Owning a home is expensive. Not only do you have to pay for the home itself, but there are many other costs associated with home ownership. If you aren’t careful, these extra costs can quickly pile up, and before long you are spending more than you can afford.
Luckily, there are a few simple ways that you can cut costs around the home, and make it a little easier to stay within your monthly budget. If you’ve found that you’re spending too much each month on your home, try some of these ideas.
Adjust the temperature
One of the biggest expenses for any home goes towards our heating and cooling bills. We want to be comfortable in our homes, and as a result, we turn up the heat when we are chilly, or crank the AC during the summer.
And while you should feel free to use your heat and AC as you see fit, sometimes adjusting it by a degree or two can make a large difference. So the next time you want to turn the heat up in your home, consider throwing on a sweatshirt instead, or if the room is too warm, opening up a window and turning on a fan. It may not seem like much at the time, but when your bill arrives at the end of the month, you might be happily surprised.
Adjust your hot water
Besides just the temperature of your home, you should also think about the temperature of your water. According to this plumber in Mornington, hot water makes up about half of your energy bill.
So if you can find ways to cut costs in this area, you might be in for some decent savings. Try taking shorter showers, or even turning down your hot water system. Another option is to wash your clothes in cold water, rather than hot.
Your shower might not be as hot as you’d like at night, or it might not last as long, but if it saves you money, this might be a sacrifice you’re willing to make.
Install energy saving lights
Another great way to cut some costs is by switching to a different type of light bulb. The lights in your home are probably on so often that you no longer even think about them, but each time you turn them on, you’re using power. By switching to a more energy efficient light bulb, you can save yourself a considerable amount of money in the long run.
Besides energy saving bulbs, also consider putting your lights on a timer. A timer is great for outdoor lights, as you don’t have to remember to switch them on and off. This way your lights won’t run overnight when you don’t need them, and turn themselves back on in the evening before you get home.
Get rid of your cable subscription
More and more people these days are getting rid of their cable subscriptions, or “cord cutting”. Because there are now so many ways to watch your favorite shows – Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Go, many homes are finding that they no longer need a cable package.
If you find that you’re not watching a lot of live TV, or that you don’t mind waiting for your favorite show to appear online, then cord cutting is a great way to save money. To learn more, here is a quick guide on how to get started with cord cutting.
Search for coupons
Finally, one of your biggest expenses is likely food. We all spend a lot on food, trying to keep our refrigerators and cabinets stocked. But if you’re not willing to cut back on the amount of food you buy – or unable – consider trying to find a cheaper way to get it.
By searching for coupons each time you go grocery shopping, you could potentially save yourself a lot of money on your food budget. You might have to switch to some other brands, and you’ll have to put in some time to find the coupons, but this is a small sacrifice that could pay large dividends. Here is a great site to search for coupons to get you started.
Be willing to make sacrifices
It’s possible to be frugal without feeling deprived, but you’ll still likely have to make some sacrifices. Do you mind being a little chilly in your home? Taking a shorter shower? Switching to a different brand of paper towels?
If so, savings could be right around the corner, and before you know it your monthly expenses don’t look as bad as they once did.
