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Saving money in your home has never been more important. From the need to compare gas and electricity prices to cutting back on non-essentials, these top five tips could save you a small fortune.
1. DIY
It might be a bit of a cliché but doing it yourself will really save loads of money. From basic decorating like painting and wallpapering, to more complex jobs that are still definitely achievable with a bit of patience, doing it yourself could save you hundreds of pounds on expensive tradesmen. Besides, there’s a sense of pride you get when you’ve done something yourself that you really can’t put a price on.
2. Write a shopping list
How many times have you gone to the supermarket to buy one or two things and come home with a whole trolley load? It’s just too tempting sometimes but if you have a list of just the things you need, you’ll be far more likely to stick to it.
Don’t get drawn in to special offers. It might look like you’re saving money but if you’re spending cash you didn’t intend to, that’s really a false economy and it’s not just food shopping that needs a list. You can apply the same principle to clothes and household goods.
3. Auction it off
We’ve all got stuff lying around that we don’t want or need. Try to see this as cash you can unlock. A little bit of work on online auction sites and you could be raking it in, in no time. Just remember: the extra cash is savings. It doesn’t mean you can go buy more unnecessary items.
4. No more ready meals
You might not think it but by buying ready prepared food you could be throwing hundreds of pounds in the bin each year. It may seem easier and more convenient but making your meals from scratch using natural ingredients will save you loads of money. Make big meals and freeze portions and you could save even more. Plus, food you make yourself probably won’t contain all the nasty stuff they put in mass produced ready meals.
5. Shop around
One of the biggest expenses in the home is on gas and electricity. Keeping your home warm, your clothes clean and food fresh all comes at a price. With different companies offering different prices, it really pays to shop around.
Of course, you might not have the time to spend trawling the internet or making dozens of phone calls and that’s why the Energy Helpline comes in really handy. They do all the hard work for you, allowing you to compare gas and electricity prices in minutes.
This brief guide is provided courtesy of the Energy Helpline. An energy switching site, Energy Helpline helps homeowners to keep their costs as low as possible. Visit their site now to compare gas and electricity prices and make sure you are getting the best value for money.