Every Day Ways to Save Money
Cutting Food Costs
Shop at your local farmers markets or look up food co-ops in your area–such as Bountiful Baskets– to save money on fruits and vegetables. While it can be difficult to eat healthier when money is tight, it is still very doable. Also keep an eye out for neighbors in your area who you may be able to barter with. I once had a neighbor who had goats and would frequently sell or trade goats milk to people in the community as a way to make some extra cash. If you have a large garden, or are skilled at making light fluffy homemade bread you may even consider setting up your own booth at a farmers market. This is a great way to meet others in your community and to help each other out.
Find case lot sales in your area and stock up on food supplies. Rice and beans make a filling meal when times are tough. Know what items are more cost effective at Costco or Sam’s Club. Canned goods are cheaper at a case lot sale. However, paper goods, hygiene items, vitamins and medications are more cost effective if you buy them in bulk.
Forgo gym membership and park further away from store. Plan your meals out in advance for the next week or two and make a grocery list of the food you will need and buy it in one trip. Don’t go shopping hungry, you are more likely to splurge and get things that are not on your list when you are hungry. Prepare meal plans and make your grocery list from the meal plans. Do all of your shopping in one trip–saving gas and time–and stick to your list. Having goals in mind will help curb potential splurge purchases.
Electronics
If you are going to be out of the room for less than 15 minutes it is more cost effective just to leave the lights on. If you are going to be gone longer, it is a good rule of thumb to turn lights off when you leave a room. If you want to leave lights on for when you get home late at night or times you will be gone for security reasons it may be a good idea to invest in a timer you can set your lights to. Set it for a different time every night so as not to advertise the fact that you are using a timer.
Compact fluorescent lamps are touted to be the most efficient types of light bulbs to use in your home. They are said to be the most efficient form of lighting on the market. They cost a little more upfront, but you will more than make up that cost over time as you use them.
Use a power strip with surge protection to plug in your electronics. This will help to protect the electronics against power surges and outages. It is also convenient if you are going to be away from home for more than a couple of days. You can turn off the power strip to save on some money as well. Electronics continue to suck minimal amounts of electricity whenever they are plugged in weather or not they are in use. Granted the amount is very small, but every penny saved can add up and contribute to monthly savings.
Washers and dryers take up a surprising amount of energy which can add quite a lot to your utility bills. Now there’s not much you can do about the washing machine but you can hang up a clothes line to dry clothes. If you want to avoid ironing or keep things soft try drying your laundry for 5 minutes then hang out to dry. Or in the winter dry things so that it helps heat your house. Also if you are cooking in the winter leave the oven door open when you are done so the heat escapes and helps to heat the house. In the summer cook outside or on the grill to help with cooling costs.
General Home Maintenance
Caulk any and all leaks–especially around windows and doors. Air can escape through the smallest cracks. Check around electrical outlets and under the kitchen sink for other potential areas where air could be leaking out and slowly costing you a lot of money as time goes on. Also make sure that your attic is properly insulated as a large amount of heat can be lost through a poorly insulated attic.
It can be beneficial to invest in a programmable thermostat so that you can set your furnace or air conditioning at different settings depending on when you will be home. For example if you are gone from six in the morning and do not return until six in the evening you will want to set your heat or air conditioning to be a little lower during the time you are gone. Electric space heaters may get the room warm but they cost nearly as much to run all day as just turning up the heat in your home. Try an electric blanket when possible if you are looking to turn down your thermostat.
Cover windows with freezer insulation from local hardware store like Lowe’s or home depot or cover with tin foil in summer. These stores also offer a clear plastic alternative you can stick over your windows that will not be obvious from the outside that your windows are covered. If these ideas don’t appeal to you or look too tacky find some thick and heavy drapes to cover your windows. In the winter open the drapes when the sun is shining so it helps to heat your house. In the summer keep the drapes closed so that your air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard. Drapes can also be helpful in keeping any potential air leaks contained in a smaller space.
Close off vents in rooms that are rarely used to cut down on the amount of work your home heating and cooling systems have to do in order to maintain a comfortable temperature. If you really only use one or two of the rooms in your house you can save a lot of money just heating/cooling the rooms you use. Making sure that your water heater is set in the normal range instead of on a higher setting can reduce your gas bill as much as 10%.
You may think that some of these ideas are great, or that some seem extreme. Not every idea works well for everyone out there Try doing whatever works best for you and your family. Just remember that every little bit helps. Doing multiple things that save a couple of dollars can add up to big dollars by the time you pay your bills each month.
