Spend less, save more, and make your house a home with the following ten money saving ideas.
1. Buy Less
Most of us have more stuff than we need, and we continually add to it all of the time. Think about borrowing instead of purchasing, and evaluate what you really can’t live without in your home. You’ll save money and have a more peaceful environment.
2. Learn to Make Repairs
A simple change of a washer will cost you just a couple of dollars if you do it yourself, but if you call a plumber, you will be given a bill of at least $50. There are many minor repairs around your home that you can do yourself. Get books, watch YouTube videos, or take the free classes offered by local home improvement stores.
3. Arrange Automatic Bill Payment
Set up your bills to be paid automatically each month, and you’ll never have to worry about late fees. For bills that vary by amount, you can set up electronic transfer and set up electronic alerts so you get an email or an alarm when it is time to pay a bill. Alternatively, ask your suppliers to change the payment cycles so all of your bills can be paid at the same time.
4. Measure and Use Less
Most of us use more laundry detergent, fabric softener, shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, and dishwashing detergent than we really need. Read the recommendations on product labels and then measure to make sure you aren’t using too much. Experiment with using slightly less each time and stop when you notice a difference.
5. Buy Sheets, If You Sew
If you need yardage for sewing projects, buy sheets on sale. You can get a lot of yardage for very little money this way, and sheets come in a variety of colors and patterns.
6. Get Friendly with Sales People
If you need anything for your home, from furniture to appliances, it makes sense to get friendly with the sales people and start a conversation. Most sales people can tell you when particular items will go on sale, and they may even be able to tell you where you can get percentage off coupons.
7. Recycle and Repurpose
Look at everything you have with a critical eye. When something is approaching its useful life span or is about to be tossed, figure out how to use it in a new way. For example, old towels can be cut down and used for washing the car, and the plastic mesh from a bag of fruit can be used as a scrubber for washing pots.
8. Spend Less on Area Rugs
For inexpensive area rugs, go to a carpet store and choose remnants, then have the store bind the edges. This is usually much cheaper than buying a finished rug, and many stores will even bind the first rug for free if you need more than one.
9. Keep Purchase Documentation
For all permanent household purchases, save the receipts, warranties and manuals. You can place them in a binder, a drawer or a plastic bin, whatever works for you. If you need a repair or a replacement, this documents are necessary. Without them, you may have to pay for the service or item out of your pocket.
10. Use Simple Products You Have on Hand
Skip the expensive cleaners and use basic items that you already have on hand. Shaving cream (non-tinted) is an excellent and cheap upholstery cleaner. Baking soda and water is a great scrub, and vinegar or bleach both do a great job at disinfecting.