There are two ways to increase your savings potential for the new year – either earn more or save more. If you can combine the two effort, even better! But, it’s not always possible to earn more income, so the way to make a difference in the bottom line of your budget is find ways to save money.
Controlling your expenses outside the home is often easy than trying to save money around your home. Skipping your morning latte routine is fairly straight-forward. Finding hidden energy-cost drainers in your home isn’t something you readily think of, but they could be adding a bundle to your electric bill each year.
On your quest to for ways to save money, be sure to consider these thirty ideas to help curb your daily home expenses:
Save Energy
- Make sure you have proper insulation.
- Switch to programmable thermostats.
- Turn off the heat in rooms you infrequently spend time in.
- Wear extra clothing instead of turning up the heat in the winter.
- Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs.
- Open windows instead of turning on the air conditioner in the summer.
- Turn off electronics such as the computer and TV when not using them.
Save Food
- Freeze leftovers in lunch containers you can bring to work.
- Freeze herbs during the summer so you can enjoy them all year long.
- Prepare large soups, stews and casseroles for dinner. You are more likely to have leftovers for future lunches and dinners.
- Buy food in bulk and shop around for specials. Be sure to stop at your local Farmer’s Market for great deals, too.
- Keep the junk food to a minimum. Junk food is likely to get eaten if it’s in your pantry. You will be less likely to spend money on junk food if you have to leave the house to buy it.
Save Water
- Hand dry dishes instead of running the dishwasher.
- Use handheld hoses to water the garden.
- Use a pool cover during the summer to prevent evaporation.
- Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth.
- Minimize laundry loads to the essential only.
Save on Appliances
- Practice comparison shopping. Always look for the most energy efficient appliances.
- Ensure you really need a household item before purchasing it.
- Buy second hand wherever possible.
Save on Bills
- Combine your cable, internet and telephone bill with the same provider, you’ll often get great discounts when you combine your services.
- Call around to different providers to see if they will price beat their competitors. Also call your current service and let them know you are thinking of switching, some companies will offer a discount or incentive to keep you as a customer.
- Consider whether you really need to accumulate extra bills at the end of each month. Do you need all those extra cable channels? Can you switch your cell phone to a less expensive cap? Do you really need a landline?
Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!
- Use both pages for printing in your home office.
- Invest in rechargeable batteries. Although more expensive they will save you in the long run.
- Reuse dying batteries from high energy consuming electronics for appliances that require less energy – for example a wall clock.
- Reduce your waste and learn to think of every product as something that can be re-used or recycled. There are even apps to help you along your journey.
Use Home Remedies
- Make your own cleaner with 4 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart of warm water. Use on appliances, refrigerator shelves, counters and chrome plumbing fixtures.
- Make jewelry cleaner with ½ a cup of ammonia, ½ a teaspoon of detergent and two tablespoons of water.
- Vinegar is a super power-house for cleaning, find 9 ways to green your home with Vinegar HERE: https://ruralmom.com/2014/06/9-ways-to-green-your-home-cleaning-with.html
Decorate Creatively
- Secondhand can be a fantastic source of finding unique and gently used household goods. There are many thrift stores, yard sales and classifieds ads you can browse through to find some great things.
- Print out photos instead of buying them and hang them on the wall in frames bought from thrift stores.
