Make it Last: Saving Money By Using What You Have Longer

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

One of the best ways you to save money as part of your frugal lifestyle is to use what you have for as long as you can. Replacing items can start to add up in cost. However, if you know how to make things last, you will find that you can save money in the long run. Part of this is starting out with items of good quality, and the other part is doing what you can to keep the item in working condition for as long as possible.

Here are some of the general things you can do to take better care of what you have:

Follow manufacturer recommendations for proper care and maintenance.
Properly store items that need to be put away.
Avoid using unnecessary roughness when using the item.

When it comes to specific things that you use regularly, there might be some other ideas for what you can do to increase the amount of time that they last. Here are some things to consider:

Vehicle

My brother drives car that is older than he is. It was my grandmother’s car — brand new in 1983. It has been well-maintained, so it still gets a driver from point A to point B. The interior is still in good condition, and it runs reasonably well. It’ll probably last a few more years. If you want your car to last longer, taking care of it is a must. Follow recommendations for maintenance (transmission flush, exhaust, spark plugs, filters, radiator drain, etc.), and have repairs performed in a timely fashion so that they don’t turn into bigger issues. Keeping your car clean can also help.

You can also help your tires last longer by keeping them properly inflated, and by rotating them regularly.

Carpet

Your flooring can be quite expensive to replace. You can help it last longer by taking care of it. Vacuum regularly, and shampoo your carpet and your rugs at least once a year. Try to keep from bring dirt in. We take our shoes off while in the house to avoid bringing in dirt. Another thing we do is limit eating to certain areas of the house. This keeps food crumbs from being scattered around the house. Clean up messes quickly, and try to change things around on occasion so that wear is more evenly distributed.

Your linoleum and wood flooring should also be kept properly maintained. Follow directions for cleaning and treating other types of flooring, and do your best to avoid scratches.

Bed

Many people find that their beds wear out quickly. You can make a mattress last longer by flipping it every so often. Also, rotating the mattress so that the areas where your feet and head alternate. A mattress pad can help you keep your mattress cleaner (the mattress pad can be washed). You can add a mattress topper to extend the life as well. Instead of buying a new mattress recently, we bought a memory foam topper. It cost less than the mattress, and it feels like new.

Clothing

Clothing experiences a lot of wear and tear. A good portion of it comes from the way you launder it. Using cold water, as well as the gentle cycle, can help you limit damage to your clothes. Line drying can also help. The dryer can be quite hard on your clothing, and air drying it can reduce damage. Proper care of your clothing can help it last longer.

Do you have tips for making different items last longer?

The “Super-Coupon Queen” Responds to “Coupon Resistance”

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

I recently had the opportunity to ask a few questions of the “Super-Coupon Queen,” Jill Cataldo. Jill is a Chicago-area couponing evangelist who shares saving-savvy wisdom on her blog and in her Super-Couponing Classes and DVDs.

I asked her about the phenomenon of “coupon resistance.” Here are her thoughts on the subject:

CS: How would you respond to someone who says, “I don’t have time or patience for coupons?”

Jill: I’ve always felt that you can spend time to save money, or you can spend money to save time. Thankfully, with the help of the Internet, using coupons is faster and easier than ever. There are great websites that will actually give you a shopping list for your store of choice, matched to the coupons you need to cut those prices even more. I usually don’t spend more than a half hour to an hour a week preparing for a trip.

CS: Even if folks don’t become “Super Couponers” like you, can you please explain why using coupons makes good financial sense?

Jill: Dollars and cents add up. If you only used $5 worth of coupons each week (which is easy to do, as many coupons are high value, with denominations of $1 or more), by the end of your first month, you’d have saved $20. Do that for a year, and you’ll save over $250. That’s easy money with very little effort.

With a little more effort, you can far exceed that number. The first year I spent Super-Couponing, I saved over $5,000 with coupons. I don’t know anyone who would turn down $5000 if you handed it to them! Coupon shoppers aren’t saving “a quarter here and there” — we’re saving real, significant money on our groceries every week and it really adds up.

CS: What would you suggest as a good first step to a new couponer, that might allow him or her to see the savings first-hand?

Jill: Find a coupon site or blog that you enjoy, and that posts deals on stores that you shop at. Even if you don’t actually start couponing right away, take notice of the prices people are paying for things post-coupon. You will get a sense as to what prices you should be paying for the items you buy. Once you see that there are great deals coming every single week, it becomes hard to resist even picking up a few things for pennies.

CS: What would you say to those who swear they get better bargains without coupons by shopping for everything at a “cheap” store?

Jill: I hear this all the time, but it’s one of the biggest misconceptions people have. “Discount” grocery stores sell mainly house-labeled products, and they’re roughly the same price every day. In contrast, a supermarket runs a high/low pricing structure. On any given day, probably half the name-brand items at the supermarket will cost more than the house-branded discount store equivalents. The other half of the products will cycle lower than that house-brand price midline. Those are the products we’re watching — we move in with our coupons and cut those prices even more. I consistently buy name-brand products for a fraction of the prices I’d pay for store-brand equivalents — I never pay more than .25 a box for any name-brand cereal, post-coupon.

Couponing may not fit into everyone’s lifestyle but as Jill espouses, there’s little doubt that what you get out of it is proportionate to what you put into it.

Do coupons fit into your savings strategy?

Frugal Christmas: DIY Christmas Decorations

by Miranda Marquit · 1 comment

If you are planning to have a frugal Christmas, one of the areas that you will need to try to save money on is that of decorations. Decorations can get rather expensive, especially if you buy them at the store ahead of the holiday. The good news, though, is that you can usually make wonderful Christmas decorations for much less if you do it yourself.

Even if you are not “crafty” (I know I’m not), you can make simple decorations that look great. Here are some great do it yourself ideas that can help you bring a festive mood to your home this holiday season:

Candles

Candles make excellent Christmas decorations. You can use plain white candles, or even get red or green candles. Groups candles of different heights together, and tie them with ribbons. You can also add glitter to the candles. Use egg whites or glue to coat the candles, and sprinkle glitter over them.

You can also make very pretty decorations by putting small votive candles in goblets, glass tumblers or small bowls.

Natural Items

Use what nature provides to create beautiful holiday decorations. Gather some evergreen branches and use them to make any number of frugal decorations. Small branches tied with ribbon are simple, but look great. You can use glitter on branches, or even paint them with silver or gold.

Add in some pine cones. These can be piled in the middle of the table, or they can even be used to surround your candle decorations. Create bundles of small branches, pine cones and ribbon for a fun look. If you have cranberries or holly these can be added in as well.

You might not be able to go outside to get fruit, but you can use some fruit from the store in your decorating efforts. Pears and apples are considered Christmas fruits, as are small oranges. You can polish these up and add them to centerpieces or mix them with your evergreen branches. Pile them in a basket (tied with a festive ribbon) or a glass bowl. You can also coat them in glitter for a more festive appearance. Coat the fruit with egg whites and then roll the pieces in glitter.

Cinnamon sticks can also be incorporated into your decorating efforts, and they have the added bonus of smelling great!

Jars, Baskets and Bowls

There are a number of ways that you can use jars, baskets and bowls in your Christmas decoration efforts. Even canning jars, filled with Christmas candy, curled ribbon, tinsel, small ornaments, or even Christmas tree lights can look good. There are a number of inexpensive bowls, apothecary jars and even vases that can be filled with fruit, pine cones, tree ornaments or any number of Christmas-y items.

You can put together baskets of different items to look festive. Fill baskets with any of the items we’ve mentioned above, and you have an instant centerpiece. You can paint baskets in Christmas colors if you want, or festoon them with ribbons and bows. Fill them with small boxes wrapped like presents (something else that makes a fun Christmas decoration).

Do you have any favorite do it yourself Christmas decorations?

This post was featured in the Best of Credit Cards and Saving Money.

Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Teenagers

by Tracy · 2 comments

Teenagers are notorious for having expensive tastes in clothes, electronics and other accessories. Here are a few affordable gift ideas that will make your teenage child, niece, nephew or family friend very happy this holiday season without putting you in the poor house. Many of these ideas are for gift cards as teenagers have very fickle tastes and enjoy the opportunity to go shopping for themselves.

For Teens that Drive:

Gas station gift card for fill-ups and snacks.
Safety supplies for the car such as a first aid kit, flashlight or emergency blanket.
Car cleaning kit with a chamois and cleaning supplies such as wax and Armor All.

For Artistic Teens:

Gift card to a local arts and crafts store.
Art supplies, yarn, fabric, etc.
Magazine subscription related to their interests.

For Teens that Game

Steam gift certificate.
Prepaid time cards for their favorite games.
Magazine subscription to Game Pro or any other similar gaming magazine.

For Teens that Play Sports

Good quality water bottle.
Gift card to Sports Authority or a similar store that sells equipment for their sport/s.
Identification bracelet for runners/bikers.

For Teens Going off to College

Small appliances such as a coffee maker or iron.
A basic cookbook for beginners.
Grocery store gift card.

For all Teens:

Teenagers with a digital camera or access to the family’s photography equipment would appreciate a gift card to an online photo printing service such as Snapfish so that they can order prints, make scrapbooks or get other personalized items such as calendars and mugs.

If you have photos of the teen and his or her friends handy, a great, inexpensive gift idea is to frame them for the teen or start a photo album for them. If you are handy, there are many plans for making do-it-yourself bulletin boards, white boards and magnet boards that you could personalize with a few photos or mementos before wrapping and giving to your teen.

Most teenagers love to eat, so gift cards to fast food and casual dining restaurants as well as coffee shops would be welcome. Check your local grocery store or warehouse store to see about getting discounts on buying gift cards to restaurants and other stores.

Amazon.com and iTunes gift cards are always popular and your teen can get a lot of music out of $10. Small denomination gift cards to drug stores and discount stores like Target and Wal-Mart are also very useful as many teens use them to buy grooming supplies and cosmetics.

Many kids still enjoy reading, so don’t forget the book store. Perhaps you could pick a book that you enjoyed very much when you were a teen and inscribe it with a thoughtful message. Teens might seem gruff and surly on the outside, but on little gestures that show that you are reaching out to them mean so much.

Don’t forget the gift of your time. You can give your teen a coupon redeemable for all sorts of things. Are they learning to drive? Perhaps promise them a few outings chaperoning them. Or a trip to an art gallery, a cooking lesson, a visit to the zoo…put some thought into finding an activity that you and your teen would both enjoy. Time spent together is a gift that will last forever.

Holiday Shopping: Free Shipping

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

Even though Black Friday is over, and Cyber Monday has passed, there are still plenty of good deals out there if you want to continue some holiday shopping. Maybe you couldn’t find what you wanted, or maybe you weren’t able to take advantage of deals due to items selling out or web sites crashing. In any case, you can still get good deal on plenty of Christmas related merchandise. On top of that, you can also get free shipping.

Get Free Shipping for Your Christmas Purchases

One of the ways that you can contribute to a frugal Christmas is to take advantage of free shipping offers. This can be a good way to save a few bucks, or save even more — depending on what you are buying. Here are some places you can go to look for free shipping deals:

Amazon.com: This is a good place to go to get free shipping year round. If you choose qualified Super Saver items, you can get free shipping when you spend at least $25. We try to bundle our orders at Amazon.com so that we qualify for Super Saver Shipping. When using this method for Christmas shopping, though, you have to be careful to order early. Super Saver Shipping takes longer than other options (since it is free), so if you don’t order early enough, you won’t get your items in time for Christmas.
FreeShipping.org: Another favorite of mine, FreeShipping.org offers you a place to go to find free shipping codes, promotions and coupons. This is another web site that offers its services year round. Click on desired stores to get access to the codes and coupons that will provide you will free shipping on what you are buying. You can look by store, or by purchase category.
Free Shipping Day: Every year, more than 1,000 stores participate in Free Shipping Day. This is the day that you can order items and they are guaranteed to be there by Christmas — at no charge to you! It’s a great idea that can mean big savings for you at a variety of retailers. Check at the site to see who is participating, and then make a list of what you want to buy at those stores. Then, on December 17, place your orders.

Making a Plan

Of course, if you want to completely avoid paying shipping, for your Christmas shopping, you have to make a plan. You probably know that maximizing your money for a frugal lifestyle means plenty of planning. This is true when it comes to saving money on shipping.

Compile your Christmas list, and look for items at different online retailers participating in some sort of free shipping deal. Determine where you can go to get the best deals and the free shipping. If your best bet is Free Shipping Day retailers, you’ll want to divide up your list so that you know exactly which items to order on December 17. If you know you are getting things at Amazon.com, be sure to group them together so you get them at once to qualify for Super Saver Shipping.

You should also consider the cost of the item. In some cases, you might get such a good discount at one retailer that it makes up for the fact that you have to pay shipping. Run the numbers. Sometimes the money saved on shipping isn’t enough to offset a deeper discount elsewhere. You still have to do some comparison shopping if you want to save money on Christmas.

What sites do you visit for free shipping? And how do you save on Christmas shopping?

Secret Santa Gifts Tips and Advice

by Tracy · 0 comments

There are three types of people when it comes to Secret Santa exchanges. The first type goes all out and makes it their mission to learn everything there is to know about their giftee so as to get the best possible present possible. The second couldn’t be less enthusiastic and picks up the first thing under $15 that is in gift packaging at the drugstore on their way in to work that morning. However, the vast majority of us are somewhere in the middle: we want to make our recipients happy, but let’s be real, we’re busy enough during the holidays without having to pick out the perfect under $15 gift for Bob in accounting.

Here are a few tips and some advice to finding a nice gift on a budget for Secret Santa:

1. Don’t stress about it too much, this is secret Santa not a marriage proposal. If you can knock it out of the park, fine but if not, is it really going to matter a year from now? Or even two days from now?

2. That said, don’t be like Shirley of the infamous dollar store purple plastic deviled egg tray from a job I had a decade ago. People will remember if you go outrageously cheap and thoughtless. In general, the less you want/can spend on a gift, the more thought you’ll have to put into it.

3. If you’ve no idea what your recipient likes or their personality, go safe. Stay away from anything mildly risqué, religious in nature or giving alcohol.

4. Stick close to the spending limit! If you go over, you risk showing everyone up and if you go significantly under, you risk looking cheap and making your recipient feel cheated. Keep in mind, this is more to do with the perceived value of the gift so don’t worry if you find an awesome deal on something that normally costs around your spending limit.

5. Secret Santa gifts are notorious for being useless clutter, so try to choose things that are consumable or easily regiftable. A porcelain figure of a hippos dressed as elves ice skating is neither.

6. Gift cards might seem like a cop out, but I think there is nothing wrong with them for Secret Santa exchanges as long as you put some thought into it. Choose places that your recipient often patronizes and where a $10 or 15 card can actually buy something! A local coffee shop, deli or even a fast food restaurant would work well.

7. Some good generic gifts are: coffee mugs/water bottles/travel mugs, small accessories for a car such as a cleaning kit or emergency flashlight, candles, candy that you know your recipient likes, gourmet cooking ingredients like fancy salt if your recipient cooks, board games and picture frames.

8. Don’t spend too much on the gift wrap! It’s perfectly acceptable to recycle gift bags or if you don’t have any from last year, to buy gift wrap at the dollar store.

9. A short, handwritten note in the card that says something nice about the person and why you enjoy working with them is a very nice and welcome touch.

10. If your recipient seems disappointed, don’t sweat it. As long as you didn’t go out of your way to do a bad job, it’s fine. After all, how many of us have a hard time buying for our own parents or spouses? Don’t let it get to you, remember point one, it’s not going to matter a year from now.

11. And if you’re disappointed by your gift, ditto. Don’t waste energy thinking about how much you put into the gift you gave only to get a Big Mouth Billy Bass or wonder why somebody would give another grown person reindeer antler earmuffs. Just find a way to give it to somebody who would enjoy it and let go because it’s not worth stewing over. Even if you did get a 99 cent purple plastic deviled egg tray.

Should You Do It Yourself?

by Gina Blitstein · 1 comment

It’s a common belief that “do-it-yourselfers” are in a position to save a ton of money over those who pay others to do everything. While you may have a particular skill, aptitude or talent that you can employ to do a job others have to pay for, is it always true that “doing it yourself” saves money? The answer is a definitive “it depends.”

Here are some of the factors to consider when determining if doing a job yourself is actually cheaper — or even a good idea at all:

When it’s primarily a matter of money

No one wants to pay more than he or she thinks something is worth. That’s why many people opt to prepare their own meals, do their own yardwork and clean their own house. Sometimes their motivation is more than just saving money – sometimes folks enjoy taking on these tasks. Not only are they saving money by not hiring a professional; they’re indulging an enjoyable passion as well by doing certain things others would consider “chores.” It’s a case of “One man’s work is another man’s hobby.”

This category includes such activities as:

Cooking/baking
Light yardwork/gardening
Carwashing
Sewing/crafting
Event/party planning
Personal care, i.e., haircuts, manicures, haircoloring
Furniture re-upholstery and refinishing
Home repairs/maintenance
Appliance repair/maintenance
Minor automotive repair/maintenance
Home remodeling projects
Photography
Computer upgrades/repair

These can be performed with a moderate amount of knowledge, motivation, some patience and diligence. Sometimes doing it yourself costs you nothing except your time or only a fraction of what it would cost to hire a professional. If you’re willing to spend your time doing these jobs to reap the monetary savings or sense of accomplishment (or both), you should go for it.

Other times, it can prove to be a bit more costly doing even seemingly simple things yourself because they:

Cost you more to purchase the “raw ingredients” for the project than it would a professional
You don’t take into consideration all the time, equipment and effort he job entails
You make costly mistakes due to inexperience

Factor in all these elements before committing to a do-it-yourself project. Be certain you take all possible precautions and obtain as much pertinent information as you can so you’re well-equipped for the job you’re taking on.

When health and/or safety is at stake

Although some jobs are quite costly to hire out, it’s in your best interest to do so. These jobs have elements of danger that are not worth the risk to your health/safety and well being. These jobs include work on:

Electrical systems
Plumbing
Heating/air conditioning/ventilation
Major automotive & machinery
Heavy landscaping
Pest control
Legal/financial

These categories of projects, while seemingly in the realm of some advanced do-it-yourself enthusiasts are potentially dangerous to undertake when you’re not a professional in the field. If performed improperly, the ramifications of taking on these projects by non-professionals can run the gamut from legal and financial entanglements to serious injury and even death. It’s not worth the risk to take on certain projects: leave them to those who are savvy in the field and you’ll end up saving headaches, money and even bigger troubles caused by inexperience.

Doing it yourself can be a cost-cutting strategy that provides a bonus in self-satisfaction. On the other hand, it can lead to serious and/or expensive trouble when you bite off a project that’s more than you can chew. Know the risks and the limits of your abilities and you’ll reap the rewards of being a wise do-it-yourselfer.

Does Black Friday Really Mean Frugality?

by Miranda Marquit · 1 comment

We always hear about how Black Friday is a great time to go out and find great deals and save money. You might even be coming home from an early morning shopping spree right now, thrilled with the “savings.” We have an idea of Black Friday being a frugal person’s dream. After all, it’s all about saving money, right?

Wrong.

Black Friday is all about spending money. It’s called Black Friday because this is the time that retailers traditionally move from losses (being in the red) to profits (being in the black). It’s because they get you out there spending money, buying things on sale, sure, but also buying whatever catches your fancy as you breeze through stores and stand in line. Black Friday can actually be a time that results in spending more money, as some of the inhibitions are reduced by the delight felt at finding “bargains.”

Do You Need Black Friday for a Frugal Christmas?

If you are anything like me, you never went out for Black Friday. I haven’t been out on Black Friday for years. This is because I don’t really find that it’s worth my while. Sure, you can find good deals, but often what I find doesn’t really help me out. The discounted items are either things that I don’t want or need, or that are of low quality. In either case, the Black Friday “deals” defeat the purpose of planning for a frugal Christmas — at least in my circumstance.

Additionally, going out on Black Friday doesn’t take into account the value of your time. How much is your time worth? With the standing in line, dealing with traffic and other time-consuming activities, what else could you be doing? It is important not to discount the value of your time; after all, this is time you could be spending with your family. And don’t forget the cost of gas as you travel around town, hitting store after store. Nor should you forget about the impulse buying that often takes place on Black Friday. That can start to add up as well.

Saving Money without Black Friday

My husband does like to shop online for good deals on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other times during the holiday shopping season. However, we stick to a list when we do this type of shopping. We make out a list beforehand of who we need to buy gifts for, and we look online for the best prices. We can usually set up alerts about certain items as well, so that are notified if a price drops to a price range we are interested in.

You can also save money by watching out for other sales. Everyone makes a big deal about Black Friday, but sales continue throughout December. And, of course, this year the sales started right after Halloween. Anymore, there is no reason to confine yourself to Black Friday. Unless there is a door-buster that you absolutely must have, as the holiday shopping season progresses there are other sales and opportunities — online as well as offline.

Bottom line: Black Friday isn’t really about frugality. In many cases, it is merely another manifestation of our materialistic culture, built on consumerism. If you really want to be frugal this holiday shopping season, take the time to think about what you really need or want to buy, and stick with those items. You don’t need Black Friday to do that.

Don’t Break the Bank on Thanksgiving

by Tracy · 0 comments

Last year, Target ran a commercial featuring a young wife who was getting ready to host her family for Thanksgiving for the first time. I was a bit dumbfounded to find out all of the things that are “necessary” to host a dinner! Who knew you needed so many decorative bowls?

The key to being a great host or hostess is making your guests feel welcome and comfortable. Sure, it’s nice if you can pull out all of the stops, but the truth is, almost nobody would expect you to spend more than you can afford and as long as you are relaxed and happy, your guests will be, too.

This goes double at Thanksgiving, as pretty much everyone you invite will be close friends and family. Chances are high that they’ll want to help and there is no shame in taking it. The idea is to spend time together, enjoying each other’s company and reflecting on all that you have to be grateful for. So there is no need to stress over decorative linens and centerpieces.

The Food

Luckily for us the Pilgrims dined on relatively inexpensive turkey instead of tenderloin and foie gras. Even still, it’s expensive to put on a meal for several extra people, so here are a few tips to keep costs affordable.

Spread the cost of groceries over several weeks. You can start buying non-perishables and food items with a long shelf life 3-4 weeks before Thanksgiving. Make a master list of everything you’ll need for your feast now and divide up the shopping so that every week you are buying a few things. If you’re really ambitious, you can consult a coupon site to try and match store sales with manufacturers coupons, but don’t stress about it if you don’t have time. Sometimes your sanity is more important than saving money.
Keep the menu relatively simple. This will save you money as well as time and stress in the kitchen. Don’t go overboard with side dishes or feel like you have to have a stellar, stand out recipe for each one. Most people enjoy having old, familiar favorites at Thanksgiving. Perhaps try one new, “fancy” recipe and stick with the tried and true for everything else.
If others offer to bring things, let them! Desserts, relish trays and drinks are all easy to transport and won’t require much attention once they are in your house.
Wine can be a major expense; on a day that’s not busy, stop into your local liquor store and ask the staff what they can recommend for your budget. A good shop will want to make outstanding recommendations for your budget because they are more interested in making you a regular customer instead of getting one quick up-sell.

Tableware/Decorations/Furniture

Don’t feel bad if your home is not decorator showcase quality and you don’t have fine china and crystal stemware or seasonal table linens. I think the media has us convinced that it’s “normal” for even those just starting out to have perfectly polished homes, but the reality is that most of our parents, grandparents and older friends have spent a lifetime accumulating serving platters and tablecloths.

You will need certain items to host a large meal, but don’t go all out and buy everything new in one go.

Ask around and find out what you can borrow, if you’re in the same area as your extended family and friends, chances are good they’ll be able to lend you everything from extra plates to chairs to serving platters to roasting pans. Label each one with a small piece of masking tape on the bottom and be sure to return them in great condition. It’s not necessary, but giving a small batch of homemade cookies or other small treat when you return the items is always welcome.
Restaurant supply stores are a great way to stock up a kitchen for less. Look for high quality flatware, plates, glassware/stemware for a fraction of the price along with cloth napkins, serving items, pans, storage containers and more. There won’t be a large selection of colors and patterns, but then again, you can’t go wrong with plain, classic tableware that will suit any occasion.
If there is time, scour thrift stores, yard sales and estate sales for pieces that you might need. This can be a great way to get a few unique pieces that will really make your home pop.
For those with children, homemade centerpieces and other little decorations are incredibly charming. This is also a good way to keep them busy in the morning while you are cooking.

Don’t let being intimidated by the cost or effort stop you from hosting Thanksgiving in your home. The most important thing is to make sure your guests feel welcomed and that you take the time to enjoy their company instead of being stressed out. A simple dinner with relaxed hosts in a comfortable home is preferable to a fancy dinner in a picture perfect house with anxious, uptight hosts.

Saving Money on the Necessities: Utilities

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

Saving money by choosing not to spend it can be empowering when taking control of our finances. There are, however, expenses that we must incur to run a household, like electricity, gas and water that we can’t avoid altogether. How can we save on those regular utility bills?

When purchasing a new appliance, make energy efficiency a requirement. Even if an energy efficient appliance costs a bit more initially, you’ll recoup the extra cost over time with the energy savings they provide. As much as we may like to, we can’t go out and replace all our existing household equipment at once, so be sure to maintain your existing appliances in tip-top condition to maximize their performance. Keep them clean and dust-free so they’ll run at their optimal level, which will keep their energy usage as low as possible.

Beyond maintaining things in good condition, we must take actions to minimize the resources we require them to use. Here are some tips for saving on utility expenses:

Use less electricity:

Don’t waste it. Be vigilant about turning off appliances when they’re not actually in use.
Unplug unused appliances. Anything plugged in draws electricity so unplug anything you can when not in use. Electronics chargers use electricity even when they’re not charging anything. Plug all chargers into a single power strip that can be plugged in as needed.
Replace incandescent lightbulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. Their initial cost is a bit higher but they use much less energy.
Unscrew unnecessary lightbulbs from fixtures. Some lighting fixtures have more places for light bulbs than are needed for adequate lighting. Remove some from the fixture and save the energy they would draw.
Invest in solar decorative lighting. While a bit pricier initially, outdoor solar lighting is extremely energy efficient.
Use appliances at off-peak times. Electricity costs less during late night or early morning hours.

Use less gas:

Natural gas is used in some homes as heating and cooking fuel and for heating water.
Use cold water whenever possible. Avoid running hot water whenever possible. Washing machines use a significant amount of heated water. Wash as much laundry in cold water as possible.
Insulate your water heater. Make sure the water that’s already heated stays hot.
Use your oven and stovetop only when necessary. Use a microwave or toaster oven instead, when appropriate.

Use less water:

Turn water off while you shower. Once you’re wet, turn off the water while you lather up.
Collect the water you need in the sink. Rather than letting water run continuously during shaving or washing dishes, fill up the sink.
Water gardens and pots with a hose. You’ll waste less water than using a sprinkler.
Recycle leftover water. Rather than pouring it down the drain, consider other uses for it, such as watering plants.
Conserve on flushing. Displacing some of the water in your toilet tank with a brick or jug of water makes it flush using less water.

One tip for saving on all of the above:

Cook big. When you’re already in the kitchen with various utensils and pots and pans already in use, cooking and prepping for several meals instead of just one eliminates the need for extra dishwashing, so you’ll save on both water and the heating of it. This is also an opportunity to take advantage of an already heated oven which will save either electricity or gas.

It takes some forethought and diligence but you can make a big impact on the amount you spend on your utility bills by making these relatively small changes.

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →