As the cost-of-living increases, you may be looking for some inspiration on how you can save money at home. Luckily, there are a range of ways that you can do this, with many of them requiring little effort.
Type of Home
One of the main things that you should be aware of is the type of home that you have as it could be responsible for your higher spends. The age of your property is the biggest single factor in the energy efficiency of your home, so the older your home the lower your energy efficiency and the more you will have to spend on bills.
However, new houses are more energy efficient as they are required to produce at least 30% less carbon than older homes, in line with the UK government’s net-zero strategies. New builds can be up to 60% cheaper to run as they are built with energy efficiency in mind. You will find double glazing, insulated walls and electric heating systems which save you money on bills, so if you are considering moving house, a new build could be a great option.
If moving house isn’t on your priority list, there are ways to improve the energy efficiency of your older home. One cheap and easy way is to draught-proof your home. Draught proofing involves sealing up any openings in your home that allow cold air to enter and warm air to escape, and there are a range of ways this can be done. You can it yourself with self-adhesive strips or invest in some thermal curtains to keep out the chill which will save you money on your bills
Food
UK households throw away over 4.5 million tonnes of edible food each year, so ensuring that you are only buying food that will be eaten will save you money. Meal planning is a great way to reduce waste and save money and if you plan your meals before your food shop, you are likely to spend less money on products that you won’t use.
Learning how to use up food that would otherwise get thrown away could also be a great money-saving hack. For example, the leftover water from a can of chickpeas (aquafaba) can be made into meringues or chocolate puddings, while the seeds from your dates can be turned into a caffeine-free coffee alternative. There are a multitude of ways that you can use up your food scraps and it can be a fun experience for the whole family, as well as saving you money and learning new skills.
DIY
DIY jobs can save between 50% to 80% compared to hiring a contractor so if you already have the tools, you could give DIY a go if you’re looking to spruce up your home. There are many video tutorials online that you can follow if you aren’t confident with a saw and hammer but it’s a great skill to learn and you might surprise yourself!
If you enjoy the outdoors, you could look to DIY the perfect garden space to grow and propagate seedlings that you can sell to friends and family, online or at car boots. Growing plants in your garden could increase your income by £600 per month (peaking between February and October), so if you have a bit of a green thumb, this could be a great way to get some extra money.
