Clever Ways to Save Money on Common Household Expenses

When you own a home, it can feel like every dollar you make goes right back into it. And considering that energy use in America is doubling every 20 years, you're not that far off. If you're spending too much on common household expenses like energy bills, here are a few clever ways to save your pennies.

Insulate Your Attic

This might not sound all that clever at first, but the truth is that proper attic insulation could save you up to 50% on your heating and cooling expenses. If you live in an old house or you're not sure when the last time you had your attic inspected was, it's probably a good sign that it's time to get it looked at. In addition, if you notice that your heating and cooling bills are going up every year, your attic needs to be one of the first places you check for poor insulation. It's also worth getting your roof inspected for any signs of damage or shoddy workmanship. Investing in some high-quality insulation for your attic just might end up being the most cost-effective investment you make for your home.

Turn Off the Tap

There are plenty of high-tech ways to save water around the house, but the truth is that sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. If you want to save money on your water bill, find opportunities to keep the faucet turned off. For starters, make sure the water is turned off while you're brushing your teeth. In addition, it's a good idea to keep a pitcher of water in the fridge. When you have to run the tap until your water gets cold, you're often letting that water go to waste! A pitcher of cold water in the fridge means keeping the faucet off and saving water. Taking shorter showers and waiting to run the dishwasher until it's full are also good strategies to help you conserve water.

Reevaluate Your Subscription Services

It seems like the world revolves around subscription services these days. But when the median monthly housing cost is almost $1,600, it's time to reevaluate a few of them. Start by making a list of your current subscription services. It's likely that you have a few streaming services and possibly a monthly membership fee or two. Once you've created your list, determine which subscription services are actually useful to you. Do you actually use that HBO subscription or do you prefer to own things on DVD? Could you get your vitamins in bulk for less money than you're paying a third-party company to send them to you monthly? These clever cost analyses can help you save your pennies where it really counts.

When you need to save money on common household expenses, the key is to turn to common household problems. To keep paying your household insurance, which is about 0.5% of the original purchase price, eliminating smaller expenses can make a difference. These solutions can help you save money where it really matters.