Find savings all around the home
The financial significance of being frugal around the home has never been as great and a combination of small lifestyle changes can quickly lead to impressive savings across the board. Some will lower things like home insurance quotes both now and in the future and others will leave you and your family better off generally.
Here’s a selection of tips designed to put a few extra dollars back in your pocket and help your budgets stretch that little bit further.
Cook up a storm in the kitchen
Image courtesy of Joel Bez
Planning your meals in advance and creating a menu for the week ahead before you go grocery shopping is a great way to make sure you don’t waste money or food. It removes the chances of any impulse purchases finding their way into your shopping cart and ensures you only buy what you need. It’s particularly handy to plan ahead if you’ve got a few hungry mouths to feed. Buy cheaper brands and also try and grow your own fruit, herbs and vegetables if you can. Getting takeaways and eating out is expensive, so cook your own and become a domestic goddess.
Save energy and money
Image courtesy of Images of Money
Fed up of finding expensive energy bills in your mail box? Well, do something about it then! Like changing suppliers or tariffs. Like shopping online for the best energy deals. Like reducing the amount of energy you actually use. Like buying energy-efficient appliances and products. Switch off lights and appliances whenever you’ve finished using them and turn off items such the television at the plug rather than leaving it on standby. Insulating your property is important and although it involves a little investment, it should mean you can turn down the central heating slightly when a cold snap sets in. Teach your kids about the importance of saving energy and you can save money together as a family.
Drive down car costs
Image courtesy of Mike
Car insurance is a massive drain on the finances of many people, but a proportion will probably not even realise that they can do something about. Again, shop online to take advantage of the discounted deals available and improve the security of your car, raise the deductibles and lower your annual mileage to get even cheaper quotes. To reduce what you spend on gasoline, car share with friends, family and work colleagues, keep your tires correctly inflated and cut down on making any unnecessary journeys. Take public transport if it works out cheaper and walk as much as possible.
What changes have you made lately? What new changes are you considering? Remember, small changes can add up to a big difference!
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4 Responses to “Find savings all around the home”
September 26th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
One thing that anyone can do to save a few dollars is to hang the laundry to dry instead of use a dryer. When we lived in a tiny travel trailer I had a drying rack that I used to dry our laundry. I now use an outside line, and 3 large drying racks inside when needed because of weather. My sister uses not a rack but old hangers. He even hangs her towels, jeans, and undies on a hanger in her laundry room. It takes over night but they dry without the energy of a dryer.
I recently changed insurance companies for our auto insurance. I did get a better rate for the same coverage by going with the same company that has our home insurance. I was shocked to see the savings. I have had ‘military’ insurance USAA for years and years. I did not think their prices could be beat. I was way wrong. Shop around, you may be surprised.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Nice blog post ! There are many little things one can do around the house to save a few pennies. To a lot of people they seem trivial but if you can save $400-$500 a year doing those little things that’s a new PC, Flat Screen TV or anything you might enjoy, worth it to me.
September 27th, 2011 at 1:21 am
Yes, all the little savings definitely add up!
I just heard about this and will be adding it to my website about frugal tips: Don’t throw tin foil away! After using it in the oven or wherever, wash it carefully or wipe it clean, drain and use again. It could end up lasting up to ten times as long. Possibly more. Just need to be sensible with hygiene of course, especially with meat.
September 27th, 2011 at 6:32 am
Of course, when you menu plan take into account what you already have, check sales adds, and check to see if coupons will drop the price of the name brand below the store brand:D A full freezer takes less energy than a half empty one, so stock up when items you like hit rock bottom prices.
Always check your car insurance and home owners insurance and review to make sure they still meet your needs. Do you need full coverage on that 10 year old car? you might or might now, what would it really cost to replace your house if it is destroyed, insurance companies may automatically increase this on your bill, if the costs in your area have dropped, or not risen much you might be able to lower this amount to reflect you area vs the auto increases they just do to get more money.
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