11 quick ways to cut costs at home

andrewjburing andrewjburing
SLÎT – weiß, MIKILI – Bicycle Furniture MIKILI – Bicycle Furniture Living room
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Whenever anyone makes a list on how to get ahead in life, saving money is definitely in the top three. It's a smart move. and ultimately helps in the long run. If life ever throws you a curve ball, you'll be glad to have that extra bit of cash.

You can save on money in various different ways. You can keep that old phone around for just a bit longer. You can wait until that book comes out in paperback. However, nowhere can you save more money, than in your own home. Below, you'll find some useful tips and tricks on how to change up your home lifestyle, and save a bunch of money.

1. Change your lightbulbs

One of things that we need in our everyday lives, is light. So it would be a shame not to start our cost cutting tricks here. Energy saving and environment friendly light bulbs are a great way of both saving your wallet and the environment. 

Due to the way that they were built, these light bulbs last longer than your standard, run-of-the-mill bulbs, meaning that you won't have to rush out of your house to get new ones as often.

2. Change your bathroom fittings

Continuing the trend of being both cost efficient and environmentally friendly, changing out your bathroom fittings is a great way to save up some cash. 

While it sometimes flies under the radar, your tap might be costing you a fortune on water bills. Switching over shouldn't take too long, and because plenty of interior designers are moving over to eco-friendlier designs, you can get new fitting that perfectly fits the tone of your home.

3. Organise your food

Yet another thing that most people don't pay attention to, is the amount of food you buy and eat. A lot of the time, people have a bad habit of buying too much food and then throwing half of it away, unaware of how much they've just wasted. 

By organising your food, you can keep much better track of how much you eat, and then adapt your shopping list to that amount. This is another great example where saving on money also helps improve the environment, because less unused food means less rubbish.

4. Solar power

Growing in popularity over the years, solar energy has become one of easiest and most cost efficient ways of improving your house. In fact, due to its rise, plenty of homes already come with solar panels, allowing you to take advantage of this eco-friendly improvement. 

What's more, with so much research going into solar energy, you can no doubt expect exciting developments in the near future, meaning that an investment into solar power now, is an investment into in a much greener, and cheaper, future.

5. Take a look at your appliances

A crowded kitchen does no one any good, and as we've seen before with food, having far too much of something is not necessarily a good thing. And even with solar power, having so many appliances plugged in is simply a waste of perfectly good energy. 

Making a list of what you use the most, and then getting rid of the clutter, is the best way to save on your energy bills. Also, with so many unneeded appliances gone, you'll be amazed how much your kitchen opens up.

6. Keep your curtains shut

During warm Malaysian summers, keeping the curtains closed is a great way of keeping the sun and the hot air out, and maintaining that cool breeze that you've picked up during the evening. 

Even with a fan or the AC on, it's still a good idea to keep those curtains closed. The moment some of that hot air gets in, it's being circulated through the room, and the AC has to work twice as hard, just to cool the place down. And, if your AC is working double, you can be sure that you'll be spending a lot more on energy bills.

7. Compare your gas and electricity prices

Speaking of bills, it helps to check up on how much you're paying. While sticking with a single company does sometimes pay out, as you receive bonuses for your loyalty, plenty of things change as companies get bought up and sold off. 

If you don't follow these comings and goings, it may be a good idea to see if there are any cheaper, and more modern, alternatives for you to take advantage of.

8. Cycle to work

While cars have been an essential feature of a household in the past, these days' things have changed, and the car has become less important. 

For one thing, cities have become so densely populated, that if you want to get somewhere quickly, you're better off taking the public transportation. Secondly, cars have become a major problem in recent years, due the fact that they pollute the air. Finally, gas prices have been steadily on the rise, meaning that you'll be spending more and more every year. Switching over to a bike, would not only have a huge impact on the environment, but save your wallet from years of rising gas prices.

9. Go vintage

While this trick may not seem as obvious as the previous ones, going vintage is actually a great way of saving money. While styles like modernism require you to buy the latest things, going vintage means that you can recycle old things, and use them in completely new and unique ways.

Gone are the days when you'd throw away an old wooden apple crate. Now, that very same apple crate can double as a shelf, or even a bookcase. The possibilities are endless and the only true limit is your imagination.

10. Cut out the coffee

Graef Edelstahlwasserkocher WK 61, Graef Graef Kitchen Electronics

While we've already discussed reducing the amount of food you buy, cutting something out completely may seem a bit drastic. 

However, when you do the research, you'll find that coffee is slowly but steadily burning a hole in your wallet. Switching over to things like tea will not only save you some money, but also help you get a good night's rest.

11. Turn off your lights

While this may seem like a no-brainer, you'd be surprised how many people forget to turn the light off when they leave a room. We're sure that plenty of people have walked by the bathroom late in the evening, only to find out that the light is still on. Even with energy saving bulbs, it's good to get into a routine, and check the lights around the house before you go to sleep.

And, once you're done, check out some more money saving tips with this useful guide on how you can renovate your décor without spending money.

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