For this post, I’ll be sharing various ways how to save money as a stay at home worker. You can’t always control your income, but I believe we can all control our spending. And when we save money, that’s almost as good as making extra money!
This article isn’t just how to save money as a stay at home dad or mom – these tips are applicable to the entire family. In fact, I’ve found that the best way for a household to save money is to get everyone onboard – husband, wife, kids, extended family, visitors, and even pets! Make a fun activity or challenge out of it. Saving money doesn’t have to be about depriving yourself of things… on the contrary, when you save money, you’re making funds available for bigger, better things. My daughter wanted to get a new PlayStation, so I challenged her to save money for a few months. She felt like she was working towards a goal. And I recommend you do the same thing. Get everyone on board, and work towards a savings goal. That goal doesn’t have to be lofty or far-fetched. Sometimes, a simple goal like saving enough money for a weekend road trip or a pizza night can be enough to get everyone motivated to save cash at home.
Okay, without further ado, here’s my list of ways to save money at home. To be honest, this isn’t just “my” list. This list was done by my entire family. These are methods that everyone takes part in. And together, we consider these the best ways to save money at home. So here’s how to save cash at home!
Switch off the lights when not in use!
Okay, okay. I know that seems like such a no-brainer since we’ve been reminded to switch off the lights since we were kids. But as adults, we tend to forget to do that. So switching off the light is one of my tips to save money at home.
Air dry the laundry, instead of using the spin drier
If you have enough space at home, consider hanging your clothes to dry instead of using the spin drier. You’ll save money on your electric bill, plus air-dried clothes are much fresher, in my experience.
Unplug appliances when not in use
A lot of appliances tend to suck power even when they’re switched off, as long as they’re plugged in. Now imagine all the plugged-in appliances in your home that you don’t use regularly. This also includes fully-charged cell phones and laptops that remain plugged in. Unplugging them is a simple way to save money.
Buy in bulk, when possible
I know buying bulk is not for everyone. For starters, they require a bigger outlay of money initially. And then bulk items occupy more space. But if you can go for it, buy in bulk whenever you can.
Start your own herb and vegetable garden
We used to buy a lot of basil, oregano, and tomatoes. But we decided to grow these and other herbs ourselves. We had to spend a bit to set everything up, but it’s worth it in the long-run. Plus, gardening and growing herbs and veggies is a great hobby!
Don’t use power tools unless necessary
This one comes from years of experience. Whenever I do household repairs, I try to use manual tools as much as I can. I don’t use the powered screwdriver whenever possible. This saves on electricity, as well as the wear and tear on the tools.
Do DIY repairs
I am not a particularly gifted handyman but I put in a lot of time and effort trying to learn new skills. And these skills have come in handy for minor household repairs. And they’ve saved us a lot of money, too!
Avoid disposables
Avoid using disposable stuff when possible. This includes obvious stuff like plastic spoons and forks, paper plates, and disposable cups. But this also includes items like straws, paper towels, and using garbage bags when they’re not really needed. You’ll have to do a heck of a lot more cleaning, but in the end, the savings will be more than worth it!
Know when your nearby stores go on sale
This one will require you to be more observant than usual. Stores usually announce big sales in advance on social media, so it pays (literally) to always be updated. Even if they don’t make any announcement, sales usually happen around payday weekends, so always be on the lookout during those times.
Don’t be afraid to declutter
Most houses I’ve seen have tons of unused stuff just taking up space in the garage or attic. That’s a waste for two reasons – first, you may not be using them, but they’re still taking up space. And that’s space you’re paying for. Second, there might be some money to be made by selling those items. So if something hasn’t been used for a few years, don’t be afraid to sell them off!
Take public transportation or ride-sharing when possible
Owning, storing, and maintaining a car is a huge expense… and I’m not even talking about the cost of gas, parking, and insurance. Plus there’s the cost of stress driving through rush hour traffic and jousting with all the jerks on the street. I’ve found using public transportation, or ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft save me not just money, but also helps me maintain my peace of mind!
Practice proper automotive maintenance
If you do need to own a car, make sure you’re updated on any scheduled maintenance checks or repairs. It’s better to spend money now than neglect your car only to have it break down later on. Usually, the damage will be greater, and that’ll end up costing you even more money. So save on money tomorrow by paying for proper maintenance today.
Live healthy!
You know the old saying: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. My family is pretty invested in health and well-being. We try to eat healthy, and regularly do group activities like hiking and jogging. With any luck, this will save us medical bills later on!
This article isn’t just how to save money as a stay at home dad or mom – these tips are applicable to the entire family. In fact, I’ve found that the best way for a household to save money is to get everyone onboard – husband, wife, kids, extended family, visitors, and even pets! Make a fun activity or challenge out of it. Saving money doesn’t have to be about depriving yourself of things… on the contrary, when you save money, you’re making funds available for bigger, better things. My daughter wanted to get a new PlayStation, so I challenged her to save money for a few months. She felt like she was working towards a goal. And I recommend you do the same thing. Get everyone on board, and work towards a savings goal. That goal doesn’t have to be lofty or far-fetched. Sometimes, a simple goal like saving enough money for a weekend road trip or a pizza night can be enough to get everyone motivated to save cash at home.
Okay, without further ado, here’s my list of ways to save money at home. To be honest, this isn’t just “my” list. This list was done by my entire family. These are methods that everyone takes part in. And together, we consider these the best ways to save money at home. So here’s how to save cash at home!
Switch off the lights when not in use!
Okay, okay. I know that seems like such a no-brainer since we’ve been reminded to switch off the lights since we were kids. But as adults, we tend to forget to do that. So switching off the light is one of my tips to save money at home.
Air dry the laundry, instead of using the spin drier
If you have enough space at home, consider hanging your clothes to dry instead of using the spin drier. You’ll save money on your electric bill, plus air-dried clothes are much fresher, in my experience.
Unplug appliances when not in use
A lot of appliances tend to suck power even when they’re switched off, as long as they’re plugged in. Now imagine all the plugged-in appliances in your home that you don’t use regularly. This also includes fully-charged cell phones and laptops that remain plugged in. Unplugging them is a simple way to save money.
Buy in bulk, when possible
I know buying bulk is not for everyone. For starters, they require a bigger outlay of money initially. And then bulk items occupy more space. But if you can go for it, buy in bulk whenever you can.
Start your own herb and vegetable garden
We used to buy a lot of basil, oregano, and tomatoes. But we decided to grow these and other herbs ourselves. We had to spend a bit to set everything up, but it’s worth it in the long-run. Plus, gardening and growing herbs and veggies is a great hobby!
Don’t use power tools unless necessary
This one comes from years of experience. Whenever I do household repairs, I try to use manual tools as much as I can. I don’t use the powered screwdriver whenever possible. This saves on electricity, as well as the wear and tear on the tools.
Do DIY repairs
I am not a particularly gifted handyman but I put in a lot of time and effort trying to learn new skills. And these skills have come in handy for minor household repairs. And they’ve saved us a lot of money, too!
Avoid disposables
Avoid using disposable stuff when possible. This includes obvious stuff like plastic spoons and forks, paper plates, and disposable cups. But this also includes items like straws, paper towels, and using garbage bags when they’re not really needed. You’ll have to do a heck of a lot more cleaning, but in the end, the savings will be more than worth it!
Know when your nearby stores go on sale
This one will require you to be more observant than usual. Stores usually announce big sales in advance on social media, so it pays (literally) to always be updated. Even if they don’t make any announcement, sales usually happen around payday weekends, so always be on the lookout during those times.
Don’t be afraid to declutter
Most houses I’ve seen have tons of unused stuff just taking up space in the garage or attic. That’s a waste for two reasons – first, you may not be using them, but they’re still taking up space. And that’s space you’re paying for. Second, there might be some money to be made by selling those items. So if something hasn’t been used for a few years, don’t be afraid to sell them off!
Take public transportation or ride-sharing when possible
Owning, storing, and maintaining a car is a huge expense… and I’m not even talking about the cost of gas, parking, and insurance. Plus there’s the cost of stress driving through rush hour traffic and jousting with all the jerks on the street. I’ve found using public transportation, or ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft save me not just money, but also helps me maintain my peace of mind!
Practice proper automotive maintenance
If you do need to own a car, make sure you’re updated on any scheduled maintenance checks or repairs. It’s better to spend money now than neglect your car only to have it break down later on. Usually, the damage will be greater, and that’ll end up costing you even more money. So save on money tomorrow by paying for proper maintenance today.
Live healthy!
You know the old saying: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. My family is pretty invested in health and well-being. We try to eat healthy, and regularly do group activities like hiking and jogging. With any luck, this will save us medical bills later on!
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