In this day and age where prices are steadily increasing and our daily expenses are getting numerous, it’s important to cut corners and save money whenever we can.
There’s no telling when we’d have a major emergency that requires a lot of cash and resources to get out of.
Even if we do have insurance and other savings in place to protect us from any eventuality, it’s better to have an extra safety net to fall back on in case of unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances in the future.
As such, we’ve gathered a few ways to save money around the house, and at the same time do your bit to help our ever-ailing environment.
It’s a two-for-one deal that’s sure to put money back in your pocket as well as give Mother Nature the support she needs.
6 Ways to Save Money Around The House
1. Choose refurbished/remanufactured products instead of new ones
While it’s always tempting to go for the shiny new product in stores, no one can deny that you can get the same type of quality by buying a refurbished or remanufactured version of that product.
It’s practically the same item, just repaired or rebuilt like new, and sporting a more budget-friendly price tag.
It may not have the same polish or shine as its newer counterpart, but it’ll still perform the function you bought it for. What’s more, it allows you to save a considerable amount in expenses around the house.
For example, you can save money by using remanufactured printer ink, which costs up to 75% less than brand new, especially if you buy from websites that specialize in these kinds of products.
Best of all, buying refurbished or remanufactured products also prevents them from being thrown into a landfill and contributing to the electronic garbage pollution problem.
2. Repair old or damaged items instead of throwing them away
The next one of the best ways to save money around the house is to repaid damaged items yourself.
When our cherished belongings get too old or damaged for any reason, our first instinct is to toss them out along with the garbage. This is not only wasteful but also very harmful for the environment, as everything we dispose of contributes to landfill waste.
Instead, we should expend the effort to repair or fix them ourselves.
Thanks to the internet, there is a wealth of do-it-yourself repair guides for nearly everything under the sun, and most of them are available free of charge.
However, if we find that it’s beyond our capacity or capabilities to actually repair our cherished belongings, then there are specialized shops and services out there that can do the job for a fee.
3. Put a brick in your toilet tank
Help the environment and save some money on the side by turning your current toilet into a low-flow model.
Do this by placing either a brick (wrapped and tied into a waterproof plastic bag) or a PET bottle filled with sand into your toilet’s tank.
This will reduce the amount of water your toilet will draw from your water supply with every flush.
4. Replace your current light bulbs with LED lights
LED lights may be a bit more expensive than normal fluorescent and incandescent bulbs at first. But the fact that they use up way less energy can save you up from hundreds to even thousands of dollars in your electricity bill.
Besides this, they’re much brighter than normal bulbs and last for even longer, reducing electronic waste. Either buy them on sale or replace your home’s lighting system gradually.
5. Put all your major electronics on power strips
Even when you switch off your electronics (your computer, TV, Wi-Fi routers, etc.), they’ll still continue to draw power from your electronic grid.
This not only increases your energy usage but also ramps up the amount of money you’ll have to pay to get your utility bill settled.
To prevent this make use of the next one of our simple ways to save money around the house. Plug all of your electronics into a power strip, and unplug/switch off that power strip every time you step outside the house or go to sleep.
6. Hang your clothes to dry
Instead of relying on a dryer to get your freshly-laundered clothes ready for wearing, hang them up on a line or rack and let them drip dry instead.
While this obviously takes a lot more time and effort, it drastically reduces your energy usage and thus shrinks your carbon footprint.
By remembering and practicing these ways to save money around the house, you’ll not only save a bundle when it comes to your daily household expenses, but you’ll also be doing your bit in saving and protecting our environment.