Have you ever wondered how come your household budget keeps slipping away month after month? The reason might lie in some tiny habits we all have. Fortunately, once you make yourself more aware of such household quirks, you’ll cut out many unnecessary expenses. Here is a quick breakdown of 5 such habits that might be costing a lot for you right now.
- Lights
Whether you notice it or not, many of us tend to be careless when it comes to lighting. Be honest with yourself – do you sometimes leave the light on in the living room when you go to the kitchen to prepare dinner? Or leave the night lamp on your bedside table when you go to take a bath? It might be cozy but the d rs keep adding up to your electric bill.
The only time it is reasonable to go wild with lighting is when you go away for vacation. If you want to keep your home bright at other times as well but save on electricity costs at the same time, consider LED bulbs which are energy efficient.
- Insulation
The older your home, the greater the chance that the house is lacking proper insulation. Even worse, outdated windows and doors might contribute to warmth sneaking out, hence increasing heating bill.
It might seem like a big investment, but sealed doors and proper insulation will make a massive difference in your household costs, not to even mention the increase in the value of your little nest.
- Prepared Foods
Pre-made meals and packaged foods are the go-to choices for many of us. However, similarly to having potential health issues it can actually drain your wallet.
Instead of reaching your hand for a boxed meal, buy products in bulk and prepare whole week’s meals on one day. This way it won’t be so time-consuming, yet you will save both your health and money.
- Water
Similarly to lights, we are so used to leaving the water running when we are washing hands, taking a shower, pouring water and so on. Every drop of wasted water contributes to bigger bills. Why not introduce a new habit – turning the water off every time you are not using it, even for a few seconds.
Another big spender can be a leaky faucet. According to Sunnyslope County Water District, a leaky faucet can waste as much as 100 gallons of water and that’s only per day! Would you rather waste that much water or fix the faucet? I think we both know the right answer.
- Smoking Indoors
While the previous costs are a bit more common, smoking doesn’t seem like a habit that contributes to your household expenses. However, it can add a huge amount to your monthly budget.
Smoking indoors will give your furniture, walls and the surrounding awful smell which you need to mask whenever you want to have guests around (unless you want to welcome them to a home that smells like an ashtray). For refreshing the home, you will most likely use various products, not to mention the extra time you have to spend on clean-up.
Beyond that, smoking can reduce the value of your property so if you have sold or renting in mind, this unhealthy habit can take off a significant chunk of your expected selling price.
Reducing your household expenses is a fairly easy task if you start looking for potentially troublesome monthly costs. Take a look around your house and next time you are shopping, think to yourself whether that product is really necessary. Most likely you will find yourself answering NO.
Author: Sarah from Zerxza.com
