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20+ Ways to Save Money Around the Home in 2023
Whether it is inflation, the lack of a job, saving for a vacation, or simply wanting to keep more of your own money, everyone needs to learn a few ways to save money around the home in 2023.
The cost of heating and groceries alone has many families in a tailspin.
Here are 20+ ways to help you save money around the home in 2023.
Have Some Sort of Meal Plan
I don’t think I have ever met anyone who loves meal planning, but the thing is, it works.
I don’t do typical meal planning, other than Pizza Night.
I do, however, keep my pantry filled up with all of the ingredients I have to make our normal go-to meals.
Keep your pantry stocked up, especially with your family’s favorite meal ingredients.
You don’t want to end up running to the store for one or two things, but that rarely works.
Too often you end up leaving the store with a lot more things than you ran in after.
Plus, who wants to waste gas running to the store for just a couple items with today’s gas prices!
Use Your Left-Overs
While you are making your meal plan for the week, make sure it includes all of those leftovers stuffed in the refrigerator.
I have read that Americans tend to throw away 50% of the food they buy.
Using the groceries you buy before they go bad, including your leftovers could literally save you 50% or more on your grocery bill.
So, why aren’t you eating your leftovers?
Prep Your Fruit and Vegetables
Do you find that you are buying a lot of produce that ends up in the compost pile or trash can each week?
Make it part of your routine to prep the fruit and vegetables ahead of time to help make sure they are lasting long enough to be eaten.
Wash and dry the produce.
Use a vegetable wash, or simply use vinegar or food-grade peroxide to kill the bacteria that causes fruit and veggies to go bad quickly.
Store everything in air-tight containers, like Mason jars or baggies. Add in a paper towel or piece of cloth to help absorb moisture.
Store in plain site in the refrigerator.
Make it Yourself
You don’t have to start out by baking all of your own bread but try learning how to make a few things at home.
Can you make a homemade version of that expensive coffee creamer you can’t live without?
How about picking up a carton of half and half and adding some vanilla extract to it yourself.
Why aren’t you making your coffee at home?
Invest in a nice coffee maker and start brewing your own coffee.
Clean Your Kitchen
Have you ever walked into the kitchen, looked at the mess, then stepped to the phone to order pizza?
Clean kitchens save money.
Nobody wants to cook, or eat, in a messy kitchen.
Go clean your kitchen.
Use the Right Amount of Laundry Detergent
It has been reported that most Americans generally use way too much laundry detergent while washing their clothes.
This results in dingy clothing and worn-out washing machines.
Take the time to read the instructions on the laundry detergent.
Many liquid detergents have numbers on the inside of the cup to measure out the proper amount.
You do not need a full cap with most detergents.
You may also want to read the owner’s manual that came with your washing machine to see the recommended amounts and ways to use laundry detergent with your machine.
Keep the Lint Filter Clean in the Dryer
You know you are supposed to be cleaning the lint tray.
You know the dryer won’t work as hard or as long if the lint is kept cleaned out.
So, just do it!
Vacuum Out the Dryer
When was the last time you vacuumed out the back of your dryer?
Keeping your dryer clean not only helps it work better and last longer, but it also keeps it from becoming a fire hazard.
Don’t forget to clean out the dryer vent too.
Clean the Washing Machine
I have seen a lot of people go out and buy a new, expensive washing machine when theirs stops working properly.
Many times, it just needed to be cleaned.
Remember to clean the filters in the hoses that connect to the washing machine.
When these filters get clogged up, the washer quits working properly.
I don’t normally remember to clean mine until I open the washer to find the clothes didn’t wring out.
No, it doesn’t mean you need a new washer. You may just need to clean the filters in the hoses.
Only Run the Washing Machine When It’s Full
It takes just as much energy to run a small load of wash as it does a large load.
Don’t run the washing machine until you have a full load of wash.
Switch Cellphone Carriers
Consider dropping the monthly phone plan and trying a pay-as-you-go phone.
I saved hundreds of dollars every single month when I dropped Verizon and switched over to Straight Talk.
My service has been exactly the same.
Straight Talk uses the Verizon towers in my area.
There are more and more options these days.
I have heard a lot of good things about Mint Mobile.
Have any of you tried it?
Let me know in the comments.
Don’t Leave Things Plugged In
Yes, you know if you keep things plugged into the outlet it will continue to use phantom electricity, but are you still leaving things plugged in?
Unplug anything that is not in use!
Use power strips to make it more convenient.
Change Your Light Bulbs
Your mother spent half your childhood following you around just to keep turning off the same lights over and over again.
It is not new or shocking news to hear that switching off lights when you leave a room will save you money.
My question is are you doing it?
Change your light bulbs to more energy-efficient bulbs.
Ceiling Fans
I love ceiling fans. They keep the air circulating and bring the hot air back down into the rooms I want to heat the most.
Just make sure you keep them clean so you are breathing in clean air, and switch the blades to turn clockwise in the winter and counterclockwise in the summertime.
This determines which way the air is moving.
In the wintertime, you want the air moving down to the room you are in, so set it to clockwise.
In the summertime, you want the air to move up and out of the room you are in, so set it to counterclockwise.
Change Your Filters
Your air conditioner and your furnace both have filters that need to be cleaned and/or replaced on a consistent basis.
Fresh, clean filters will ensure the air moving through your home is clean, and will also keep these machines running properly.
Clogged machines don’t work so well.
Buy Used
Buying second-hand has never been so easy as it is today.
Practically anything you want to purchase can be found second-hand.
Thrift Stores and Facebook Marketplace make buying used items super easy.
Before you buy anything, check to see how much money you could save by buying second-hand.
Yes, this especially includes vehicles.
Shop the Weekly Sales
Most store sales will save you 40 to 50% off your bill right off the away.
No coupons needed.
No rebates included.
This is a no-brainer.
Shop the sales.
Use Coupons and Digital Rebate Apps
Coupons save me thousands of dollars every year.
One of the most popular things people ask me is, Where Do I Find Coupons to Save Money Now?
Here is a list of 12 different places you can find coupons to start saving money now.
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Don’t Shop
Do you really need to go shopping?
Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. – Benjamin Franklin
Turn Down the Heat
I am sure that most people are already doing this, but turn down the heat when you aren’t home and when you are going to bed.
I love my heating pad.
I keep the house cool at night, but use the heating pad to heat up my bed for me.
It keeps me toasty warm!
Car Pool
I am blessed enough to live really close to the majority of my children and extended family members.
One thing we do to save money on car is simply let the others know when someone is running to town.
It just takes a quick text message, Hey, I’m going to town, do you need anything.
If you don’t have family near by, maybe you could start this with some neighbors.
Babysitting
The same concept works with babysitting as it does with car pooling.
Check in with family, friends, and neighbors when you need a babysitter.
The idea is to trade off babysitting instead of involving any cash.
20+ Ways to Save Money Around the Home in 2023
Leave a comment and let me know some ways you plan on saving around your home in 2023.
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