Finding ways to save money at home is much easier than you think. It can be as simple as changing your lifestyle or food habits and you could save up to a third on a monthly cost. If you are looking to save money and put it aside for other things at home, then here are the most effective ways.

Image by Nattanan Kanchanaprat from Pixabay 

Reducing your mortgage cost

Reducing your mortgage cost is key if you want to save money as it is likely to be your most expensive bill. If you can manage to reduce this during your next move, or by doing a remortgage of the property, then you might be able to save a good chunk of money.

Using www.mortgagecalculator.co.uk you can find out how much your monthly mortgage bill will be depending on your deposit and house price. To get this as low as possible, it will help to put down a larger deposit and negotiate the house price. 

Grow your own food

Food bills can be as expensive as you like them to be. If you are lazy with food or buy too much, then you likely pay way more than you need to every month on food. If you make better choices, you will guarantee to bring the costs down. 

A great way to save money on your food bill is to grow your own produce. If you have garden space or access to an allotment, then you can get started right away. It will just take a few weeks or months for the produce to grow through. Thus, you should get started as soon as possible. 

Depending on the season, there are plenty of things you can grow from fruits and vegetables to grains. You will need to spend a little money on the soil, seeds, and feed. However, this will save you a lot of money in the long run. Plus, you will achieve living more sustainably and make fresh produce shopping much easier and you will only need to head out into the garden. 

Turn off the plugs

Although it might seem that your electricals aren’t using electricity when they are not being used, they are. They might be using a small amount of energy, but that will soon add up and increase the price of the energy bill. 

Turn off all plugs when they are not in use, especially if there is something plugged in. within a few weeks you will likely notice a big difference to your energy bill. 

Stop the running water

Every homes water bill consists of around a third of unused and leaking water. If you can find the leaks and stop them, then you will be able to save money on your future water bills. 

Likewise, always remember to turn off the water when you are not using it. For example, many people leave the tap running when brushing their teeth. This is unnecessary and wastes a lot of water. Turn it off and only use it when you need to. 

Change your hobbies

During the evenings and weekends, you likely have downtime. Many people use this time to watch TV or play video games. However, this can be an expensive hobby and increase your energy bills. 

To get proper downtime (time off of the screen) and save money, you can partake in hobbies that require no household energy. For example, you could read, draw, or exercise. These mindful hobbies will be great for your mental health as well as your bank account. 

Meal plan

There are many ways to save money on your bills when it comes to food, with meal planning being one of them. 

When you meal plan you waste less food and are savvier and stricter with your supermarket shop. You will know exactly what you need and how much you need. You can batch cook one evening or at the weekend to maximise time and make sure that you have enough for the week or days you have planned for. 

Get rid of the house phone

In today’s world, most people have mobile phones. The home phone might be a cost that you don’t need. Thus, it can save you money if you get rid of it. 

You can use your mobile phone instead to make calls. Most contracts include enough minutes to cover the calls that you need. If not, you can add a bundle that will likely cost you less than the home phone bill. 

Collect your spare change

Some people think that spare change is useless. However, if you collect it you will save a lot of money over time. You may even save enough to cover a monthly bill. 

Saving your change in a pot is an easy and simple way of saving money that you may have otherwise got rid of. All pennies count!

Make use of coupons

In many newspapers and magazines come coupons. You may even get coupons from your supermarket. If they are right for you, ensure to take advantage of them as you could save yourself a lot of money. 

Although, don’t give in to using coupons that you wouldn’t normally use as you’ll be spending money unnecessarily. 

Shop at the right time of year

Many brands offer sales at set times of the year. With each new season comes new products. Thus, the last season products will likely go on sale. If you can catch a good sale, you could save a lot of money. 

For instance, if you are looking for new furniture, you could shop when a sale hits a store and make the most of your money. 

Upcycle old things

Speaking of furniture, it is a great idea to upcycle old things. Instead of throwing away a dining chair because of a few marks, you could paint or oil it to make it as good as new. You will not need to buy new furniture, instead just the materials to upcycle it, which will be much cheaper. 

Likewise, you should always think twice before throwing away old clothes. You might be able to turn them into something else or sell them to make some extra cash. 

Pay your bills online

Paying your bills online is a convenient process. You don’t need to leave the house and you will likely be reminded when to pay them, which will help you avoid fees. 

Furthermore, paying bills online will save you money as you will not need to pay for stamps or extra charges through paying in the post office. 

Use energy-efficient lighting

Lighting our homes can be expensive. The key to saving money on lighting is to turn them off when they are not in use. So many people leave rooms lit up for no reason and all it’s doing is using electricity. 

Another key to saving money on lighting is to use energy-efficient bulbs. These will work just as well yet use less energy, which will reduce the cost of your energy bill. 

Make your own coffee

As nice as it is going out each morning and getting coffee from your local barista, it sure is an expensive habit. 

If you can make your own coffee and master the process, then you will save a lot of money and also time. You can make your morning coffee at home, enjoy it with loved ones or take it to the office with you. 

Negotiate energy bills

Your energy bills can sometimes be a lot more expensive than they need to be. There is no harm in calling your providers and negotiating the price with them. If you tell them that you are not happy with the cost, then they will likely do everything they can to help you as they won’t want to lose loyal customers. 

You can save a lot of money by asking for a discount. Doing this each year will help you reduce your bills consistently. 

Stockpile when you see discounts

When you see discounts on your most used items, it will benefit you and save money if you stockpile them. Although you will be spending more at one time, you will spend less over time. 

Always make sure to buy as much as possible when the deal is really good as you might never find it again. Plus, only stockpile on items you use and need as you might end up wasting them and money. 

Cancel unused memberships

Subscribing to a new movie platform may have seemed like a good idea on a rainy day. However, you may have only used it once and have paid for it for two years. 

Find out which memberships you hardly (or never) used and cancel them. You will save yourself money instantly. 

Sell your unused goods

You likely have lots of unused goods lying around the house from clothes to kitchen appliances. Whatever you can find, you should sell them. 

Don’t throw away that old iPad or iPhone with a shattered screen. Recycle your old gadgets for extra cash. you can sell your iPhone by looking at a website that provides a list of recyclers offering the best price.

You can make your own yard sale or sell online and make cash to use for other home purposes. 

Categories: Me

Vicky Charles

Vicky is a single mother, writer and card reader.

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