Ways to Save Money at Home

Here are some easy ways to save money that can really add up over time. 

1. Avoid using your dryer, especially in summer: Clothes dryers use up a lot of energy, and in summer, they will make your air conditioner work harder. Get one or two clothes drying racks and hang your clothes outside to dry in the sun. I bought two drying racks, and I haven’t run my dryer all summer. This helps me out a lot because my dryer is right next to my office, and if I were to run it, my office would get super hot, and I would have to run the A/C extra hard to cool it down.

In the winter, the clothes will give a little extra moisture to your home if it’s super dry.

2. Instead of buying books, check them out from the library or find online resources: I often forget about the most amazing resource out there, the public library. There are thousands of books, dvds, cds, magazines available at the library. There are also online collections like Hoopla and Libby that offer audiobooks and other materials. 

You can also check used book stores as well. 

3. Subscribe to community solar or get solar panels: In previous post on community solar, I talk about how I signed up for a solar farm in the area, and I am guaranteed 10% off of my electricity bill. I actually signed up for 2 community solar farms. There are no catches, so it’s a win-win. Better for the environment and money saving for me!

4. Switch Internet Providers: I was using Comcast Xfinity for probably 10 years, and my bill kept going up and up. It was probably at about $120 per month. It was great service, and I got Internet and basic cable, but it was very expensive. I switched to i3Broadband, and I now may $35 per month. I do miss the local channels, but we make due. 

5. Cook your own meals: Food is expensive! A meal for 2 at a restaurant could be a week’s worth of groceries. Breakfast should be easy’ some eggs, fruit, toast etc. Lunch could be a sandwich or even a salad. And dinner takes planning, but it essentially comes down to the sauce. Get a good book on sauces, and you’re golden. 

6. Look at food sales and plan your weekly menu around that: This is something that I should be a lot better at. But each store publishes weekly ads and coupons. If you look at the ads, you can plan all of your meals for the week based on the deals. 

7. Unsubscribe from streaming services: While it’s great that there are so many options, they can add up! I have Disney+, which my company pays for, and Spotify Premium. Spotify is $10 per month, which is cheaper than a cd was back in the day. So that’s a good deal for pretty much any music I want on demand. 

8. Adjust your thermostat: You can quickly adjust your thermostat to run your furnace or your A/C less. It might be a little sticky or a little uncomfortable, but you will save money. Also, make sure to find any places that air might be leaking and use caulk or a sealant to close the leak. 

9. Set a budget and monthly savings goals: there are dozens of apps available to help you keep track of your finances. 

10. Create a garden to grow your favorite veggies: if you have favorite foods that you know you eat often, you can grow those foods. Some foods like tomatoes, garlic, chives, and greens are super simple and you don’t even need to buy starters for them, you can use the food you already have. 

I hope this was helpful! Thank you for reading!