4 Easy Ways to Lower Your Household Expenses
Many expenses seem insignificant on their own, but they can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars over a year. This means there’s no need for you to make big, painful cuts like skipping the family vacation to save money.
However, you may have to spend on upgrades for your home to save more money in the long term. Here are some easy ways to lower your household expenses.
Replace Your Light Bulbs With CFL or LED Bulbs
If you haven’t updated the light bulbs in your home, you should switch to compact fluorescent lights or even more efficient LEDs. These bulbs use about a quarter of the energy of old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, and they last much longer.
When you shop for bulbs, look for the number of lumens. This indicates the brightness of the light bulb, while the number of watts is the power it consumes. Also, remember to turn off the lights whenever you leave a room.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
A smart or programmable thermostat can turn down your heater or air conditioner automatically whenever you go to work or go to sleep, and then bring your home back to a comfortable temperature about half an hour before you usually wake up or come home.
You can program a different schedule for every day of the week with some models. Others let you set a different plan for weekdays and weekends. Some models even have motion sensors, and they can learn your routine over time so you won’t have to do any programming. These devices could save you $180 per year.
Update and Unplug Appliances
If you have an older refrigerator, microwave, or HVAC system, upgrade to a more modern, efficient model with better features. You can also avoid repair costs and inconvenient breakdowns.
Make sure you throw your old microwave or fridge away or give it to charity. If you move it to your garage or basement, you’ll have a convenient place to put drinks or heat food, but you’ll still be using extra electricity.
You should also unplug devices when you’re not using them. Even when they’re turned off, most electronics use a small amount of energy, and it adds up over time. Try a power strip with a timer to make shutting off the power simpler.
A smart power strip can even work with another device. For example, your DVR will only get power if the TV is on.
Add Insulation
Add weather-stripping underneath your doors and windows and check your attic for holes or gaps in your insulation. You should stand inside your garage, close your garage door, and then turn out the lights.
If you can see daylight shining through cracks in your garage door, you should replace the weather-stripping.
These tips can help you save energy, lower your utility bills, and make your home more comfortable. Since your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard, it will last longer as well.
You can also lower your personal expenses by packing your lunch for work and shopping at thrift stores. You can often find designer items if you go to a thrift store in a nice neighborhood. Enjoy your extra savings!
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Category: Saving Money
