Whether you’re a new homeowner or you’ve watched your children grow up over the years under the same roof, we can all benefit from great money saving ideas. Here are a few DIY projects and tips that are easy to accomplish and will save you money each month.
Update the Lighting
Think about the last time you updated the lighting in your home. Some homeowners have never updated the lighting fixtures and continue to utilize whatever the previous owner had in place, which can be an unnecessary expense for people living in older houses. Install ceiling lights rather than using multiple standing lamps. Also, you can save money by switching to LED lights. They might cost a few extra dollars upfront but they use less energy and last much longer than incandescent, halogen, and even energy efficient light bulbs (CFLs).
Shade Your House
Did you know that there are many types of trees that you can plant around your house that will shade your roof and effectively cut cooling costs? Determine which sides of the house catch the most sunlight and that’s where you’ll want to plant your tree. Depending on the age and size of the tree, you might have to wait until it matures, however you could also find a variety of fast growing tree species to get quicker results. If you choose a deciduous tree, then you’ll have the added benefit of having the leaves block the sun in the warmer months while letting the sun in during the colder months, which will help to warm your home.
One thing Ottawa, Canada is known for is its beautiful trees and natural settings. Speak with a licensed realtor to find Ottawa homes for sale that fit your style and budget.
Upgrade the Shower Head
Choose a water saving shower head to cut water use and effectively reduce your monthly water bill. These efficient water heads work by either regulating the flow of the water coming out or by simply aerating the water. Chances are that you won’t even notice a difference in your shower experience but you’ll certainly notice a difference with your monthly water bill.
Use Your Laptop
As more people are working from home these days following the pandemic, it’s important to consider simple ways to save money in areas we hadn’t considered before. If you’re working from home more often, then use your laptop rather than your desktop computer. The reason is because your laptop runs on batteries, which can use up to 80% less electricity. Once it’s charged, then unplug and let it run on its battery.
If you only have a desktop computer, then adjust the settings so that it goes to sleep after a few minutes of inactivity. Think about all the times you’ve answered the phone or walked away to run a quick errand. Left on, your desktop is just eating electricity. Besides, computers are like people in that they need a good amount of rest to run properly and live a long life.
Wait to Replace
Try to get one more season out of your outdoor kitchen appliances, equipment, and furniture. Wait until the season is over, when stores are willing to mark down prices in order to make room for the coming season’s merchandise. In other words, rather than purchasing that brand new grill, lawn mower, or lawn & patio furniture to kick off the summer, try to get one more season out of those items and replace them at the end of the season when the store is clearing out summer stock to make room for holiday decorations and snow blowers.
The same can be said for waiting until the end of the winter season to purchase holiday items, shovels, and a new snow blower because this is when stores will drop prices in order to make room for springtime merchandise. You’ll be able to catch great deals and save yourself a lot of money every year.
Use these DIY projects and tips to save money, improve your home, and make life easier.
