Buy a fridge and a washing machine before luxury items. Wash clothes in cold water. Keep the kitchen sink and food preparation areas clean. Have the hot water temperature turned down to the temperature you need for a shower. If you can start with a no shoes inside the house rule, you will save yourself a lot of work and preserve your floors and carpets from wear and tear. Insulation in the walls and roof cuts power bills and makes for more comfortable living. Sun-block lining on curtains lasts longer than cotton lining, doesn't get rain-stained and keeps out heat in Summer. Dead locks on front and back doors when you are away make it impossible for a thief to reach through a window and open the door. Make sure you don't have the doors deadlocked at night when you return.