10 Money-Saving Gifts to Put on Your Wedding Registry

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Creating your registry is just of the the many joys of a wedding. It's an opportunity for newlyweds to fill a home with meaningful and practical stuff — and for guests to help them begin their lives together. Linens and china (and blenders and cutlery) will always have their place, but if you think outside the box while building your registry (or while thinking up gift ideas), you can include even more practical gifts that will save money over time. Here are a few ideas to get you started. (See also: What to Put On Your Wedding Registry)

1. LED Lightbulbs

Light bulbs are one of those things that we don't think about costing much. They are inexpensive enough that we don't think about the long-term costs of the bulbs themselves. Still, light bulbs and the energy they use take more money out of our pockets than they need to, which is why gifting LED lightbulbs can cut costs for newlyweds straight out of the gate. While LED bulbs require a higher initial investment (incandescent bulbs are cheaper, for sure), over time they will help you use 75% less energy and they'll last 25% longer than their yesteryear counterparts. (See also: Best Energy Efficient Light Bulbs)

2. Wholesale Club Memberships

There are two ways newlyweds save with a membership to a wholesale club. The first is the cost of the membership itself, which runs about $50 annually, depending on the plan. The second is the savings they'll rack up by buying items at wholesale prices that they consume a lot of. (See also: 15 Things You Should Buy at Costco)

3. Water Filtration System

A water filtration system is a great way to cut the cost (and waste) of water bottles. This could include an apparatus that attaches to your faucet to filter the water as it comes out or a filtered pitcher in the fridge. For drinks on the go, there are also individual reusable water bottles that have filter features to refill from a water source outside of the home.

4. Food Storage Systems

Basic food storage and organization systems like food storage containers, airtight food jars, and a vacuum food sealer will help newlyweds save on everyday meals. If you want to think bigger, an efficient food-storage freezer would allow newlyweds to stock up on meats when they're on sale and cook large batches of freezer-friendly foods at a time. (See also: How to Save Money With Bulk Cooking)

5. CSA Membership

A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership would be a good gift for those who love fresh, local fruits and vegetables. The benefits of CSA membership include access to ultra-fresh, locally grown produce; establishing a good relationship with your area's farmers; special buys; invitations to members-only "u-pick" events at farms; and saving money over the third-party prices you pay at the supermarket on similar items.

6. Amazon Prime Subscription

Online shopping is more convenient than ever, and an Amazon Prime membership will help newlyweds save on shipping costs for whatever purchases they need. They'll get free two-day shipping on eligible purchases — which is most items that Amazon offers. Other perks of the Amazon Prime membership include instant access to movies and TV shows through Amazon Instant Video, as well as access to a library of borrowable ebooks via the Kindle Lending Library.

7. Tankless Water Heater

In addition to lightbulbs, there's another energy vampire hiding in the house — the hot water heater. The reason it's such an energy suck is because a traditional water heater is constantly heating water, whether it's being used or not. A tankless water heater provides hot water on demand — without running 24/7/365 — resulting in more efficient energy usage. Plus, not only will a tankless water heater slash an energy bill, it'll last longer (20 years versus a typical water heater's 10- to 13-year lifespan). Bear in mind, though, that while a tankless water heater will definitely save money over time, the cost of the unit is substantially higher and additional plumbing may be required to accommodate it.

8. Educational Resources

Many skills can now be learned at home with computer-based programs. Let's say you want to learn another language, for instance. These days you don't have to spend a few hours a week at your local community college learning it. Instead, a resource like Rosetta Stone (at least a $200 value) can give a newlywed the opportunity to learn together. (See also: 5 Ways to Learn a Language)

9. Energy-Efficient Appliances

Since we've mentioned lightbulbs and water heaters, we should also mention energy-efficient appliances, which you're almost guaranteed to see year-to-year energy savings after upgrading, considering that the typical American household spends about $5,500 annually on electricity. With energy-efficient appliances, like ENERGY STAR, however, you can expect to save up to 30% on these bills.

10. Indoor Gardening Supplies

Even if you don't have ample space outside to grow your own food, there may be room inside to do it, especially if you think small. There are several produce items you can grow indoors with limited space, and there's probably plenty of room to grow herbs in many places around the house. Say goodbye to big bunches of herbs, half of which rot away in the fridge. Growing herbs indoors is an incredible money saver — if you like to cook, that is — because you'll be able to use the perfect amount every time you cook. And since growing herbs indoors has become quite common, there are plenty of stylish systems out there to suit everybody's design aesthetic.

Have other ideas on what items to put on a wedding registry to save money? Let me know in the comments below.

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