Here are easy ways to save money at home. Implementing small changes can make a difference in a big way!

Easy ways to save money at home

Limit your lights:

My apartment has a TON of overhead lighting. My secret to saving money is that I rarely use it! You’d be surprised how much money using 6 overhead lights will add to your power bill! Instead, I mostly use lamps, which use only one light bulb. Not only does this make my apartment feel cozier, but it saves me a lot of money in energy.

Unplug what you’re not using

This trick is an oldie but a goodie. Even when appliances are off, they’re still using a small amount of energy if they’re plugged in. When you’re not using something, unplug it! I’m not condoning spending a ton of time walking around unplugging every single one of your devices – that’ll cost you more in time than it does in money. But unplugging devices that you use less often (like toasters, coffee makers, and toothbrush chargers) will save you money over time. You’ll also save extra money if you take a few minutes to unplug all lamps, TVs, etc. before you leave on a trip for afew days away from home.

Program your thermostat

My ultimate hack for saving money is to monitor your thermostat! Just follow this simple rule: Change your temperature when you’re not home. I turn off my heat every morning before work and whenever I’m not home on weekends. This saves SO much money! I will admit to splurging on temperature sometimes. (My boyfriend turns the thermostat up for me every morning so it’ll be warm when I get out of bed, but that’s just called romance). Generally, I do keep my apartment’s temperature in check. If you’re too lazy to constantly monitor your thermostat, I understand! You can program your thermostat to heat or cool during specific times of the day so that you don’t even have to think about it.

Close your closet doors

Another small trick for saving money on temperature is to keep your closet doors shut. Removing this extra square footage means it takes less energy (and money) for your heating or cooling system to reach its programmed temperature. My walk-in-closet can be compared to an igloo during the winter, but the 20 seconds a day I spend freezing in there is worth the money I save by not keeping it heated.

Re-use Your Ziplocs

Hear me out: Reusing Ziploc bags is good for your wallet and for the environment. Don’t just throw out a whole Ziploc just because it has a few crumbs in it! I’m not saying you should use the same Ziploc bags for weeks on end, but washing and reusing one a handful of times is a great idea.

Use cold laundry water

Did you know that the greatest expense in laundry comes from heating up the water? Wash all of your clothes in cold water. Not only is it better for your clothes, but it saves you money! In fact, cleaning clothes with cold water instead of hot water saves you an average of $136 a year! Using cold water also means not having to separate your clothes by color, so you can do your laundry in fewer loads (which saves even more money).

Wait for a full dishwasher load

Unloading the dishwasher is one of my least favorite chores. I avoid it for as long as possible by waiting to run my dishwasher until it is groaning full. This also means I do fewer loads of dishes, which means – you guessed it – money savings! Waiting to run your dishwasher until you have a full load will lower your water and energy bills.

Keep your showers short

I know, this one is controversial. Showering is one of the best feelings, other than saving money! Keep your water bill low by keeping your showers short. One of the ways to do this is to wash your hair less – if you’re looking for advice on how to do this, I wrote a whole blog post about it here!

Buy generic

Advil and ibuprofen are the same thing. I repeat, Advil and ibuprofen are the same thing. Buying generic items like medicines and hand soaps will save you a lot of money. (I personally love buying these items from the dollar store!)

Use your curtains wisely

Your blinds and curtains make a big difference in the temperature of your home and can save you money on your energy bill! Keep your shades open during sunny winter days to allow heat in. Leave your curtains shut while you’re at work during the summer to keep the cool air trapped inside. Don’t let your heating and cooling money fly out the window!

These are just a few little things you can do around the house to save money! Do you have any other ways you save money at home?

Xo,Liz