10 Ways to Cut Your Household Expenses

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There are two sides to a successful financial equation: increase your income and cut your expenses.

The only way that you can improve your situation financially is by doing one or the other.

Often times increasing your income can be a challenge. If you have the time, you can always pick up a side hustle.

However, not everyone has time to do that. As such, we’re going to share some valuable advice that will save you money.

We’re going to provide you with ideas for trimming your household expenses.

Top Ways to Trim Your Expenses

Here are some practical tips on how to trim your household expenses. Utilize every one you can in order to save hundreds of dollars each and every month.

1. Reduce Clothing Costs

Are you still paying full price when you buy clothes? If so, you are missing out on huge opportunities to save money.

What are some ways you could save money on clothes? Try shopping at thrift stores.

It’s not uncommon to find new clothes with the tags still on at local thrift stores. Also, try looking at online clothing store sites.

The online stores that will help you sell your unwanted clothing will also sell clothing to you for cheap.

There are even ways to get free clothes online if you know where to look.

And if you prefer to buy only new clothes, commit to shopping the clearance racks and only buying clothes when you really need to.

2. Cancel Unused Memberships

When was the last time you went to the gym? How often do you get a Netflix DVD in the mail? Do you go to Costco enough to justify the cost?

Do you read the e-magazines you’ve subscribed to? These are some questions to ask yourself in order to save some money.

If the answer indicates that you don’t use these memberships much anymore, you should consider canceling them.

We canceled all three of these expenses and haven’t looked back.

Helpful hint: Use Trim to monitor and cancel unused services automatically.

3. Cut Down On Restaurant Meals

Eating out after a long day at work can be so relaxing! Someone else cooks, someone else cleans up. You, however, are stuck with the bill.

Eating out is typically much more expensive than cooking at home. And when you’re feeding 2 or more people the cost really adds up.

Consider limiting restaurant meals to once a month. Start searching online for restaurant recipes you can make at home as a substitute.

4. Ask Existing Service Providers For A Better Deal

I was able to this with my internet provider, satellite company, and cell phone service. All I did was call and ask them how I could get a better deal.

The internet company gave me about 30% off for a year because I was a “loyal” customer.

The satellite company downgraded my package saving us roughly $20 per month.

The cell phone company offered me a lower cost data plan which was about $15 less than I was previously paying.

Chances are that if you have been with a service provider for several years they will be willing to give you a deal to keep you as a customer.

And if a company isn’t willing to deal, consider switching service providers.

5. Wait To Use the Washer, Dryer, And Dishwasher

Most utility companies will charge you significantly less if you run these appliances in the off-peak hours.

It varies from state to state, but here is an example of the off-peak hours by APS to get an idea of what type of savings is possible.

On-peak hours
Monday – Friday: 12pm to 7pm

Off-peak Hours
Monday – Friday: 7pm to 12pm
All day Saturday and Sunday

Try using your main energy hogs like washers and dryers during off-peak hours. And if you can, hang your clothes on the line to dry.

6. Take Care Of Your Health

Doctor visits and prescription medicines can be expensive. The better care you take of your health, the less you could be spending on medical expenses.

Exercise regularly (with your doctor’s approval), eat healthy, whole foods, and keep vices like drinking and smoking to a minimum.

The better care you take of your body, the stronger it will be so it can take care of you.

And money savings often follow a healthier lifestyle.

7. Pay Off Your Debt

This idea might surprise you. But if you think about it, every month you have debt, that is more money coming out of your pocket and going into somebody else’s.

See my previous posts on how my wife and I paid Off $52,000 in Debt in 18 Months or Get Out of Debt Fast to see how to reduce your debt with a vengeance.

Check out your loan and credit card statements to see how much money you’re paying in interest to creditors each month.

Then make a plan to pay them less by paying off your debt.

8. Cut Down On Salon Expenses

Salon costs can really add up. Between hair cuts, colors, manicures and other services, it’s not difficult to spend hundreds of dollars a month at your local salon.

Consider trying to save money in this area. For instance:

  • Shop around to find a less expensive stylist
  • Color your hair at home
  • DIY manicures and pedicures
  • Search online for at-home spa treatments
  • Eat healthier to get a clearer complexion

You’d be amazed at how much money you can save by trimming your salon expenses with some DIY health and beauty tips.

9. Shop Around For Insurance

This is a great way to save money with little effort. My wife and I have most of our policies through one provider which includes insurance on our home and two cars.

They give us a discount for having multiple policies with them. The bundled discount is so good that every time I have shopped around I can never find a better deal.

Check with your current insurance provider to talk about bundling. And check competitors in order to find the best deal.

10. Install A Programmable Thermostat

This was one of the first things I did when I bought my own place.

I realized that the old thermostat would kick on whenever it dropped below the target temperature, even when no one was at home.

After installing my Programmable Thermostat. I instantly noticed a decrease of around $15 per month in my electric bill.

There’s no sense in having your heat or air conditioning running when no one is home.

Buy a programmable thermostat so that you’re using less gas and electricity when people are gone or sleeping.

Summary

Cutting back on expenses is not easy–especially if you’re used to having everything new.

However, with a little motivation, you can cut back your expenses and start saving. Use those savings to pay off debts and start saving for your future.

Try following the above tips for six months and see how your money situation changes. You might just start liking cheaper living!

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9 Comments

  1. Pete Sveen says:

    These are great tips, Deacon. I especially liked the DIY example as well as the article about buying used. Sometimes I feel like I do too much DIY and should hire, but it certainly is a good way to save on money. I’m big into home projects and learning trades. I’ve done a lot of remodeling on my own and have saved so much money. Buying used is a great tip as well. I think Craigslist is my most used iPhone App. 🙂 Well, thanks for the advice and keep it coming!

    1. WellKeptWallet says:

      I know what you mean about doing too much DIY. There are some things that I have decided I will hire someone else to do. For instance, I had the struts replaced on my car recently and I had a mechanic do that. Some things just take certain tools and skill-sets that make it worth paying someone else to do. 🙂

  2. It’s never easy to judge how much money you’ll need in every division of life. That’s why it’s important to have a continuous check on your budget and keep in mind your long term financial goals. Doing this will really help you make a perfect budget and stick to it.

  3. jefferson says:

    Hi there, Deacon. I’m visiting from Yakezie! The new site looks great.

    This is a great list of tips. I especially like the “buy it used” suggestion.
    I always take a look on craigslist when there is something that we need to purchase. It has saved me a ton over the years.

    1. Deacon Hayes says:

      Jefferson,

      Thanks for the feedback. I am glad to be a part of the Yakezie challenge and I look forward to catching up to you in the Alexa rankings 🙂

  4. Just Jewel says:

    These are good tips. I know taking my lunch to work makes a huge difference for me. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Deacon Hayes says:

      Thanks! Yeah, taking lunch to work can be a huge money saver. I’m glad to hear you’re on board too.

    2. FrugalChic says:

      I agree. It’s cheaper, healthier and less stressful than dealing with traffic, crowds, and stuffing food down because you are out of time.