4 Ways to Save Money Around the House

In today's economy, it is important to save money where we can. There are many ways to cut back in our own homes but still do the things we enjoy the most.

Make a Home Budget

Monitoring your spending can be a pain, but is necessary to make sure that all the bills are paid. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends these steps for creating a budget:

1. Start by listing all your income
2. Then, list your "fixed" expenses- like mortgage payments or rent, car payments, and insurance premiums
3. Next, list the expenses that vary-like entertainment, recreation, and clothing

By identifying necessary expenses, and prioritizing the rest, you can make ends meet on the basics: housing, food, health care, insurance, and education, and create plans to save money and pay down your debt.

Go Green to Save Green on Your Utilities

Try some green home tips to save money on your utilities. One of the best ways to save a little money on the heating/cooling bills is to use a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat can save you 5-30% on your bill if it is programmed correctly (Department of Energy Home Energy Saver). Experts suggest keeping the winter temperature around 68 degrees when you are home and 60 degrees when you are gone and at night. For the summer, keep the temperature around 75 degrees when you are home, and 80 degrees when you are gone.

There are simple, non-technical ways to keep your home warm/cool also. You can always bundle up in a blanket or build a fire in the winter, and turn on a fan in the summer. Setting the air conditioner two degrees higher and using ceiling fans can save you 14% on your bill (DOE). Save money on your electric bill by shutting off unused appliances and turning out the lights when you aren't in the room.

A Little Elbow Grease Can Save Cash

If you have some minor repairs around the house try an alternative to calling a pricy repair man. If you have a friend who is great at fixing things, he or she might be able to help you fix a running toilet or faucet. If now is not a good time to deal with fixing the faucet, put a bucket or tub under it and collect the water and use it to water plants. If you've got stained carpets, it might be more cost effective to rent a carpet steamer instead of hiring a professional. You can save money by mowing your own lawn and pruning plants yourself instead of hiring a yard maintenance service.

Keep Your Home Protected for Less

Take some time to go through and see what your insurance coverage amounts, deductibles and premiums are. One way to save yourself some money is by raising your deductibles (but understand that you would have to pay more out of pocket should an accident or other problem occur). Plus it could be time to update your coverage. Have you improved your home? Would those improvements be factored in if there was a fire or other disaster? Save yourself money and headaches by using InsWeb.com to find the homeowners insurance coverage you need.