Running a household can be very expensive, especially when the colder months roll around. The heating is on constantly, and as we spend more time indoors, we start using up more energy, which can mean more money. So what ways can we run a more affordable home?
Switch Utility Providers
Switching utility providers may help cut the costs of your household bills massively, and you might be paying too much anyway. Consult a few other companies and get a quote from them for how much you’d be paying. You can go with them or go back to your current provider to see if they’ll match the quote. It’s likely that they’ll want to hold onto you rather than let their competitors, have you!
You may also want to switch your type of energy. For example, oil to gas conversion, Northern Ireland is less costly but expect to pay a fee for this.
Buy Bulk
We all need food to function so when it comes to buying food it’s better to pay in bulk and take advantage of special offers on products you usually buy to save money. The same can go for your household products and toiletries.
Try and be more money savvy when it comes to preparing food too. A lot of us can spend more money on eating out, purchasing those pricey coffees on our way to work and buying lunch out. If you prepare food from home, it’ll save you money in the long run. Also, cook food in bulk so you can store some away in the freezer.
Regulate Heating And Electricity
When it comes to the heating, yes we all want to be warm in our homes, but you don’t need to have it on all day. Most boilers will have timers where you can program the heating to come on at a certain time and go off an hour or so later. The same can be said for your electricity. Making sure you turn off lights as you leave the room and doing fewer loads on the dishwasher and washing machine will cut costs.
Insulating your home might also help with heating costs so by filling in wall cavities and having insulation in the roof, you’re home will be a lot warmer. Other tips are to hang heavy curtains in windows and use draught excluders for the doors.
Cut Down On Luxuries
Most of us are lucky to have a roof over our heads and food in our belly. When it comes to the luxuries, too many of them can leave you with an unhealthy household balance so look at your monthly budget and see whether any luxury items or subscriptions can be cut to save a little extra income. Things like your gym membership or that subscription for a weekly gossip magazine could be canceled every so often.
Having a financially efficient home is possible. It just takes a little reminder to be more money conscious, so it becomes a daily part of your routine.
