How to Cut Your Household Expenses?

​We all could do with more money in the bank. In this article, we offer simple tips on cutting your household expenses. There’s nothing really complicated about it; saving is ultimately about spending less than what you earn. Let’s discuss how to do that. 

​Utility bills are generally the biggest household expense in America. You can do your bit to minimize your electric bill by installing energy efficient solutions such as installing “smart” thermostats that regulate the temperature automatically. This can make your air conditioning more efficient and save a lot of money over the long term.
You can also replace incandescent bulbs, if you have any, by energy efficient LED lights. Also, insulate the water heater and hot water pipes to make them more energy efficient and reduce heat loss during the winter. You should consider hand-washing your dishes instead of using the dishwasher when you don’t have a heavy load. Also, minimize the use of your heating and air conditioning system as much as possible. 

Get Rid of the Clutter on eBay

​Sell all the household items that you don’t need any more such as old books, baseball cards, your daughter’s dolls (which she doesn’t use any more), your DVD and music collection, old video games and more on eBay. Signing up on eBay is very easy. What’s important is to describe the condition of the product accurately. If anything remains unsold, you can get rid of it in a neighborhood garage sale, or better, donate to a worthy charity. Just get rid of anything that you don’t need or use anymore.

Make Use of Credit Card Rewards

​Most personal finance experts recommend staying off credit cards when trying to save money. So what we have for you here is a bit of a contrarian advice. Use your credit card to make payments just to take advantage of the credit card rewards. Your credit card may have a rewards program such as a free movie ticket, or a cashback coupon over your grocery purchases.  You can save rewards points on a major purchase, which would cover trip expenses, cost of hotel rooms or car rentals. 

Grow Your Own Fruits and Vegetables

​You can potentially save a LOT of money by growing your own fruits and vegetables in your backyard. You can also control what goes into growing them – for example, you can ensure that no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used in your garden. So, this is a far healthier alternative to buying fruits and vegetables in a supermarket. 

e-File Your Own Tax Returns With Quicken Hosting

One of the best ways to save money is to e-file your tax returns with Quicken Hosting. With Quicken on the Cloud, you can prepare your taxes from the comfort of your home, or even from a Starbucks. You are in complete control of the process. Quicken is one of the best personal finance and tax software out there; it is equipped with the necessary built-in forms and updated with the latest tax regulations. You can sign up for Quicken Hosting at Cloudwalk Hosting