Save Money Around the House With These 6 Tips
You work hard for your money every day of the week. From working your main job to earning odds and ends here and there, every dime you have is the end result of your work ethic. Because of this, there’s no reason that you should throw money down the drain from negligence around your Galveston, Texas, home. However, many homeowners waste money around the house without knowing they’re even doing it. To save money around the house, follow these tips that ensure you’ll have some extra cash.
Change Your Bulbs
Over the past decade, light bulb technology has grown exponentially. With LEDs, halogen, and CFL light bulbs, you can save a ton of money just by screwing one in. The problem that many homeowners have is that incandescent bulbs are still a cheap way to go for lighting. However, these newer bulbs are far more efficient than old incandescents. While you may incur a heavy cost to replace all your light bulbs with a more efficient alternative, the switch will pay dividends over time. Plus, these bulbs typically last two to three times longer than any incandescent bulb.
Get a Tuneup
Another aspect of home maintenance that people ignore is their HVAC system. Whether it’s a new or older home, the HVAC system is the source of your comfort. However, these units can fall into disrepair if not given the proper attention. Each year or twice a year, you should schedule a routine maintenance check on your air conditioner and furnace. The reason for this tuneup is to ensure that your unit is running at maximum efficiency, as well as finding problems before they occur. If you don’t get this maintenance, you may find that you have frequent repair bills at some point down the road.
Don’t Order In
One of the biggest wastes of money in every household is delivery or take-out food. Each order incurs extra costs when you could just make the meals yourself. After a long day, you may not feel like cooking, but the effort pays off in the end. If you aren’t a culinary artist, purchase some low-calorie frozen dinners for a healthy, delicious alternative.
Caulk and Insulate
If you have gaps around your windows and doors or in your attic, you’re truly letting money fly out the window. These gaps allow hot or cold air to seep out, causing your furnace or air conditioner to work harder to keep the same temperature. To counteract this effect, take a caulking gun and put a thick bead of caulk or silicone around your doors and windows. You should also do an exterior inspection to find other areas that are troublesome.
On top of this, you should consider insulating your attic. If you have no insulation, air can flow straight out of the roof of your home. Fiberglass, loose fill, and foam board are all effective ways to improve your home’s ability to retain a constant temperature, and you’ll gain the money back from the initial purchase on your energy bills.
Do a Cold Wash
Unless you absolutely have to wash a garment in hot water, opt for a cold wash. When you do a hot or warm wash, your water heater springs into action, and although one wash probably comes at a minimal cost, several washes over the course of a month can cost you big bucks.
Head to a Dollar Store
Although drug stores and grocery stores are convenient when it comes to household goods, they often inflate the prices. Soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, toilet paper, and other products you use regularly are far less expensive at a dollar store, and many times, they’re of equal quality. Don’t spend the extra money for convenience or brand names when a lesser-known or generic brand will do the trick.
Saving money in your household isn’t rocket science; it just requires some vigilance and planning. If you need a professional to make sure your HVAC system is running smoothly, call the experts at Davis AC at 888-710-5530 today. We’ll have your unit up and running like they were brand new.
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