Sometimes it’s worth spending more on replacing appliances, or on high-quality items which will last. At other times, you can save money with a quick and low-cost solution, and by shopping around or avoiding waste. Here are some suggestions for saving money around the home.
When fixing an appliance is much cheaper
If you find problems with your appliances, such as your washing machine won’t drain, or your fridge stops working, there may be a simple and cheaper solution to buying a replacement.
Checking your washing machine for the faulty parts, or getting someone who knows what they are looking for, can mean you only need to pay for their time and the replacement parts.
Alternatively, if your fridge seems to have stopped working, it could be something simple, like pet hair or dirt clogging up the coils. Turning the fridge off and cleaning these might help, which will cost you nothing.
As your washing machine and fridge can be two of the costliest appliances in your home, looking for other solutions before replacing them can be better for your budget.
Learn how to fix damaged clothing
If you spend money on high-quality clothing, it’s frustrating when it gets torn. If you have children, you’ll know they don’t always take the best care of their clothes. By learning how to fix these, you can save a lot of money. Once you know how to do this, you could easily expand your skills by learning how to extend clothing your children have outgrown, or repurpose it in other ways. For example, a dress for a toddler could become a top with an embroidered border or other design.
Change the time of year you shop
If you’re replacing something, it might be worth shopping out of season. If the item you want to replace is safe to use and still fulfills its purpose, waiting a few months could save you money. For example, items commonly used in summer, such as parasols, outdoor benches, and barbecues, could be reduced in autumn and winter.
Buying in bulk
You could also buy items in bulk if they happen to be something you and your family go through a lot of, and aren’t perishable or they have long use-by dates. This includes toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and canned goods. If you have the space to store these, bulk buying can save money, compared to buying individual items.
Freeze leftovers
If you regularly have leftover food, you could freeze it and have one day each week where you use it to cook a potluck meal for the family. Besides being good for the environment, this will reduce your food bill as it’s one less meal to buy each week. Alternatively, several apps allow you to find free or cheap food near where you are. This is often close to the best before date, but still edible.
Just by following a few of these suggestions, you can save money and prolong the life of many items in your home.
