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Here are seven simple ways to save money at home on things you might not even know are secretly draining your wallet.

Sometimes when you’re looking to save money, the solution is in plain sight – especially at home.

Savings Calculator

At Jora, we’ve created a savings calculator you can use to quickly calculate your monthly expenses and savings based on your budget! Simply add your salary and calculate how much you can save this month.

Additionally, I asked around at the Jora Credit office for ways our employees save on ordinary household expenses. From us to you, here’s what our team recommends.

Save money at home with our tips

Everyone wants to save money. And some of the biggest drains on your wallet are on common household expenses. Our team saves money by cutting costs on these seven line items.

1. Subscribe & save

If there’s an item you’re always purchasing online, especially on a schedule, see if you can set up a subscription. Often, you’ll get a discount of 5% to 10% off the ordinary price. This can include items like paper towels, afternoon snacks, pet food, and hundreds of other common items.

The upfront discount might not sound like a lot, but like most things, the savings add up over time. And if you find yourself with too much of a product, most services make it simple to pause or cancel your subscription so you won’t end up with more than you need.

2. Hang clothes to dry

Large household appliances use a surprising amount of electricity to operate. One such culprit is the dryer, especially if you have a big family and wash lots of clothes.

An easy way to save is to install a clothesline and let your clothes air dry. The savings benefit here is twofold.

First, you’ll save on your energy bill by reducing consumption. That can add up to a lot, especially if you usually dry clothes during peak consumption hours. And the second benefit is less obvious: your clothes will last longer.

Drying clothes can wear out your clothing and cause colors to fade over time. Keeping them out of the dryer will add life to your outfits, so you can wear them longer without having to purchase new pieces to replace them.

3. Automate your lights

You can automate just about anything these days, including the lights in your home. There are several ways to accomplish it, from smart plugs and wi-fi enabled bulbs to programmable switches. And we love them all!

If you have a busy schedule, you can set up your lights to turn on and off at the same time every day. That way, you won’t come home to lights that have been on for several hours. This automation is also helpful if you can control your lights with a remote or app – you won’t even have to get up to control your lighting situation, which is helpful if you like to stay up reading in bed, for example.

Automated lights can be helpful in many situations, like if you have pets, disabled family members, or children. Plus, they save you money by not wasting electricity. And that’s a win!

4. Get a programmable thermostat

Photo by Dan LeFebvre on Unsplash

There are all sorts of programmable thermostats on the market. If you have a regular schedule, you can set up your home to consume less energy while you’re away. For example, you can set your air conditioner to a higher setting while you’re at work, and then start cooling down as you head home. You’ll get the benefit of saving money while you’re away and staying warm or cool while you’re at home.  

5. Review annual and monthly subscriptions

This one requires some self-reflection. Because so many services are on a subscription model, it’s easy to get desensitized to small debits coming out of your account.

If you find it’s been a month or two without using a subscription service, consider canceling it and signing-up again when you want to use it. If there’s one you use every day, by all means keep it. But if you aren’t regularly using a service you pay for, cancel it and save your money for things you’ll actually use and enjoy.

6. Go to the library for books, audiobooks, and activity kits

Libraries these days have so much more than books. You can get online, take courses, attend classes, and support your community at your local library. Even if you don’t have time to read, you can check out audiobooks to listen to while you commute. And if you have kids, you can get activity kits filled with things like puzzles, games, crafts, and movies to keep them entertained (and learning).

Photo by Devon Divine on Unsplash

Of course, you can also find books and save on your reading materials, too. This is an easy way to stay entertained while you’re on a budget. It’s also a way to stay involved in your community and spend quality time away from home.

7. Fill up the dishwasher and washing machine and run them early or late

Energy cost is higher during the day because there’s more demand during regular business hours. That puts a strain on the energy grid and drives up costs.

Again, household appliances use more power than you might think. So if you can get up a little earlier to start your washing, or run a cycle before bed, you’ll pay a lot less than if you start tidying up in the middle of the day when costs are higher.

By the same token, if you can “pre-cool” or “pre-heat” your home when costs are lower, you won’t have to run the AC or heater as often.

Bonus points if you can wash your clothes at night and then hang them to dry!

Bottom line

Our team recommends to save money at home with these seven tips:

  • Subscribe and save on frequently bought items
  • Hang your clothes up to dry
  • Automate your lighting
  • Invest in a programmable thermostat
  • Cut any unused subscriptions
  • Get to know your local library
  • Use energy when it’s cheaper
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