We don’t ever expect to be throwing our money at something. It always happens unexpectedly – unless there is a big shopping trip planned or a vacation booked. When we part with our money, especially when it is a large sum of it, it is often an indicator that something has gone wrong. So what exactly are the biggest drains around our home, and what can we do to prevent them denting our bank account?
Boilers
There are 101 different ways to heat our home, but most people have now invested in a boiler. When things go wrong with a boiler, they don’t just go wrong – they go wrong. One thing can set off another, leading to another, and … you get the picture. They’re complicated bits of a kit which require a sound understanding of to be able to navigate yourself around them. The main reasons that the majority of boilers tend to fail is because they overheat, but this is generally due to them not being serviced as often as they should be. If you can’t remember the last time your boiler was serviced, know it’s due or have never considered doing it, book it straight away. There will always be a qualified plumber or serviceperson around you to lend a hand, and they can book you in to come out to you at your convenience.
Cars
As if taxing and insuring your car wasn’t bad enough after buying it, there is also the issue of having to maintain it. A car that is regularly looked at is one that will provide you with the least problems. Being able to pinpoint when a problem is happening before it starts to break a part of your vehicle is definitely a bonus, but not all of us are necessarily able to do this – it requires a working knowledge of basic mechanics. If you know that your car has been acting out of sorts recently, look for your nearest auto repair shop to go in and get it checked over. It’ll save you a lot of money and stress in the long run.
Appliances
Much along the same lines as the boilers, your white goods also need a thorough look-over every once in awhile. It’s a good idea to inspect them all at the same time every couple of months so that you know that you have at least checked them all together and aren’t neglecting to inspect one by mistake. Often nowadays, the done thing is just to replace the piece of technology altogether, but we shouldn’t be doing this; it’s extremely wasteful and an indication that we are willing to tip anything that doesn’t work rather than putting the time and effort in to get it fixed, or calling a professional out to do this for us. Theoretically, it should cost less for us to mend something than buy new, and by buying new, that’s where most of our money is going – both unnecessarily and, annoyingly, uneconomically too.
