Most people don’t realize it, but saving money at home can be very easy. You just need to stay on top of things and look for great advice.
Everyone overspends in one area or another, so there are always improvements you can make. I’ll show you some of the techniques and strategies my family has used during the last twelve months.
Hopefully, reading them will help you to come up with some changes that will work for your family. You should be left with more cash in the bank to pay for things your family really needs. Are you overspending in one of these areas?
Car Insurance
Have you ever made the mistake of letting your car insurance company automatically renew your policy without reviewing it? If they do it automatically, you may not know about the price increase for weeks.
While I don’t love the process of reviewing my car insurance, it has to be done. So, here’s a recap of the process: determine your budget, decide on coverage, gather your info, shop online, get multiple quotes, and don’t procrastinate. A few weeks ago, I shared Six Simple & Practical Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance.
Leaks
You would not believe the amount of money homeowners waste every year due to simple issues. One of the most costly ones relates to your pipework and the increases they cause in water bills.
When you notice your monthly bill has increased, it’s time to call a professional. Experts at All-Tex Plumbing state that small repairs could save you thousands. There is no point paying for water your family doesn’t use.
It might cost a couple of hundred dollars to get the issue fixed, but it’s worth spending the money. The same goes for any similar problems in your home. Perhaps you have an electrical socket that’s jammed and refuses to switch off? Don’t procrastinate.
Groceries
Most families will spend between $400 and $800 per month on food shopping. That is because they wander aimlessly around the stores making impulse purchases.
You can save a lot of money by planning your meals in advance and creating a shopping list. Always stick to the list and never fall victim to the grocery store’s psychological sales tactics.
Just look for some great healthy recipes online and start making your list of ingredients. There is no need for you to purchase those chocolate bars just because they are by the registers. The same goes for other non-essential items that sneak into your shopping cart each week.
Again, it’s wise to make a plan and stick with it. Otherwise, you might carelessly spend the cash and find yourself in the same situation. Open a new account for your savings, if you think it will help. You can throw the card away, so you don’t get tempted to visit the ATM.
How often do you evaluate your spending to make sure you’re not wasting money?
There are a lot of ways that we may be over spending, or small changes that we could make that may cost a little money that will save more money down the road. Changing your air return or furnace filters, installing a low flow shower head, installing a programmable thermostat, unplugging appliances that you don’t use, turning off the water when you brush your teeth, etc. You have provided some great examples – my favorite is the grocery list. I spend way too much at the grocery store when I don’t plan meals ahead and stick to a list. Thanks for sharing!