How to Make Savings in Your Home

There is so much to save for in life, from schooling, a mortgage, holidays, vehicles, elderly care, the list goes on! Your home can be one of the biggest drains on your finances, so it is important to take a close look at what you’re spending, and on what, to see if you can make any savings. Here, we run through some ideas on how to cut down on your monthly home expenditure.

Smart Home

Investing in smart home technology from a company like Crestron can really help you to make some savings. This technology is able to memorise your preferences and therefore ensure that you are only using your utilities when they are really needed. A smart thermostat will turn on and off and adjust temperatures itself, and you can control it remotely so you can turn it on before you get home, rather than leaving it on all day. Smart lights allow you to dim them to save energy, and make sure they’re switched off when not in use remotely. You can even use motion sensors to ensure this. This remote control is great for making sure any electrical devices are switched off when not in use, from one centralised point. Having total control over your energy usage helps you use it more efficiently and will help you to save a lot on your energy bills.

Usage

As well as installing smart technology in your home, you could take action to cut down on your normal usage. For example, getting more up to date appliances which are more energy efficient, for example your boiler, and using your heating only when it is very cold, instead putting on more layers. Investing in double glazing and draft-proofing can also help with this. Cutting back on the amount of times you boil the kettle, use your oven, and how long you spend in the shower are other effective techniques. Make sure you completely shut down appliances rather than leaving them on standby, try washing clothes on a lower temperature, and be more careful with your use of water for example running a bowl of water to wash dishes in rather than using running water.

Negotiate

Most utility contracts last 6 months and it is important to make sure that you don’t agree to any longer than this as it allows you to re-negotiate what you’re paying, on a regular basis. It is important to compare different companies and their energy deals, but make sure you contact them directly when it comes to setting up your account as you will have to cover a fee if you do it via a comparison site. It is also possible to re-negotiate your rent when you renew your tenancy agreement, if you have noticed changes in the market that could alter the value of your home. Plus, you can re-negotiate your mortgage at various points to free up some more money.

It is important to pay close attention to what you’re spending on your household bills, as if there is an opportunity to cut these costs, it can make a big difference to your overall financial security. For more money tips, take a look at reanaclaire.com.