Yes they can be ugly, but replacing filament bulbs with energy-saving versions will make a difference to the efficiency of your lighting. There are more attractive options, and as they last 10 times as long you'll save money.
In the spirit of "Big Brother is watching you", installing an energy monitor can make you think twice about your electricity consumption. Monitoring your usage will probably help you be less wasteful.
Smart meters will ensure you only pay for what you use and make it easy to set your energy sources to timers so you only use what you need.
When you replace your white goods and major tech products, like fridges, washing machines, dishwashers and TVs, opt for energy-efficient ones with A, A+ or A++ energy ratings.