How to Cut Your Household Expenses

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By Lilfix
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cut your household expenses

There are a lot of ways that you can cut your household expenses. Some are very easy and some a little more difficult, but still doable...

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

STOP trying to keep up with your neighbors. I don't know about you but my neighbors are not paying my bills, so why should I go into debt with them...

Be happy with what you have. Take inventory of what you have, you might just find you have more stuff then you thought you did...and that is a start to cutting your household expenses...
Step 2

TAKE care of what you all ready have. Read labels to know how to take care of your clothing, appliances, and/or furniture. If you take care of what you have, then it will look new and you won't feel the need to buy more. It will last longer and if you decide you do need something new, if your old looks good, you can try to sell it and make the money to just about cover the new item you want.

Don't forget to read the labels on food also. Check those expiration dates...if you have something in your fridge and/or cabinets that is about to expire, use it up...don't waste it.
Step 3

USE things that will last. Cloth napkins instead of paper ones - you have to wash your bath towels and clothes, so why not toss in the cloth napkins; dish rags instead of sponges and/or cleaning wipes - again, you have other things that need washing and you can toss the dish rags in the laundry as easy as you can toss the other in the trash; electric razors instead of disposable ones - this might cost a little more in the beginning, but in the long run you will be saving soooo much more; actual plates, cups, and/or silverware instead of paper or Styrofoam - if you rinse your dishes when you are done, it takes very little time to wash them by hand or even by using the dishwasher.

I don't know about you, but I HATE to take out the trash...so if I can use something that needs washing instead of something that needs tossing, I'm using it...
Step 4

CLEAN out those closets, garages, basements and/or storage rooms. You might find you have a lot of things that you can sell to make money instead of stacking them in a corner and/or paying for a monthly storage rent. Or better yet, you might find you have some great things that you can use...if you don't have to buy something new, you will be cutting your household expenses.

If you have children, you know that if you put up some of their toys and every now and again put out some of their old toys that they haven't seen in awhile, that they will play with it like it is brand new...so maybe your things will be the same for you...that sweater you had 5 years ago might just be in style this year...
Step 5

THINGS happen, so be ready for them. Did you know that if you put just $10.00 into an emergency account each week that in one year you will have $520.00...if you have a water leak, or some other emergency, this money gives you a big start on getting things fixed.

Also, have faith in yourself...try to fix it before calling in the repair guy...sites like eHow have a lot of information on how to do things and you might just find it is not as hard as you thought it would be.
Step 6

CHECK with your recycling centers and see what items they will pay you to recycle. Most places will pay you when you turn in your soda cans, but you might be surprised to find there are other things they might pay you for.
Step 7

CHANGE your cleaning habits. Did you know that baking soda, vinegar, ammonia and/or lemon juice will clean just about anything in your home. Not only will you be cutting down on the cost, but you will be cutting down on the harsh chemicals and smells. They are much better for the environment vs the store bought cleaners and they can cut your household expenses because you won't be buying the expensive cleaners...
Step 8

FIND new uses for items in your house. Small grocery bags can be used as small trash can liners. Pringle cans, cocoa containers and/or seasoning jars can be turned into storage for craft items, crayons, nails, etc. Old panty hoses can be cut and used to tie garden plants to stakes and/or they can be balled up and used to clean the bugs off the front fo your car...

Look at everything you have and see if you can find another use for it before throwing it away.