Save money at home? Why? Well, some out there are saving for something in particular. Others are building a buffer against unexpected future expenses. As time goes on, there comes a time when most people resolve to be more frugal with their money and find ways to reduce their spending. They become:
- avid deal seekers
- coupon collectors
- overall simpler shoppers
However, for all the success stories, there are countless more where people are unable to save to the level they want. It can be a bit frustrating when it doesn’t come as easily as initially expected. But sometimes the easiest methods to save don’t even require looking further than our own homes.
5 easy ways to save money at home
With that in mind, consider these easy tips that can help put money back into your pocket.
Repurpose
In recent years, a growing trend among homeowners who need new furniture or other decorative pieces has been to take what is old in their house and make it new. Repurposing is a cheap and fun way to liven up your home and meet the needs you may have without having to spend a large amount of money. Sometimes it only takes a new coat of paint or four attachable legs to convert ladders, doors, and even tree stumps into the eye-catching focal point of your space. So, before you throw out your old possessions, consider your needs creatively. And if you need a little inspiration, there are many repurposing ideas online. This money saving alternative will give your home a unique ambiance and is a wonderful conversation starter.
Careful with your credit card
The growing trend of utilizing Amazon and other online retailers has made it easier for us as consumers to get the goods we desire without having to leave the comfort of our homes. The only problem with that is that it also presents an easy manner by which to spend large amounts of money every day. To begin reducing expenses, refrain from saving your credit card information on sites. The simple ‘click to buy’ makes it far too easy to purchase things without tracking spending.
In addition, try your best not to memorize your credit card number. Sometimes the process of getting your wallet and pulling out your card is enough time for you to analyze whether or not it makes sense for you to buy something.
Switch to LEDs
LED bulbs are the latest in home lighting technology and along with advantages like reduced heat output and emission direction, they also come with cost saving benefits. LEDs have incredibly long lifespans, roughly 30,000 hours, around three times as long as fluorescent bulbs and thirty times as long as incandescent bulbs. Though they are a bit more expensive than other kinds of lights, LEDs are more efficient with energy, reducing overall consumption while decreasing your electricity bill over time. These bulbs are an easy way to save monthly.
Organize your pantry
Pantries. We often overlook them as an easy place to begin the organization process. Organizing could save you time and money. Begin by going through and tossing the items that have expired. From there sort through the others, making sure to take note of what is running low and what is not. The reason for this is that often we forget what is in our pantries, resulting in unnecessary purchases of items we already have or are not running as low on as we believe. Another benefit of organizing: it gives us a sense of our purchasing habits. It also reveals cost-efficient changes we can make to what, and how, we buy at the grocery store.
Reuse containers
An easy life hack that will help you to save money at home is reusing containers. Whether it is refilling water gallon pitchers or taking the packages that grocery store lunch meat comes in, finding ways to recycle your containers is an easy way to cut back on spending for paper bags, aluminum foil, plastic wrap and more. Containers come in varying sizes, which people can use for storing away small and large items alike.
It’s also a more environmentally friendly practice that will help reduce the amount of waste that finds its ways into landfills. Don’t limit containers to storing just food, as they also hold office supplies, toys, and more.
Implement these simple tips immediately to help catapult you to wherever it is that you are trying go. Figure out which suggestions work for you; refine them as needed to achieve your savings goals. Be on the lookout for other ways to cut costs and always remember saving does NOT have to be difficult.
About the Writer: Douglas Keller has been a financial expert for 20 years, helping people reach financial stability. He now provides personal finance tips on his blog Peak Personal Finance, where he helps people save money on their bills every month.
