6 Ways to Save Money On Household Bills This Year | #resolutions #finance
Running a household is expensive, and like many family heads, you’re probably interested in ways to cut your expenses. Reducing monthly expenditures can increase your disposable income, allowing you to save money each month. But how do you cut your expenses?
Periodically reviewing your household finances is the best way to know where your money goes. What’s more, this helps prioritize your spending, in which you can cut back on items that you don’t need. If you’re spending more than you earn and need to reduce household expenses, here are six ways to achieve your goal.
Save Money on Household Bills
1. Bundle your cable, phone and Internet services. Some people choose different providers for each type of service. But this can increase monthly utility bills. Providers typically offer discounts if you bundle your services. Even if you only save $20 or $30 a month, this adds up to more than $300 a year. Contact different service providers and request a quote.
2. Review your services. If you’re bundling your services, this is also a good time to review your current services and cut back on extras. For example, an Internet or cable provider may offer three different pricing packages. Ordering the best cable or Internet package can drive up your bill each month. Stick with a basic package and you’ll save money each month.
3. Clip coupons. Sifting through the newspaper and clipping coupons is time consuming and boring. But if you’re consistent and look for deals, you can knock several dollars off your grocery bill. Think strategically when you’re ready to shop for groceries. Buy only what you need, and search newspapers and the Internet for coupons. For greater savings, combine coupons with store sales.
4. Use less energy. If you have a large family, your electricity bill may soar each month. Get your family into a habit of saving electricity. Encourage everyone to turn off the lights and television when they leave a room, and invest in a programmable thermostat to reduce energy costs when nobody’s home. In addition, you may also get a new, more energy-efficient central air conditioning system installation and hire an air conditioning installation contractor to have it properly set up. You should also consider hiring an insulation company to improve your home’s insulation and boost its energy efficiency.
5. Compare energy costs. Check out the local competition and switch your energy provider to save money on household bills. You can compare energy providers by region with websites like www.
6. Shop for better insurance premiums. The amount you pay for renter’s insurance, homeowner’s insurance, health insurance and auto insurance can take a chunk of your monthly income. Insurance premiums vary by provider, and discounts are available to people who have multiple policies with the same company. If you’re up for renewal, shop around to see if you can get a better rate and consider bundling to enjoy extra savings.
With so many money saving options, there is no reason to pay high household bills. Be proactive and take control of your wallet. The less you spend, the more you can put toward your future.
Disclosure: Considerations was received for the editing and publishing of this article.
another great tip is that when reviewing your services, review how much you really use them. My husband and I were realizing that we only watched two weekly shows on cable, and the rest were reruns. We ended up canceling cable (keeping internet) and just getting a monthly subscription to Netflix. Sure, we miss those two weekly shows, but the seasons come out on dvds a few months after they end, so we buy them then. It saves us about $40 a month.