Daily hidden household costs you can avoid

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If you frequently find yourself running low on funds well before your next paycheck or getting to the end of each month without having made those savings or retirement account contributions, it might be time to reassess your recurring expenses and start seeking out savings.

Five-dollar cut backs here and there combined with the elimination of expenses that no longer serve your needs and priorities are more easily found than you might think. With fewer demands on your household budget, you’ll be left with more money to spend on the things you truly value.

To kick start your savings, take some time to reassess, reduce, and/or eliminate some of these daily hidden household costs. While some suggestions may be non-starters for your lifestyle and needs, others you may find well worth ditching in favor of freeing up funds for other, more pressing priorities.

Energy

• Use a programmable thermostat

  No need to heat or cool your house 24/7 if you’re only going to be home for a few hours at the start and end of each day. Save even more by restricting your temperature controls to the rooms you’re actually using.

• Rethink your laundry

  Can you wash with cold water, how about line drying or using a drying rack? Just because you’ve always done laundry the same way, doesn’t mean there isn’t a more efficient or cost-effective alternative.

• Use energy efficient appliances

  While energy efficient appliances may require a little more upfront investment, they pay themselves off over time - and since you’re looking to save, you probably don’t need to be shopping for a new laundry machine or refrigerator too often anyway.

Communication

• Cut the unlimited cellphone

  Do you really need unlimited everything on your phone plan? Consider downgrading and switching off the data to connect to Wi-Fi occasionally, or picking up the phone and calling rather than texting every message. Paying for what you actually use can save you a significant sum each and every month.

• Lose the landline

  With a smartphone always within arms reach, you might not have much need for a landline anymore. Consider cutting the line and pocketing the savings.

• Bundle

  If you can’t bear the thought of living without a landline, at least negotiate with your provider to get a good deal- especially if you’re already paying for other services like cable and Internet. The more services you have, the more leverage you have to bundle for a bargain.

Entertainment

• Cut the cable

  Speaking of cable, can you cut it out and replace it with a more frugal option like an antenna or a streaming service like Netflix? If not, at least consider cutting back on that premium package of five million movie channels.

• Stop the subscriptions

  Cancel the magazine subscription you never get a chance to read and the menu planning service that you never actually utilize. These five or ten dollar monthly subscriptions can accumulate to
  large savings over the course of a year, and the information you get is probably available for free elsewhere anyway.

• Use your resources

  Utilize your local library for music, movies, and books, look up public events happening in your area, and check the social media feeds of your favorite stores to see when they’re offering special promotions and freebies. There’s no need for entertainment and fun to be prohibitive to savings.

Housekeeping/ Maintenance

• D.I.Y.

  What things are you outsourcing that you can easily manage on your own? Cleaning? Landscaping? Repairs? Even things like growing your own herbs or making your own cleaning products are simple D.I.Y. projects that don’t require a huge investment of time or effort, but can save you a bunch in the long run.

• Try minimalism

  Less stuff means less time, money, and energy spent cleaning, maintaining, and repairing. Enjoy the freedom of extra funds that comes with the freedom of less stuff and more space.

Appearance

• Shop Your Closet

  Speaking of minimalism, rather than hitting up the mall every time there’s a new occasion, see what’s lingering at the back of your closet. Classic staples can be reused and reimagined for a variety of purposes.

• Thrift/Swap

  Save on new wardrobe additions by shopping your local thrift store or setting up clothing swaps with your friends at the end of each season so you can simultaneously purge while picking up staples you might be missing from your own closet.

• Groom Simpler

  A cut and color every 6 weeks and a mani/pedi every two can get pricey quickly. Know what you can execute on your own, and find the more affordable alternatives and maintenance options for the rest.

Savings are everywhere if you’re willing to look and objectively assess which expenses are still serving you, and which are simply filling the space while slowing draining your budget.

Stefanie O’Connell is a millennial personal finance pro, author, and founder of TheBrokeandBeautifulLife.com. A regular contributor to US News & World Report’s Frugal Shopper blog, Stefanie and her work have been featured everywhere from The Wall Street Journal to USA Today. Visit stefanieoconnell.com for more information and follow on twitter @brokeandbeau.