If you’re struggling to make ends meet, you might feel like there’s no way to cut your expenses. You can’t sell your car or downsize the house. The bills are fixed, and you’ve cut back on seemingly everything. So what can you do now? You may not be able to get a second job or reduce your housing costs, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any other ways to save money daily. There are plenty of small changes and financial decisions that will make a significant impact on your budget. Many of these suggestions are so simple that it would be ridiculous if they weren’t also so effective at reducing expenses! So read on for some helpful tips and tricks for saving money around the house.
Change Your Lightbulbs
You purchase the equivalent of 1.5 years of electricity when you buy a lightbulb. Yes, if you keep using the same bulbs, they’ll last you 1.5 years before they become a net loss for electricity. So, why not replace your bulbs with LEDs that can last up to 50,000 hours? Not only will you save money in the long run, but you’ll also reduce your carbon footprint by reducing your electricity consumption! You can also look into getting some fancy smart bulbs, which can change colors and brightness, and even be controlled remotely from your phone. These are generally more expensive up-front, but the long-term savings are huge.
Stop Receiving Bloated Subscriptions
You may have heard of the idea of “breaching a barrier,” which means you deliberately (and preferably loudly) break an item. This can be an effective way to end a subscription you no longer want, like a magazine subscription or a gym membership. You may feel silly, but it should feel pretty good! Once the barrier is broken, you’re free to cancel the subscription. Plus, most companies will give you a refund for the remaining length of your subscription as a courtesy. This works excellent for magazine subscriptions, gym memberships, and other recurring expenses. You can usually find information about how to end the subscription on the company’s website. If not, you can always call and ask. Most customer service representatives will be more than happy to help you.
Repair What You Have
Repairing things that break around the house can be a great way to save money. From torn clothing to broken appliances, there are many things you can repair to extend their useful life. First, visit a library or research online to see what common repairs you can do yourself and what breaks often happen most commonly in your area. If you don’t feel comfortable trying to repair something, you can always ask a friend if they know how to do it. It’s often helpful to have a second set of eyes to examine your repair attempt. You may not be able to save on every item you own, but repairing what you have can save you a lot of money. Finally, you can get replacements for parts around your house that you have decided not to fix, either because they’re in unfixable condition or because it will save more money to get a replacement. For example, you can get good-quality replacement windows and doors in your house to save money on heating, etc., as they will provide more insulation than what they’re replacing. For example, suppose you live in an area like Florida, with unpredictable weather. In that case, you should look up replacement windows to purchase windows that will save you money on energy and protect you from the impact of Floridian weather.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.