With the recent GST hike and the hike in inflation rates, many of us may find it harder to save up for the next property upgrade or renovation. Other than looking for ways to increase your income, how about finding ways to put a stop to your rising household bills? Here are some tips for you to save the extra buck to clear that property bucket list.
Tip #1: Get rid of extra energy wastage
Understandably, you are used to the taps and equipment installed in your home. However, change is required if you want to save that extra buck. Start by installing energy-saving lightbulbs or water-saving taps in the sinks to reduce your bills. When it comes to energy-saving lightbulbs, LED lights can be one of the more popular options.
While a fixed cost is required to replace facilities, know that you are saving on the long term energy expenses and it is definitely more worth it in the long run. Alternatively, another fuss-free method with zero cost would be to install a water saving kit in your home. It is provided by PUB for free and according their statistics, those installing these little gems allow a 5% cut in utility bills.
Tip #2: Keep your house equipment in good condition
If your equipment is in a deteriorated condition, it may be using more electricity or energy than usual to generate the same amount of efficiency. A good example would be air conditioner, where cleaning the filters often is key to ensure that it does not consume greater energy or time to achieve the same cold temperature.
The same goes for your taps and showerheads. Ensure that they are serviced frequently to ensure that they do not leak. Even a faulty toilet could lead to a huge water wastage, easily unnoticed by individuals that spend most of their time at work than at home. Doing so ensures that you can save up to hundreds of gallons of water daily, reducing the mysterious spike in water bills.
Furthermore, for those that needs to change their house equipment soon, we also have the water efficiency label (WEL) to check whether the new appliances can save water usage properly. This allow you to reduce water wastage during laundry and washing of dishes under the tap so that your bills ca reduce significantly as well.
Alternatively, residents can also choose to keep their equipment in good condition by installing faucet aerators in the places that use water the most – essentially in the bathroom and in the kitchen. Doing so is an affordable way to reduce the amount of water usage, especially if you are someone that habitually opens the tap at the maximum power, this can be a good way to reduce the amount of unnecessary water usage, thus reducing water bills effectively.
Tip #3: Change your daily habits
What more to do other than installing energy saving facilities? You guessed right, your own habits. For one, start by watering your plants with excess water you used and collected, or keep your showering time shorter. Alternatively, you can also wash your clothes when your laundry is full. Avoid turning on the washing machine if you know that there is less than half a load, because this could all mean extra water is wasted, causing a spike in your water bills.
Turn off the lights when you leave the room, and only keep the air conditioner on when the windows are closed to ensure that the cool air does not escape. All these habits not only keep your excess spending at bay, but your lifestyle neater and structured as well.
Tip #4: Reduce your daily expenses
Another possible option would be to reduce your daily expenses, starting from your groceries. For example, to avoid impulse purchases along the supermarket aisles, opt for online grocery services and zoom in down on things that you need, and not want. Many of the online grocery services also provide free shipping and e-vouchers that you could utilise as well.
Alternatively, only head to the stores on days where you need to re-stock on the essentials (e.g. fruits and vegetables) and keep a grocery list. You can also make use of cash-back apps so that you can cut down on the grocery expenses bit by bit overtime.
Tip #5: Reduce your reliance on disposable items
Tidying up your home after a long day at work can be tiring, and many of us rely heavily on disposable, single-use products that are easy to keep and throw. For example, single-use plastic bags, paper towels, paper napkins, plastic wraps are all things we are used to. However, these items can rack up quite a hefty bill when you throw them away frequently, not to mention the damage of such disposable items on the environment. Switch to sustainable household items that only require light washing or maintenance for repeated uses instead.
If you have to buy and restock kitchen and toilet products, try to go for more affordable brands instead of famous and name-brand ones that are significantly pricier. Opting for generic store brands can help save up quite a sizeable amount of bills in the long run.
Tip #6: Review your subscriptions
Many of us are guilty of subscribing to a bunch of services that we do not necessarily make good use of, but are all too lazy to review them and cut them off. For example, if you are subscribing to Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu, take a quick check and see if you really need all of them. If you are subscribing to more than one newsletters and magazines, take a look at which are the ones that you properly read. The key is to let go of under-utilised subscriptions so that your fixed monthly expenses can go down. Otherwise, find ways to share the subscription with your family and friends so that the fixed costs can be shared.
A little effort goes a long way
Groceries and energy bills may not be the largest spending in your list of expenditure, but we can assure you that a little effort goes a long way and if you want to ensure that you are saving enough to clear your bucket list, adopt these tips right away.
If you are looking to incorporate energy-saving tips into your accommodation, you can also go a step further and consider condominiums with smart technology embedded into it as well – they provide the facilities to save electricity and remain in touch with nature. If you need more property advice and information, do not hesitate to reach out to know more.
Comments