Looking for ways to save money around the house? Here is an ultimate list of the best money-saving tricks to save money at home.
Living expenses increase every year, due to inflation. However, there are so many ways to save money at home so that you can put that money toward things that make you truly happy!
Put on your creative cap, get your budgeting binder ready, and get ready to save money at home!
Learn home/apartment tricks you should know, how to negotiate bills, and how to fix easy things around the home on your own.
This post is all about the best ways to save money in the home!
1. Shop Out Your Internet Subscription
Ah, the internet subscription. This is something that bothers me every single year.
You sign up for a “promotion” and then a year later, the price doubles. I call my internet company every single year to renegotiate my internet subscription because there's no way I'm paying double this year for the same thing I had last year.
Anyone else with me?!
Did you know there's a better way though?
There's actually a company that will do this for you! Yes, you heard that right!
The company is called Trim and they will actually NEGOTIATE your internet bill for you and all other subscriptions! It's amazing!! And, the best part is, it won't cost you a thing!
2. Cook at Home with a $5 Meal Plan
Cooking at home will save a family so much money! Eating out is one of the biggest money expenditures and most people don't even realize how much they spend!
Challenge yourself to cook at home for a few months and see how much your bank account increases!
Unsure of what to make?
For easy cooking at home, this company will give you meal plans for just $5 a month!! It's the best for the busy young professional or mom that doesn't have the time to figure out what to make each week.
I use it and many of my friends use it as well! The meal plans are so delicious and easy to make!
3. Shop out Home/Renters Insurance
Home and renters insurance can cost quite a pretty penny. However, if you look at 3-5 companies, you can easily find the best-priced option for you!
I found I was paying 100% more than I should have been when I shopped my home insurance out.
4. Adjust The Fridge Temperature
Open your fridge and adjust the temperature to an optimal temperature so that it's not too cold for your food.
Ever find food that looks frozen? Your fridge is too cold. Adjust it down so that you aren't paying to keep it so cold. I believe 35-38 degrees is a good rule of thumb to abide by.
5. Lower the Hot Water Heater Temperature
Ever notice that your hot water is scalding hot when it heats up? That's energy you're paying for.
Go to the hot water heater and turn the dial down if it's on the very hot option to a more ideal option for you.
This way, the water doesn't heat up too much so you save money and help the environment by saving energy!
6. Get a Smart Thermostat
The smart thermostats do so much more than connect to your phone and “look cool”.
They actually are eco-friendly and will heat or cool down your home at ideal times of day to save you the most money and save the most energy possible.
The goal of a smart thermostat is to make your home as eco-friendly as possible. Many states offer a pretty hefty rebate on those so look at the offerings in your state to determine if you'll get a nice kickback!
I ended up getting my Nest Thermostat for really cheap after my state's rebates!
7. Replace the Air Filter
I know, this can be annoying to do every now and then.
However, swapping out the air filter will help your HVAC (AC) system work more efficiently, which will save you money in the future.
They're not very expensive (like $5) and can be found at Lowe's/Home Depot. Change them every 3 months to reap the full benefits!
8. Use Energy Saving Lightbulbs
Ya'll, this one gets a bad rap. However, energy-saving lightbulbs actually do make a difference over time. Next time you need to replace a lightbulb, replace it with an energy-saving lightbulb.
You'll see a difference in your energy bill over the years once all of your lightbulbs are switched!
9. Turn Off Lights
I thought this was an obvious one, until I had roommates. =P I still love you guys!
But really…when I was in college and the years after that with roommates, apparently turning off lights was not a thing.
I was always in a crunch to save money so I was the light “turner offer” in my houses. Fun-sucker, right? But honestly, keeping lights on just drove our electricity bill up, even though no one was using the lights. Turn them off to save money!
10. Refinance Your Mortgage
If you own a home, a really easy way to save money right away is to refinance your mortgage. Right now (2021), the interest rates are extremely low so it's a great time. Just make sure you understand any fees that may be associated to make sure it's a good time for you to invest! You can find a refinance calculator linked here to check for yourself!
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11. Learn to Fix Things Yourself (if homeowner) or Ask for Rent Back (if renter)
As a homeowner, if something breaks, I teach myself how to fix it to save money.
When I was a renter and something broke, I offered to fix it myself for some credit back on my rent.
I caulked showers, unclogged drains, painted walls, laid down dirt, fixed appliances, etc.
I got $50-$200 in credit back on my rent every time I completed a house chore the owner needed done.
For example, my HVAC system (AC) stopped working last year. I called out a HVAC technician and he said it would cost me $350 to repair it.
I mentioned that I'd like to think about it.
I then researched it and within 5 minutes, I figured out what was wrong with it. I bought a $3 part at Lowe's and literally replaced the part in 30 seconds. It worked perfectly instantly!
I couldn't believe it! This just goes to show how much you pay for time and labor!
Things you can offer to do for rent back as a renter:
- Snake the sink or drains–>Get a cheap snake
- Paint the walls
- Caulk the shower
- Fix the garbage disposal
- Fix the dishwasher, dryer, washing machine, and other appliances
- Landscaping
- Watering the yard
12. DIY Everything
Instead of automatically hiring someone, try learning it yourself to save money!
As a homeowner, I have DIYd almost everything in my home and it looks fantastic (I'm a perfectionist). I knew NOTHING going into it, but I learned everything online and through professionals.
Things I learned to DIY in my home with absolutely no experience:
- Paint the Walls
- Install Shelving
- Install Crown Moulding
- Tile
- Fireplace stone
Recommended: 15 Cheap DIY Home Decor Ideas You Need to Try
13. Use Cloth Towels Instead of Paper Towels
Paper towels can get expensive over time.
Use cloth towels to continuously reuse and help save the environment.
These are the cloth towels I use on a daily basis for cleaning.
14. Protect Your Furniture
Use this product on all of your fabric furniture to keep it from getting stained from body oils, food, liquids, etc.
I Scotchguard all of my furniture. You just spray it on like hairspray and then repeat every 6 months to a year.
It has protected my beige tufted kitchen chairs for 4 years now. My friends have spilled wine, soda, frosting, A1 sauce, you name it! The chairs look brand new!
15. Make Your Own Cleaning Products
Cleaning products are a RIP-OFF AND they are bad for the environment due to the amount of plastic each bottle has.
Save the environment and save money by making your own cleaning products at home. There are simple recipes all over the internet.
One of my favorites is a replacement for Windex. Get a glass spray bottle like these and then use diluted white vinegar to clean your windows instead of Windex. It costs so much less and doesn't leave any streaks. In fact, word on the street is that the professional window cleaners use white vinegar…cue the rainbow…the more you know. (Comment if you got the reference =P)
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