Secrets to Reducing Your Expenses Right Now
The current economy has created more awareness of our finances. Most people wouldA� like to know how to save a little money. The best thing is that even little changes, that you probably won’t even notice, can have a big impact on your bank account.
Everyone has certain expenses that need to be met each month. Some of those expenses, like a mortgage or rent, are relatively constant. However, it’s very possible to make small changes that will affect the bottom line. At the same time, some changes will give you an opportunity to be more ecologically responsible. Here are several changes that will reduce your expenses immediately:
Saving On Water Bills
Water evaporates faster when it’s hot outside. Your grass and outside plants will benefit more from being watered in the early morning, or at night, when the sun is not up. You can also save water by turning off the water when you are brushing your teeth, and although it may be tempting to thaw frozen food under running water, it’s not saving you any money. Instead, you can put it in the refrigerator and allow it to thaw in there, or place it in a bowl with with cold water.
Many people know that it is often a better choice to bathe in a bathtub, than it is to take a long shower.
However, an better choice involves a shorter shower, and the installation of a low-flow shower head, which may result in a 50% reduction in water use. Keep a container of cold tap water in the refrigerator and you will never have to run your tap until it’s sufficiently cold. Filling and storing reusable water bottles, will mean you can eliminate the expense of bottled water from your budget entirely.
Bundling and Eliminating Some of Your Cable, Phone, and Internet Expenses
Take a moment to think about your TV-watching habits. Determine if any of the following are true:
There are premium channels that are included in your cable package that you rarely watch.
You watch a lot of network television
You watch a lot of movies
If you’re billed for channels you don’t use, call your cable company to drop them. If you watch a lot of network programming, or movies, you might be able to drop cable entirely, and watch TV online. Many networks provide access to their shows at their website, and Netflix provides access to both movies and streaming video, starting at $9.00 a month.
Now, consider your calling habits:
Do you have free nights and weekends on your cell phone? If so, you may not need any long distance service on your home phone. In fact, many people are eliminating their home phone entirely.
If you pay for voice-mail on your home phone, you can replace it with an inexpensive answering machine, often for less than $20. Finally, you may wish to limit the speed of your internet connection. If you’re like most people, you could drop that down and never notice the difference. You can also see if your local cable company allows “bundling”. By putting 2 or more items together, you receive significant discounts.
Saving money doesn’t need to be hard. You might not even notice the changes, until you get the lower bills!