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Ways to Save Money Around the Home in 2022
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 2022.
Ways to Save Money in the Kitchen
I personally think one of the easiest places to save money in the home is right in the kitchen.
The heart of the home can really make or break your budget.
Here are five ways you can save money in the kitchen in 2022.
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.
Use Your Left-Overs
According to Market Watch, an average American family of four loses $1,500 worth of groceries each year in food waste.
$1500!
Using the groceries you buy before they go bad, including your leftovers could literally save you $1500 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.
Learn How to 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.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
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.
Ways to Save Money in the Laundry Room
I am not sure about you, but I have certainly spent a lot of my time in the laundry room over the years.
Doing a few things while in there can help save a lot of money this year.
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.
Clean Out the Lint
Clean the lint!
You know you are supposed to be cleaning the lint tray, so just do it.
Vacuum 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.
Clean the Washing Machine
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.
Run Full Loads
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.
Ways to Save Money with Your Cellphone
How often do you buy a new cellphone?
Are you always on the search for the bigger and better phone, or do you hold out until your phone has completely died?
I am the holdout type gal.
I refuse to buy every new phone that comes along.
I also refuse to pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars for a cellphone.
You can buy any phone you like, but if you are interested in saving money, then perhaps it is time to change the way you think about and paying for phones and phone services.
Consider Switching Cellpone 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 am planning on looking into Mint Mobile.
Have any of you tried it?
Let me know in the comments.
Unplug
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.
Lights Matter
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.
Air Conditioners and Furnaces
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.
Shopping
Learning a few Strategic Shopping tricks can help you save a lot of money this year.
Buy Second-Hand
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 Sales
Most store sales will save you 40% off your bill right off the bat.
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.
Ibotta makes it pretty easy to earn money fast by purchasing things you already planned on buying anyway!
If you decide to start earning extra spending cash with Ibotta, please use my referral code.
My Ibotta referral code is: moxsrwj
Use Strategic Shopping to Fill Your Gift Closet
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As a bonus, each chapter has a peek inside a mega family’s Christmas!
Grab your copy to learn exactly what to buy each month in order to fill your gift closet up each month at rock-bottom prices.
Do you really need to go shopping?
Do you really need to go shopping?
Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. – Benjamin Franklin
Strategic Shopping with Candy Foote - Mom of 12 Children
Strategic Shopping by Candy Foote Mom of 12 Children – COMING SOON!
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