We're all feeling the financial pinch in a tough economy and looking for creative, lower cost energy saving tips, whether those include a more efficient furnace, low-energy appliances, replacement heater and AC unit, or other pressing home needs. One opportunity, though, that is often overlooked is saving on water.

If you live in an area where droughts are common, then you know about water restrictions. Whether it's limiting the amount of times you water your lawn or experiencing water shut-offs during the night hours, drought rations have a direct impact on our day-to-day lives.

Keep reading for 6 water-saving tips you can use to do your part, help restrict your water usage, and stay prepared for water shortages.

1. Take a "Navy shower" approach to your dishes.

A "Navy shower" is a style of shower that involves turning on the water just enough to get wet, turning it off and then turning it back on again just long enough to rinse off the soap. For light-use dishes and household cleaning, adapt this approach to save water. Basically, don't run the water while you do dishes, but try to reuse your cleaning water.

2. Recycle your "grey" water for plants and outside cleaning.

Whether you're siphoning off your washing machine's drain water or simply taking your old bath water, you can use that sewage-free, but used water for other purposes. Most water conservers use their grey water to water their lawns, flush their toilets, wash exterior walls or do regular clean-ups outside.

3. Use the cold water your tap runs off before it heats up.

Are you the person who turns on the shower or sink tap and lets it run until the water heats up? Get a bucket and grab that clean water. It can be used for dishes, drinking water during shut-off periods or even washing up. Don't let perfectly clean, good water go literally down the drain.

4. Sacrifice your lawn.

If you're living through a drought, your neighbors will forgive you for having a wilted lawn. It's time to put away the sprinkler. Instead, you can use your recycled grey water or simply wait for rain.

5. Presoak your clothes.

Presoaking your dirty laundry means you can run your washing machine on a lighter, shorter wash cycle. You can use water saved from your tap run-offs or even old bath water to give the clothes a good soak before you really wash them in your machine.

6. Fix your faucet leaks.

If you've been putting off fixing your leaky faucet, now is the time to get to it. A leaking faucet can account for as much as 30 percent of the wasted water in the average home. With little more than a wrench and a washer you can save a lot of waste.