Simple Ways to cut household expenses

And Save Money

By: J.A. Young

Whether you’re name is Jones, Smith, Johnson, or otherwise—you are living in an age of great debt.  Whether you are in the credit/debt predicament or simply seeking to avoid the pitfalls associated with living on credit, there are many simple ways to save money.  While these methods may seem small by themselves, when viewed collectively, they can actually reduce your monthly expenses considerably.

Meal-planning and menu-writing may seem like a mundane task, but it can reduce the amount of money spent on take-out and fast food.  It is terribly easy to call out for pizza or Chinese after a long day of work and this can result in an extra twenty to fifty dollars a week easily spent needlessly.  Not only can meal-planning reduce your grocery bill, you may actually find yourself eating healthier too.  To help combat a busy lifestyle, cook large meals that can be eaten for the next day or two.  Seek out quick recipes that can be easily cooked with a few basic ingredients.

Make your own coffee to take to work.  The daily price of purchasing coffee en route to your job adds up over a month.  Consider what you spend in a year.  While it may be convenient to make this purchase, the amount of money spent in a year could easily cushion a savings account instead.

When it comes to shopping, spend some time doing price checking.  Sometimes it is quite cheaper to obtain items from online sources.  With the high price of gas, it might even be more inexpensive to pay shipping rates rather than use up your gas.  Also, it is sometimes cost-effective to buy in bulk for items like pet supplies, toiletries, or any frequently-used food stuffs.  Coupon clipping may seem old-fashioned, but they can also reduce your grocery bill.  If you reduce your bill by just ten dollars every month, this adds up to a $120. savings annually.  When this is added to other cost-saving measures, you may be looking at a worthwhile sum. 

The need for entertainment may seem well-deserved after all the work we do, but consider canceling cable for a similar season—even for a season just to see how you manage.  Instead, use your public library.  Libraries now stock the latest dvds and audio books that can usually be checked out for free.  Get on waiting lists for materials early.  You can manage your checkouts so that you have a stack of entertaining materials ready for you each week.  If you buy books or audio books, you can definitely save great expense by using the local library instead. 

For the children’s entertainment, take advantage of the local park district’s offerings.  There program’s are usually well-planned and fun for kids.  Expense is often minimal and most activities are both stimulating and educational.  Visit the zoos, museums or other organizations on free or discount days.  Visit forest preserves and go on camping trips as opposed to stays at expensive resorts or hotels.

Consider other services you pay for like landscapers, snow-removers, or painters.  By tackling these chores yourself, you can eliminate great expense each year.  Often by purchasing the necessary equipment, you can have it paid for after one year by saving what you would have paid someone else to perform the service. 

Keep your gas and electricity bill low by turning off unused lights and using heat or air only when absolutely necessary.  Investing in cost-saving units can also reduce your monthly expenses.  Investing in energy-efficient equipment often has great expense-reducing potential. 

Saving money is an individual process, but these general methods are likely to suit many.  Try to prepare a monthly budget and keep track of where every dollar goes.  Getting out of debt may seem like a huge task, but even very simple methods make for a great beginning that will impact your finances for the better over time.

-Back to Top

Interested in Moving to or from Malibu?

If so, make sure to check out the Real Estate section.

- Back to Family Zone