Guest Blogger #897, Entry #2104, March 14, 2013
Achieve a Cheaper Home Life in 25 Steps
1. It’s a cliché of fathers everywhere, but always ensure that you turn off all appliances that you are not using. This includes turning off all lights and heating.
2. Shop around online for your groceries. The top supermarkets are in a constant battle to out-do each other in terms of bargain and sales. This leads to different items in different stores being placed on sale at different prices. Shop around and total up how much your shopping cart would cost you in each of the supermarkets.
Save more money in your home this year
Image via: Emily Hagopian
Go Green in your Home:
3. Get an energy performance certificate (EPC) for your home. The EPC helps the property-owner discover how much money that they may be able to save on the energy costs of their home. The EPC advises the property-owner on what changes to make to a property in order to save the maximum amount of money.
4. Installing LED bulbs can help lower energy costs. Despite the higher installation costs; the increased energy efficiency will manifest itself in lower bills. This will lead to long-term savings.
5. Collect rainwater from drains to use in the garden. Install a system leading the drainpipes to collect rainwater; this can be used for a number of jobs including the watering of plant life. This can help lower water bills.
6. It may sound simple, but basic organisation can reduce the chances of losing and double-buying products. This is particularly helpful for expensive yet small items such as stamps.
7. Clean out the fridge-freezer regularly. This will help maintain it and keep it performing at its maximum for the longest plausible length of time. This will lower replacement and maintenance costs.
Clean out your refrigerator regularly
Image via: Case Remodeling
8. If you have the time and room; grow your own root vegetables. These vegetables require on a little attention and can lead to great savings or can be sold.
Practice Cost-Saving Lifestyle Changes:
9. Cook for the whole family. Compromise on meals and produce a dish for the whole family. It is far more costly for everybody to prepare and eat their own individual meals.
10. Buy in bulk. If items that do not spoil over time or have a long shelf-life is on offer, then invest in bulk. This could include household items such as shampoo or kitchen items like stock.
11. Monitor all of your expenditure. This will help you see first-hand where the large chunks of your wage bill are disappearing to and if you can rectify this.
12. Keep old clothes. How many times have you said to a teenage son or daughter: “oh I used to have one like that” about an item of their clothing. The cyclical nature of fashion means your own old duds may soon be street chic again.
13. Learn DIY. Even the most cack-handed could benefit from a £100 DIY tutorial.
14. Treat yourself to a little bonus every week. This will alleviate the temptation to invest in a big, superfluous treat on payday.
15. Visit auctions, car-boot sales and second-hand shops. These venues often house spectacular furnishings that would be incredible additions to your home, at fantastic prices.
16. Make your own soups and sauces. Store bought soups and sauces can be expensive and full of additives. Soups such as carrot and coriander are incredible simple to make and can be produced in high quantities for relatively little.
Make your own recipes from scratch
Image via: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists, Inc.
Spread your Spending throughout the Year
17. Use the internet for all of your information. Cookbooks, guides and info-packs can be made redundant with the information rich world-wide-web.
18. Buy presents throughout the year. Eschew the last minute rush by keeping an eye out for bargains on suitable presents throughout the year.
19. Pitch in with the cleaning. Rather than employing a cleaner, get the whole family to help with the cleansing effort.
20. Investigate what benefits you are entitled to. There should be no shame for the tax-paying household to redeem the benefits that they are entitled to receive.
What ways can you save money in your home?
Image via: Griffin Enright Architects
21. Utilise the local library. Kindles may be growing in popularity but those who still prefer traditional books may find it an expensive hobby. Borrowing books from the library is simple and free.
22. Use price comparison websites. This can help you make savings all through the year.
23. Take a flask to work. A £3 coffee every morning could cost you over £60 a month.
24. Clean your own windows. This can alleviate expensive window cleaning fees.
25. Share these tips. When you share these tips with a friend, they may be more inclined to share their’s with you.
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