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.
RELATED ARTICLE How To Stay On Top Of Your Insurance Learning how to manage your insurance needs is important. Having quality insurance will ensure that when the unexpected happens you will be covered. There are so many different types of insurance out there and so many different ways to handle your insurance needs. Here we've complied some tips to help you. Auto Insurance When purchasing insurance, whether it be for your home, your automobile, or even on a pet, try to see if the company offers any sort of bundling discount. A lot of times if you have several different policies, say renter's insurance and auto insurance, you will get discounted on both. For apartment dwellers usually renter's insurance is mandatory, so asking this question is tantamount to guaranteed savings. By way of conclusion, bundle and save money! Car Insurance Much like car insurance or health insurance, having a higher deductible can save you money on your premium. The downside to all of this, is that if you have a small claim to make, you will most likely have to pay for the entire repair out of your own pocket. Cheap Insurance In order to get cheap insurance rates it is best to buy insurance online. This reduces the cost of the insurance because most companies will not need to add overhead associated to the automation process of signing up for the insurance. Insurance rates taken online typically drop by five to ten percent. Home Insurance Look into multiple insurance policy discounts. When you bundle your insurance contracts with one company, you will often get a discount of 10% or more. If you currently have home insurance with a company that you are satisfied with, contact them and get a quote for auto or life insurance. You may find that you will get a discount on every policy. Insurance Car Health insurance, car insurance, renter's insurance, pet insurance, travel insurance. All of those things are necessary and they insure one's peace of mind. It is easy to think that paying a minimal monthly amount is ridiculous, but when something catastrophic happens, insurance saves the day. Insurance will save one's car, another driver's car, items in one's apartment, cover the bills for a sick pet, reimburse one for a trip that got cancelled because of bad weather, or pay medical bills. Purchasing insurance is necessary and it should factor into everyone's budget. One hundred dollars every month is far easier to handle than one hundred thousand because something unexpected happened. Insurance Companies When purchasing insurance, make sure you buy it over the internet. Most insurance companies offer discounts for those who purchase their coverage over the internet rather than in person or over the phone. Some offer discounts between 5-15%. It may not seem like a lot at first, but it adds up over time. Insurance Policy Repeat after me: you must always read the fine print when signing an insurance policy. In an insurance transaction, you typically will have to sign a large number of papers containing thousands of words in tiny print. You need to read - and understand - these forms before you sign any insurance policy. Do not allow the agent to blow through the forms and simply sign at the several places marked with an X. If you don't understand the fine print, you will likely regret your purchase decision down the line. Motorcycle Insurance Save money on insurance by purchasing bundled policies. For example, you may be able to insure both a car and motorcycle for a discounted fixed rate. You will be able to find bundles that cover your vehicles and your home. Before you buy anything, though, be sure that you actually need it. Vehicle Insurance If you don't have health insurance coverage, you may want to add medical coverage to your vehicle insurance policy. Auto accidents are often a major cause of catastrophic medical bills and the medical coverage will cover everyone in the car, regardless of who the driver at fault it. This can protect your assets from being party to a lawsuit and can save you a lot of bills in the even an accident occurs. Insurance coverage can be a minefield of unfamiliar terms, fine print, discounts, coverage levels and so on. There's no way we can cover everything you need to know here but hopefully this has been a good starter to get you on your way. Research your particular needs and make sure that you stay covered!
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!
