Owning a house is expensive. You might have thought buying the property would be the last time you would hand over a large portion of your savings for the house, yet month after month your money seems to vanish into an endless sea of housing expenses. If you want to stop drowning in bills, you need to figure out where you’re spending the most money each month and plug these financial leaks. Here are a few places you can start looking.
Your bills
No one can live without indoor plumbing, electricity, and wifi nowadays, but that doesn’t mean you should let your energy providers rob you. Check how much you’re paying each month, then compare your bills to other providers. Using a price comparison site such as Go Compare can save time doing this. If it turns out you can get a better deal elsewhere on any of your providers, then switch as soon as you can.
Another way to reduce your bills is to cut down on your energy consumption. Start by switching to energy efficient LED bulbs, unplugging all appliances you’re not using, and insulating your home so you don’t need to turn up your thermostat as much.
Home improvements
One of the biggest downsides of owning a house is that you are responsible for fixing things that get broken. Whether it’s due to wear and tear, or accidents in the home, breakages and damage is unavoidable.
Sometimes smaller jobs can be tackled yourself, if you feel confident, that is. Unblocking sinks, fixing leaky taps, and filling holes in the wall should be easy enough for any novice to handle. There are numerous videos on YouTube and guides online which will help you.
Carrying out minor repairs and basic home improvements yourself can keep your home in good condition for longer, putting off the need for a handyman. However, you should remember to call a professional if things appear to be above your level of expertise.
Insulation
Around 25 percent of the heat lost in an uninsulated house literally goes through the roof. This means that by investing a relatively small amount on insulating your attic and roof, you will save pounds for years. Effective insulation will slow the rate that heat escapes from your house in winter, and will also slow the rate that heat gets into your house during the summer. In short; it will keep your house at the optimum temperature, so you don’t have to spend as much money keeping it warm.
Heat also escapes through the cracks in old windows, so it might be a good idea to look into double-glazing. Do ensure you use a reputable company such as https://www.threecountiesltd.co.uk which will ensure reliability and quality of work.
Conserve water
Water is a precious, life-giving resource, yet up to a third of the drinking water that comes into the typical Western home goes straight down the toilet. Conserving water will save you money on your bills. Save baths for special occasions and opt for the shower instead, don’t use a dishwasher until it’s full, and save flushing for when you really need it. You can often find free water saving devices online which will help.