Today’s unstable economic climate is causing more and more people to seek out ways to save money.
Are you one of them?
If so, I applaud you for paying attention to what’s happening in the world, because ignoring the facts, doesn’t change the facts.
It’s amazing to see the number of people that don’t realize just how much money they could save on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
The reality is that many unnecessary costs can actually be reduced or eliminated altogether if you take the right approach consistently.
Whether it is your car, your home, or just your everyday living and spending habits, there are real ways to conserve cash.
The average adult in the United States has several thousands of dollars worth of credit card debt.
Combined with monthly car payments, rent or mortgage payments, and other obligations, it can make day-to-day living stressful.
Fortunately, there are ways you can save money that may seem small but can really add up over time.
Being vigilant about spending money can do wonders for your bank account and peace of mind.
You’re about to discover the Top 25 Ways To Save Money At Home, which can mean more money in your piggy bank at the end of each month.
Let’s cover them now…
1)) Prepare Your Own Meals
Buying breakfast from a fast-food restaurant on your way to work isn’t too expensive on its own. But, doing so even once a week can quickly add up to a significant amount.
If you find yourself ordering food every day, consider preparing breakfast or lunch at home so you'll be able to eat when you need to.
Just wake up 30 minutes earlier to get it done.
Cooking for yourself at home tends to be much cheaper than eating out regularly. This applies to coffee, too.
Brewing a thermos full of coffee in the morning will save you the time and money you would spend heading to the nearest coffee shop.
Tip: For one month, keep track of all the money you spend on eating out, buying breakfast, and stopping for coffee. Then add up the total. You may fall out of your seat when you see how much money you’re spending every month. Do the math, because it’ll be a real eye-opener!
2)) Give Generic a Try
Many stores offer generic or store-brand alternatives to both food and household products.
If you see a generic alternative to a product you're shopping for, give it a try at least once.
If you like it, you could save money that you would basically be spending on the label otherwise.
Some brand-name products contain up to twice as much (in volume) as their generic counterparts, so switching to generic products can lead to significant savings on your grocery bill.
Insider Secret: Sometimes the equivalent generic brand contains the same product as the name brand, and the only difference is the label.
This is because the product is made by the same 3rd party manufacturer.
A wide variety of store brands are produced by national-brand manufacturers and repackaged for the particular store you frequent.
3)) Ditch the Disposables
Some of the products you use from day to day are only used once and then thrown away.
Paper towels are handy when you want to clean up a mess in a hurry, but reaching for one after every spill can become an expensive habit, and bad for the environment in terms of filling up our landfills.
Instead of paper towels or napkins, use washable rags or handkerchiefs.
Using them will create a bit of extra dirty laundry, but will also cut out the cost of these disposable products altogether because paper products aren’t cheap.
4)) Use Homemade Household Cleaners
At first, the thought of giving up commercial cleaning products may leave you with some doubts.
However, you can make alternatives to many of these products at home. Vinegar is a very effective natural disinfectant with many uses around the home.
Not only is it useful on its own, but it also works well with other green cleaners to take care of all kinds of messes.
In addition to surface cleaning solutions, you can also make your own laundry detergent, fabric softener, shampoo, and toothpaste.
There are all sorts of recipes for commercial cleaning alternatives on the internet.
These are only a few of the ways you can lower your expenses. You can find even more ways to save by keeping track of the money you spend in a month. This will help you to identify areas where you need to start cutting back.
Don't forget, every little bit helps!
5)) Batteries
Many devices, including toys and remote controllers, need batteries to function. Before you know it, you could end up buying batteries every time you go to the store.
Fortunately, many battery manufacturers offer rechargeable versions of the commonly-used sizes.
These rechargeable batteries come with a home charger that plugs into a wall outlet that typically charges four batteries at a time.
If you invest in enough of these batteries to supply all of the electronic devices you use every day, you eliminate the need to buy more disposable batteries in the future.
6)) Food Storage Bags
For most people, buying meat in bulk also means buying plastic storage bags to keep it fresh in the freezer until it’s ready to be cooked.
However, throwaway bags aren’t the only way to keep food fresh. An inexpensive set of plastic storage containers is ideal for keeping food fresh, as well as easier to store in your freezer efficiently.
It’s important to note that the average family throws away thousands of dollars worth of food every year due to it going bad prematurely because of improper storage.
7)) Facial Tissue
While using a reusable cloth instead of facial tissue or toilet paper may not seem appealing, doing so can save a lot of money during cold and flu season.
Boxes of tissue can disappear fast, but a cloth napkin or handkerchief can be washed and used day after day.
Like cleaning towels, using cloth napkins will lead to more laundry, but the money you save will outweigh the cost.
8)) Paper Plates
Paper plates are handy for picnics, packed lunches, parties, and more. But, they are also usually overpriced compared to their alternative.
Reusable plastic plates, bowls, drinkware, and cutlery can all be found pretty cheaply. Yes, washing all of this after an event might be a chore.
But you won’t need to worry about buying new plates for future events.
While many of these products may require a bit of effort on your part, they can save you money and reduce the amount of waste you produce, which should be the goal of every single one of us in an attempt to reduce our carbon footprints.
Better yet, think of all the things you could buy with the money that you would otherwise be throwing away.
Going green isn't just helping the environment.
Not only does staying environmentally conscious help the planet, but this same train of thought also allows you to save money too.
And it doesn't take as much effort as you think.
9)) Take Advantage of RainWater
Using rainwater to irrigate your lawn or garden saves you money on your water bill (from $100 to $300) and conserves precious water supplies in dry climate areas.
Depending on your location, it's estimated that the average homeowner uses 20 to 60 percent of their monthly water consumption for outdoor watering needs.
In essence, this adds up to a lot of water, which can easily be put to better use.
Note: You must check your local laws, rules, and regulations to see if it’s legal to install water tanks to capture rainwater.
10)) Eat Less Meat
We all know that eating less meat, especially red meat, is just plain healthier.
Meats are one of the most expensive items on your grocery list, and reducing your consumption saves you money, period!
There are hundreds of tasty recipes that don't call for meat as an ingredient. Chances are, it won't take long to find a few that your family thoroughly enjoys.
11)) Invest in a Programmable Thermostat
If you don't already have one, it's an excellent idea to invest in a programmable thermostat.
It's an even better idea if you happen to work long hours or live alone. There's no point in keeping your home at its warmest or coolest when you're not there, or at night when you can take advantage of cozy blankets.
Once you program the thermostat to regulate the temperature, it turns the heat up and down automatically.
Just set it and forget it!
This alone can save you a small fortune over time because heating and cooling a house can be expensive.
12)) Put a Brick in Your Toilet Tank
Older toilets are not as water-efficient as the newer models. Cut down on your water consumption by putting a brick or a jug of water in your tank.
The idea is to take up space so that less water is required to fill the tank back up after you flush.
It should be noted, however, that you don't want to displace too much water.
When this happens, you'll probably have to flush twice, which doesn't save any water at all.
If it’s within your budget, you should consider a newer more modern low-flow toilet.
13)) Use Power Strips
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, electronic devices that still use power even when they're turned off account for as much as 11 percent of all household energy use.
That number represents an astonishing $10 billion per year.
What a waste, right?
You have the option of purchasing a power strip that you turn on and off manually or one that automatically turns off components after a certain amount of idle time passes.
Either way, it's a great way to conserve energy and money on your electric bill.
14)) Switch to Energy-Saving Light Bulbs
Switching to energy-saving CFL or LED light bulbs might seem expensive at first, But, you'll end up saving quite a bit of cash in the long run.
These bulbs last 10 to 25 times longer and use up to 75 percent less energy than their traditional counterparts.
Some brands even are marketed to last a lifetime.
15)) Dry Clothes on the Line
Yes, it takes a little bit longer to hang clothes on a clothesline. But, it's definitely worth the extra effort, especially when the line is located outside.
Garments end up smelling extra fresh. Probably not so surprisingly, the clothes dryer is one of the most expensive appliances to operate.
So the less you use it, the more money you'll save.
16)) Make a Menu
Menu planning is a good idea for several reasons. In addition to reducing the possibility of a "spontaneous shopping binge" or an unnecessary trip to the store to pick up that one missing ingredient, it also makes it much easier to plan healthier meals.
It's also helpful if you find yourself making the same boring meals, week after week.
Take 30 minutes or so to thumb through your favorite cookbook. Chances are you'll find at least one new recipe to try.
17)) Don't Go Shopping Hungry
No matter how much willpower you have (or think you have), it's never a good idea to go grocery shopping when you're hungry.
Why?
You'll probably come home with much more than you bargained for, even if you're trying to stick to a list.
If you go shopping on an empty stomach, you’ll most likely end up buying several junk food items.
18)) Utilize Your Local Dollar Store
Along the same lines as buying generic, you'll typically save money on certain items purchased at your local dollar store.
This includes items such as spices, cleaning supplies, personal items (like toothpaste and deodorant), and even cookware and tableware.
Why pay more money for the same merchandise?
19)) Familiarize Yourself with Store Policies
This tip is especially important if you use coupons to save money.
Familiarizing yourself with store policies helps to ensure that you get the biggest bang for your buck, and prevents what could be an embarrassing situation in the checkout line.
20)) Buy Local and in Season
Buying local and in-season not only saves you money but also supports local farmers.
When fruits and vegetables are in season, they are at their best and less expensive than at other times of the year.
Purchase extras to freeze or can, and enjoy them year-round.
21)) Re-Evaluate Your Insurance Coverage
For many people, one of the best ways to cut expenses after retirement is to re-evaluate their insurance coverage.
Depending on your current situation, you may not need to continue paying for certain coverage.
For example, because you no longer work, you can sometimes forgo disability insurance.
If you don't have dependents, you may want to consider discontinuing your life insurance.
Speaking to a financial advisor is the best way to go over your options.
22)) Ditch Your Landline
Although you won't save a ton of money, ditching a landline typically saves you between $175 and $900 per year.
If you already have a cell phone, chances are you aren't using your landline as much as you used to anyway.
23)) Start Building Capital
Once you’ve saved up a fair amount of money, you can choose to invest it to make sure your wealth continues to grow.
There are many investment options to choose from, including stocks and real estate.
However, in order to be able to make a meaningful investment, it's typically necessary to build up a substantial amount of capital.
Tip: Take your time and do the research necessary to find out what are the best things to invest in so that you don’t lose your money because no one cares about it more than you do.
Also, study the ins and outs of Asset Allocation, because this adds another layer of financial protection because it prevents you from putting all of your eggs into one basket.
24)) Be Ready for Retirement
The sooner you start saving up for retirement, the less you'll have to worry about it in the future.
Check with your employer to see what sort of retirement plan they offer. Then, work out a savings plan that’s on track with the retirement plan offered.
If you’re self-employed, invest, or run your own business with employees, consult with a good financial planner that has a proven track record.
This way, by the time you’re ready to start seriously considering retirement, you'll have already banked all (if not most) of the money you need to sustain your current standard of living well into your golden years.
If you don’t proactively plan for your retirement, you’ll join the millions of people who will not have enough money to retire on.
25)) In Case of Emergencies
You never know when a costly emergency might occur.
Damages to your car, your house, or even yourself can be easier to handle if you have money held back in a savings account for these rainy-day situations.
Without savings, dealing with an emergency like this could put you into debt, and bankruptcy; cause you to be homeless, which can be costly to recover from.
Conclusion
Even the small things we often take for granted can add up quickly when it comes to spending money.
By looking at what we spend our money on as well as how we spend it, we can better assess how to save cash.
These thrifty spending habits are also good lessons to pass down to your children for the future.
By setting a good example and paying attention to the money you spend; future generations will understand the value of hard work and of a dollar much better.
If we learn how to save energy and water, and reduce our carbon footprint, we can also contribute to saving the earth and keeping our precious resources clean.
Just a few simple changes to your lifestyle can add up to hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars saved each year.
Take that money and put it into a scholarship fund, invest it, start an online business, or use it to help downsize some of your personal debt.
Or, perhaps you can now save up for that dream vacation you’ve been waiting for.
No matter what you do with the extra money, it will no doubt feel great to know that you’ve been able to save cash for other expenses or for something more worthwhile.
Start saving today for a better future!
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