4 Household Repairs and Replacements That Will Save You Money Over Time

Part of the responsibility of a homeowner is performing home repairs and replacements from time to time. Performing such projects, of course, requires spending money. However, what if a specific project could actually help you save money over time? In certain cases, the project may eventually pay for itself. Below are just a few examples that can do just that.

Replace Your Thermostat

One thing that will certainly save you money, in the long run, is replacing your thermostat. If you have to get up and walk to your thermostat to change the temperature in your home, you are probably losing a lot of money. 

Instead, invest in a smart thermostat that can be operated remotely and easily programmed via a smartphone app. You’ll save money year-round by only running your heat and air conditioning when it’s actually needed.

Upgrade Your Water Heater

Another home improvement project that could pay dividends for you and your family is upgrading your water heater. A new water heater installation could actually pay for itself over a period of years. 

The reason why is because newer designs for water heaters are far better at retaining heat and require less energy to do so. You could see your utility bills drop significantly as a result.

Switch to LED Light Bulbs

One of the easiest and cheapest replacements you can perform in your home is changing light bulbs. Switching from traditional incandescent light bulbs to LED bulbs can also have significant benefits for your electricity bills over the course of the year. 

LED bulbs use 25 to 80 percent less electricity due to the fact they require less heat to operate. Increasing your savings, even more, they also last a lot longer and will need to be replaced less frequently.

Seal Leaks Around Windows and Doors

Running a home’s heating and air conditioning can result in expensive utility bills. However, those bills don’t actually need to be that high for many homeowners. What they may not be aware of is that there could be significant air leaks around the edges of windows and doors in their home. 

These leaks will force the furnace to work harder during the winter and the air conditioner to work harder during the summer. Sealing such leaks actually isn’t that difficult. In most cases, all that is needed is a tube of calk.

Owning a home is a big responsibility. Part of that responsibility is maintaining the home by performing repairs and replacements when necessary. When the need for such a project arises, consider ways you can use that opportunity to lower costs through energy savings, increased efficiency, and more.

Simple steps to save £500 and more in one year

With household bills seeming to rise every month, more and more of us are looking for ways to spend less and save more. Thankfully, there are a few quick steps that anyone can take to make some easy savings. Here are our recommendations for some small changes that can make a big difference.

Change where you shop
For most people, one of the biggest outgoings is food. The easiest way to save money here is to look at where you shop - could you do some or all of your shopping at one of the budget supermarkets? You may not get the same range of brands or goods, but even just switching to buying everyday staples such as bread, milk, cereals and fruit and vegetables at the budget supermarkets will save you several pounds a week. As little as £2 a week saved adds up to over £100 per year.

Change how you shop
Another easy way to save money on food shopping is to create a menu plan and take a shopping list. Menu planning simply means working out what you will eat for each meal during the week and then write a list to include everything you need for the plan - and nothing else! This will help you be more disciplined while shopping and less likely to pop extra treats into the trolley.

Review your insurance policies
Great savings can be made for relatively little effort if you review your car insurance policy and any other household insurance policies online before you renew them. There are many different insurance comparison websites available, but all are easy to use and generally produce significant savings. Spend half an hour filling in your details online and you can usually find a great deal to save you money on your existing renewal price.

Voucher deals
These days, it’s easy to avoid paying full price for many things simply by going online and finding a discount voucher. Discounts are either available as codes for online stores or, alternatively, as a printable voucher to be handed over at the till. Discounts can be found for almost any kind of purchase, from theme park tickets to meals out. Serious money savers always check for a discount code or voucher before any significant purchase.

Cash back sites
Cash back websites are a relatively new phenomenon but they are an excellent way of making some extra cash without much effort. Put simply, these sites offer a cash back amounts (generally a set percentage of the cost of the item) on purchases you make via their websites. Get into the habit of checking for cash back on all your online purchases, from clothes to electrical to insurance policies, and it’s easy to build up a nice sum over the course of a year.

By following these five easy suggestions you should be able to save at least £500 a year, if not more. Simply changing a few habits can really benefit your bank balance in a big way.

Author Bio: Diyana Lobo is a freelance content writer by profession. She finds immense pleasure in writing Finance related article.