Regardless, it’s essential to understand your
overall finances and look for ways to save money around the house whenever you
can. From cooking at home and storing leftovers in a French door refrigerator
to wearing more layers in the winter months, here are eight ways to save money
around the house.
1. Avoid Food Waste
Food waste is an enormous problem in the U.S.
and a huge waste of money for most homeowners. For example, CNBC suggests that the average household
wastes $1,500 per year on food. But how can we guarantee not to waste food? One
way is to follow the same rule as restaurants: first-in, first-out. In other
words, always store the recently purchased food toward the back, keeping the
earlier-purchased foods in the front, reminding you they’re available.
Some other ways to avoid food waste to save
money is to plan weekly meals and create a grocery list before you go to the
market. This prevents unnecessary spending. You can also make food in larger
batches to have leftovers (just remember it’s there!) In general, take notice
of what you tend to eat and what you keep passing up for something else. If you
find lettuce and salad bags keep going bad, only purchase them when you have a
planned meal.
2. Start a Vegetable Garden
Plant a vegetable garden and grow your own
produce to reduce grocery bills each month. Head to your local nursery and pick
up a cheap pack of seeds or some sprouted seedlings to start. Even if you lack
the yard space for a decent-sized garden, you can still plant a few tomato
bushes on your deck or grow some herbs on your kitchen windowsill. Plus, if you
have children, it teaches them the value of food, where it comes from and how
much work goes into maintaining a garden.
READ MORE: Dig your hands in the dirt!
3. Reduce Phantom Loads
The U.S. Energy Information Association (EIA)
reported the average monthly electric bill to be $117.65. By implementing a few
easy changes, you can save money by up to 10 percent. Unplug electronic devices
when they’re not in use to avoid “phantom loads.” According to research from the nonprofit
energy company NOPEC, the annual cost of these phantom loads
can accumulate from laptops, game consoles, desktop monitors, printers, coffee
makers and stereo systems. Instead, plug devices and electronics into a power
strip and turn it off when not in use, especially at night.
4. Turn Off the Dishwasher Heat Cycle
Dishwashers are quite efficient at cleaning,
but only when you run a full load. However, the heat-dry at the end of the
cycle is not and uses a lot of energy. Save money in your house by lowering
your dishwasher’s energy usage and turning off the heat-dry setting. Instead,
bring out the dishes and allow them to air dry.
5. Examine Your Air Conditioning
The EIA points out that homes in Southern
states have a high monthly expenditure in order to keep
cool. But even though the climate you reside in is a significant factor of how
much you run the AC, there are still some easy ways to save money on your
monthly bill. Set your thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and invest
in smart thermostats that can learn your daily schedule. Instead, use ceiling
fans and tabletop fans to circulate the air. On sunnier days, keep curtains
closed to reflect and reduce thermal heating. You could also turn off the air
completely, using only a wall AC unit to keep an airflow.
6. Cut Back on Heat
Same as your air conditioning, you can also
cut back on heat. While homeowners in Southern states experience a skyrocketing
bill for AC during the summer, Northern states see an increase in the winter
for heating. But you don’t have to shiver inside your home. For starters, stay
warm by dressing in layers with a sweater, scarf and wool hat and socks. Sleep on
flannel sheets and add a heated mattress pad during super cold nights. Opposite
of the summer, you want to keep curtains and blinds open to invite sunlight.
Also, be sure to reverse your ceiling fan blade rotations to clockwise to push
hot air down. These little adjustments can mean a huge difference!
7. Avoid Watering Grass
It pays to be attentive to the outside areas
of your home as well—for instance, gardening and watering the grass. While
watering your vegetable garden for summer-long produce is worth the extra water
expense, watering your lawn is generally unneeded. Instead, keep an eye on the
water and wait for the rain. In long periods of drought, water the garden when
necessary. You could also get a rain barrel to collect water!
8. Cancel Your Cable
Cable TV can be quite costly. According to Decision Data, the average cable bill is
around $217 per month, which is higher than our basic essential utilities of
water and electricity. Completely cancel your cable television service for
immediate savings. While some homeowners and families may find it challenging
to cancel entertainment entirely, you could instead sign up for a streaming
service, such as Netflix or Hulu. Better yet, sign up for a bundle package for
deeper savings.
How Will You Save Money Around the
House?
Take one or several of these tips and tricks
to save some money. Start with something easy like planning your weekly meals
and managing your food waste. During the summer and winter, cut back on your AC
and heating, draw or close the curtains and hang dry clothes instead of running
them through the dryer. Small changes like these, and even larger ones, can
truly save money around the house. What methods will you try?
Provided by AbtElectronics, an independent retailer of consumer electronics and major
appliances