Replace It and Save: 5 Easy Ways to Save Money by Changing Your Habits
Are you looking for easy ways to save money? Not every person is able to put hundreds of dollars in the bank every month, but every person is capable of changing their habits. If you would like to see your bank account in the black at the end of the month, here are simple things that you may be able to replace around the house:
1.Coffee Maker
If you have a coffee habit, kicking it can save big money. If you can’t kick your habit, making your own is the next best thing. Does that mean that you can never have your favorite coffee-house drink again? Of course not.
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that you spend around $2 for a large cup of coffee from Starbucks, or a similar coffee shop, every work day. You’re spending roughly $10 a week or $40 a month. If you buy a fancy Frappuccino now and again, the amount you spend is higher. That’s $40 a month adds up to $480 a year.
For around $130, you can purchase a Keurig, single-brew coffee machine for your kitchen. For close to $10, you can buy a great, insulated travel mug. A box of 54 K-cups costs just under $48 on Amazon. That’s about $0.89 per day for your coffee. Your machine will have bought itself within a year. Next year, you’ll spend $213 for your daily cup of Joe. That’s a cost savings of just over $260 a year.
2.Cut the Cable
How many television shows can you watch at one time? If you’re like the average person, you can watch one; two at the most if you use picture-in-picture. If you’re paying for a high-priced cable subscription, it’s time to ask yourself why. Cable prices rise on an almost continuous basis. The average household in America is paying $130 per month for a cable bundle.
If Internet service is part of that bundle, you have a television in your lap. If you have a tablet, you have a television that you can carry with you. It simply doesn’t make sense, if you’re looking to save money, to pay for cable. Consider that a high-speed Internet connection, on its own, costs about $60 per month. By cutting the cable from your life and watching television on the Internet, you’ll save $70 per month or $840 per year.
3.The Thermostat
Unless you are lucky enough to live in a climate where the temperature is 70 F all year long, you have a heating or cooling system; maybe both. If you haven’t installed a programmable thermostat yet, it’s time that you did so.
The average family can save about 6.8 percent on their heating and cooling costs when a programmable thermostat is used correctly. This means that if you are spending $500 a year on keeping your home at a comfortable temperature, you can save $34 per year. It may not seem like much, but small changes can add up to big differences.
4.Batteries
Did you know that when your batteries run out in one device, those same batteries may work in another one? For example, if you still use a digital camera and your batteries are too weak to power it, put the batteries in your television remote; it requires less juice.
Another great option is to buy rechargeable batteries. If you use tons of batteries in your home, these can save you $50 or more dollars each year. With a few packages of rechargeable batteries and a power station, you never have to worry about running to the store for a package of batteries again.
5.Vinegar
What in the world are you supposed to do with vinegar? You might be surprised. The average bottle of household cleaner costs over $3; the average bottle of vinegar costs about a buck. That dollar will stretch further than you think. A 50/50 vinegar and water solution can be used to clean everything from your kitchen counters to your bathtub. Straight vinegar is fabulous for your windows. Imaging all of the money that you can save by replacing your household cleaners with a simple bottle of vinegar.
Everyone knows that replacing light bulbs and turning off the water faucet can save money. What do you do to save even more money? Follow these tips. None will help you save thousands, but each will help you keep your bank account in the black. For another great money-saving idea, visit http://www.securitysystems.net/prices.php.
Chelsea McCary has become an expert on saving money and energy! Follow her on twitter @ChelseaMcCary.
Share this:
Category: Saving Money
