Saving money around the house doesn't have to be a complicated, time-consuming endeavor. A few simple changes here and there to your monthly spending habits can quickly lead to extra money in your pocket. Take a look at some household savings tips and see just how easy it can be to save.
1. Skip Buying Bottled Water
Staying hydrated with H2O not only benefits your health, but it benefits your wallet, too. Sodas, teas, and juices are refreshing in their own ways, but the cost of buying these items can add up quickly. Skip the sugary beverages and invest in a BPA-free plastic water bottle for on-the-go use.
Attach a water filter to your kitchen faucet or invest in a filtered water pitcher to keep your reusable bottle full. Buying a case of bottled water every week at a cost of $5 a case adds up. Drinking filtered water from the tap could save you $260 a year.
2. Buy Generic Products
Switching to generic brands could save you anywhere from $50 to $500 a month. There's nothing wrong with buying name brands for certain items and opting for generic brands for non-essential commodities. Toiletries, non-perishable food items, certain clothing, and pet supplies could be bought for cheaper if you choose generic.
3. Keep An Active Grocery List
One of the easiest ways to save money is to keep an active grocery list on the refrigerator. Make a note of things you need to buy when you run out. This way you don't absent-mindedly buy something you already have at home and you can make one grocery store run during the week instead of several.
4. Automate Your Home
Home automation systems have become increasingly popular and are often found in custom homes. With the touch of a button, homeowners can use a home automation control system to manage various components of the home from anywhere. When it comes to smart home technology, there are several home automation options to consider. Apex compares four of the best smart home systems from leading brands Crestron, Lutron, Savant, and Control4.
Crestron home software gives homeowners a high level of control over home theater systems, lighting systems, and shades. The Crestron home touch screen features a sleek user interface making it easy to set up the Crestron integrator. A Crestron home can include Crestron lighting and Crestron shades.
Lutron's lighting control systems give you lighting control of indoor and outdoor lights and you can control your window shades with Lutron shades.
The high-end Savant home automation system is a 3-series control system that controls sound, lighting systems, and video with the touch of a button. Control4 is the first brand to bring smart home control products to the United States market. The smart integrator is an affordable way to control a home's activity including lighting systems with dimmers and home security.
Each of these home automation systems is compatible with an iPad, tablet, or Amazon's Alexa and delivers an intuitive user experience. Whether you are comparing Crestron vs Lutron or Savant vs Control4, the specifications of each smart home control product need to align with the activity of your home.
5. Re-Think Your Energy Provider
If last month's energy bill gave you sticker shock, it's time to re-think your energy provider by heading over to the start-up price comparison website Moneygains. The free comparison service is accurate and easy to use and helps homeowners find the cheapest deals on energy providers. The price comparison tool helps you estimate annual costs so that you can find the best deal for your needs. Best of all, you can sign up for a new account with a different provider through MoneyGains hassle-free.
6. Meal-Planning is Better Than Take-Out
Get into the habit of meal planning and choosing a day of the week to do bulk cooking. Prepare your meals for the week ahead of time and keep covered dishes in the refrigerator or freezer. Instead of swinging through the drive-thru or picking up take-out on the way home, reheat a ready-made meal at home. All of these strategies will help you to save on your food bill.
Save More Money In Your Daily Routine
Saving money around the house is easier than you think. All it takes is a little thought, creativity, and discipline to start adopting money-saving habits.
