5 Home Improvement Tips that Reduce Your Cost of Living

Whether you live alone or with a large family, the cost of living is still higher than ever. One of the highest costs is always going to your home. If you’re already bought your property, or you’re still renting, you still have bills to pay. Keeping those bills down is always going to be important, but far too many people overlook just how easy it can be to reduce living costs with some clever home changes. If your bills are spiralling out of control and you’d like a bit more space for more flexible money management, here are five changes that you can make to your home that will see your annual cost of living drop a lot more than you might think.

The Energy Audit

Start by working out exactly where you might be wasting money. It’s all about efficiency, so make sure that you check and address:

  • Drafts at doors and windows
  • Lighting
  • Insulation
  • Appliances

Your audit can be done yourself, or you can pay a professional to help. Either way, this will act as both a checklist and a reminder of where your money is being wasted.

Window Changes

One of the most common issues in any property is heat being wasted by draughty windows. Double-glazing can be very useful, but if that’s well out of range of your budget, there are alternative options. Window sealant can be very cheap and takes just a little work to make sure that your windows are not bringing the outside weather in.

Insulation Issues

There’s not much point having your heating on all day if that heat is simply going to head outside. Insulation is one of the best ways to cut your energy costs, and you can go as wild as you like. While loft insulation should be a priority, don’t forget to consider insulating your water pipes as well. This keeps your water hotter and is a very inexpensive DIY project that will save you far more than it costs.

Rethink the Bathroom

There are lots of changes that you can make to a bathroom to save money. Options like low-flow showerheads are cheap and easy to install yourself. If you want to save even more money, it’s always smart to discuss your money-saving options with experts in bathroom design and installation Hertfordshire. Never underestimate how much some basic changes to your bathroom setup can save you a fortune.

In the Garden

It’s easy to overlook the changes you can make to your garden that can have an incredible effect on your living costs. While some of these options might be more expensive than others, they can all help reduce your monthly expenses.

  • Plant a tree that creates shade so you don’t have to rely on your air-con
  • Put up a washing line that will reduce reliance on tumble dryers
  • Use large plant pots to collect rainwater that can be used to water your garden

Gardens can be more useful than you think when it comes to saving some cash.

Homes might be expensive, but they don’t have to strain your bank balance every month. Take the time to assess every room and space in your home and look for the solutions that will save you more money than you ever thought possible.