special fund to cope with emergencies is a sensible thing to do.

Most of us have heard of interest. That's what you have to pay when you get a loan. That's what makes it so hard to pay back the loan when the interest rates keep on rising! Ah yes, and that's the measly little bit of extra money the bank gives - grudgingly, it appears - when we have a few bucks saved up. But wait! It's not as bad as it seems.

Those two magic words "compound interest" that Einstein referred to as the world's greatest discovery are put to work for us when we have a savings account. But those of us who have just a few hundred dollars don't seem to notice it all that much. That's because it shows up better on larger amounts - and if you don't keep withdrawing. These days most savings accounts work on compound interest.

The interest that you earn on your $100 may not seem much, but it is added to the balance, and then in the second year interest is paid on that total, rather than just on your original $100. So you are basically getting interest paid on your interest. When this keeps on every year - as it does, so long as your keep your savings account going, then that total really begins to add up.

The research study by Celsius Research of online savers, commissioned by RaboPlus, the online banking division of AAA rated Rabobank Australia Limited, shows men are more disciplined about their savings than women, and are saving more each month.

The research also found that 83% of respondents claim that a better ongoing interest rate from another institution would prompt them to shop around for a better savings product and males (21 %) were more likely than women (9%) to be lured by cash incentives, and promotional rates (39% compared to 27%).

Do you agree that men are better when it comes to saving money?