by Mrs C | Dec 3, 2021 | Blog
With all the beauty and wonder winter brings, it can also bring high gas bills along with it. However, you can find a way to make sure that your gas bills stay manageable while you are still able to be comfortable and warm inside your home. Finding that balance will make for the perfect winter wonderland that keeps you safe and warm at a lower cost, no matter how wild it gets outside.
Replace Gas with Electric
One way to keep your gas bills low is to get rid of your gas-powered system altogether. Switching away from gas can be a great way to keep your home warm while also being more environmentally friendly and safer in general. It is important to note that there are benefits to both gas and electric heating, but if you are looking to avoid gas, an electric system can be a great option for your home and your family. Electric heating can also be powered by solar or wind power, which can actually save you a great deal of money.
Heat Your Home More Efficiently
Your next option is to simply be more efficient with your heating. This can be done in a variety of ways depending on your needs and the options you have available to you. One option is to go with a radiant heating system rather than forced air. According to Rabe Hardware, radiant systems create consistent heat throughout your home. It also takes less energy to run a radiant heat system. Other options are to use a smart or programmable thermostat or even just to make sure that your HVAC system has been tuned up recently.
Change Your Air Filter
It is surprising how much of a difference simple things can make in your life. As R&T Services points out, one of those simple things is just taking the time to change out your air filter on a regular basis. If you do this, it will increase the efficiency of your HVAC system and make it easier for you to keep your home warm without spending extra money on your gas bill all season long.
Keeping your home warm is important, but it is also important to live your life in a budget friendly way. Finding the balance between efficiency and low costs is the perfect solution to making your home warm and inviting this winter. Start making small changes to your energy use habits so you can enjoy the happy surprise of a lower energy bill.
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by Mrs C | Dec 2, 2021 | Blog
When you purchase a home, the inevitable fact is that you will have to continue to spend money on it. Things break and will need to be repaired. Plan for these repairs and do your research so that your family can save some money while doing necessary repairs.
Avoid Putting Them on Credit
To save money on repairs, you will want to avoid putting them on credit. Credit cards are a convenient way to finance a repair. This allows you some variation in how much you can spend on your repairs. Other options of financing are home equity lines of credit, loans, and cash out refinancing. While all of these can be good options, you can save money by paying for supplies and labor upfront. Credit means you will need to pay with interest. If you can’t pay it all off right away, that means you will end up paying more because of interest.
Do Them Yourself
You can save money on home repairs by doing them yourself. This saves the cost of labor. Before doing anything DIY, you should make sure that it is not dangerous and won’t ruin your home. You should do your research to make sure that it is within your skillset. Some projects you just can’t do yourself. While DIY repairs are usually risky, there are some roofing projects you can do yourself. Other repairs you can do yourself are things like replacing a toilet, unclogging drains, and fixing leaks.
Create a Budget
A budget is a great way to save money. You should plan for home repairs by setting aside 1% of the cost of your home each year for repair costs. Newer homes will be more likely to fit within this number as they have newer materials with less weathering as well as typically being more durable to start with. Set aside more for an old home. When you need to do a repair, do your research to find a professional to help you and material cost so you can stay within your budget.
Home repairs can be costly, but there are ways for families to save. You can avoid putting them on credit, do it yourself, and make sure you have it in your budget. In some cases, you may need to hire a professional to help you get the job done right, and within your budget.
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by Mrs C | Dec 2, 2021 | Blog
Having a home can be a major expense. While the home can be a major financial cornerstone of the family finances, there are also a lot of costs to homeownership. You never know when certain costs are going to pop up, and having a rainy day fund can be a major help. Here are a few reasons why homeowners need to keep a rainy day fund.
Unexpected Repairs
You never know when something in your home is going to break. And home repairs can be very costly very quickly. Having a rainy day fund to help with unexpected home repairs can help you take care of repairs when they need to happen without running into major issues with finances. If you don’t keep a rainy day fund for your home you run the risk of being unable to afford necessary repairs and maintenance to your home. So save yourself some stress and keep a rainy day fund in case.
Routine Maintenance
Homes require a lot of maintenance. Everything from lawn care to paint, to air conditioning and cleaning costs a lot of money. Having a fund set aside to help pay for these repairs and maintenance to your home can make a lot of difference to the affordability of your home repairs. This includes things like paving. You might pay as little as 50 cents a square foot for paving materials. Keeping maintenance up to date is a major selling point for home buyers and having a fund to pay for it is great. If you choose to forgo saving money in a fund, you may run the risk of being unable to afford maintenance, which can end up costing you tons of money in the long run.
Renovation Projects
If you keep a rainy day fund for your home, you can save enough to afford renovation projects that you enjoy. Renovation projects that add value or utility to your home are great ways to invest your rainy day fund in your home. If you have always wanted to do some renovation projects on your home but have been unable to afford it, then beginning a rainy day fund for your home will help you grow a fund to afford your renovation projects.
There are a lot of reasons a rainy day fund is a good idea for homeowners. Everything from repairs and maintenance to renovation projects are expenses that can be possible with a rainy day fund. So start saving today.
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by Mrs C | Nov 22, 2021 | Blog
If you are wondering how you can make a little extra money on the side, you’ve come to the right place. There are many different ideas for side hustles that you can use to increase your monthly income. Here are just a few ideas that have to do with things you already own that you can consider.
Rent Out a Room
If you’ve just moved into a large house, or if you’ve had some of your kids or family members move out, chances are that you’ll have some empty and unused rooms in your house. One easy way to use your space to make some extra money is to rent out your extra rooms. This works especially well if your extra rooms are in your basement or have a separate entrance to preserve your privacy. To determine how much you should rent your extra rooms for, do a little research to find out common rental prices in your area. If you can offer a great deal on your room, you’ll be more likely to find consistent renters and make a profit.
Wrap Your Car
Another great way to make some extra money on the side is to utilize your car for advertising. If you have a small business or company that you’re trying to advertise, putting some info and graphics on a car wrap is a great way to do so. There are many different kinds of car wraps. Some wrap completely over the windows, some only partially wrap the car. There are even color-changing wraps that are available. Some car wraps take just a few hours to complete, making this a quick and easy way to advertise and make money.
Thrift Your Antiques
If you’re trying to find another way to make money out of what you already have, look no farther than your storage room. Lots of people have antique furniture, jewelry, and belongings that could be worth a lot of money, especially as they come back in style. Even some of your old clothing could be sold online and make you some extra cash. There are lots of places online where you can sell these types of items, such as Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, and Etsy.
As you’re trying to figure out how to make some extra money on the side, remember the ideas that have been discussed in this article. These ideas involve things that you already own, and wouldn’t require a lot of time or energy on your part. That being said, there are many more ways to make extra money, and lots of side hustles that could work for your lifestyle, so don’t waste any time researching your many possibilities.
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by Mrs C | Nov 18, 2021 | Blog
Heading into winter, energy bills tend to go up again unless you take preventative measures. Energy efficient systems are one of the best measures, and so have become more popular for that reason. What changes can you make to make your home more efficient? Here are a few of the best ways to lower that bill as well as the carbon footprint of your home.
Look for Modern Appliances
If by now you still have vintage appliances, you’re missing out on energy savings. Modern appliances have regulations which mean they have to only use a certain amount of energy. When purchasing, Energy Star says that you can look for the energy star label, which means it meets US requirements for energy efficiency. Though it requires money upfront, you’ll save a lot on your utility bill in the long run.
Upgrade Your Heating
Wintertime can be brutal on both your bills and your house’s systems. Sometimes a house’s normal functions can’t even work when things get overwhelmingly cold. According to Rabe Hardware, keeping your home warm prevents frozen and burst pipes. You need to keep your heat above about 55 F degrees if you are not in the home, and between 68-74 degrees when in the home. Installing a heating system that can measure temperature in each room can help you to use heat more accurately and only where it’s needed.
Insulate
For both summer and winter energy savings, adding extra insulation to your attic is helpful. For a 1200 sq ft home, insulating the attic with extra blown fiberglass insulation can be as low as a thousand dollars, but will make up that savings in a little less than a year. If you’ve interested in saving fifty or sixty dollars at minimum per energy bill, get several quotes for what kind of insulation you might need. According to Best Life, insulation is low cost, great for your home, and excellent for making sure that heat doesn’t escape through your attic into the outdoors. If you, like most, can’t afford to heat the outdoors (or just don’t want to) added insulation can be a huge benefit for what you need this winter.
Your home benefits from being as energy efficient as possible, and so do you. Make sure you’ve got enough insulation and that your appliances are upgraded, and look. Look into a new heating system, and make sure your pipes don’t freeze! Then you’ll be all set for even the coldest of winters!
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