Ways to save money around the house

It’s no secret that owning and maintaining a home can be an expensive - from updating the children’s bedrooms as they become teens, to staying up to date with the latest kitchen technology and interior trends, those costs can soon add up. 

Here are our tips for how to save money around the house so you can keep it looking fresh throughout the year, without breaking the bank.

Shop savvy

Buying vintage or second-hand furniture is a great way to get good quality furniture for less. Not only will you save money, but it also gives you the opportunity to get creative and add a touch of originality to the space. Buying vintage also means you’ll almost never have the same piece of furniture as your friends or neighbours.

The ‘shabby chic’ look that often comes with pre-loved, worn furniture, has been a popular trend for a few years now, helping homeowners to create a rustic, farmhouse aesthetic in their homes. Whether you’re looking for a chest of drawers or nest of tables, browse your local vintage or charity shops where you’ll be sure to find some hidden gems at good prices.

When gauging quality, look out for items labelled ‘gently used’ or ‘hardly worn’. Typically, you’ll find these come with just a few scratches or marks - nothing a little sandpaper or chalk paint can’t fix. Don’t forget, that you can also pick up replacement door knobs or wheels for the furniture you buy if it doesn’t fit in with the look you’re trying to create. From hand-painted ceramic door knobs, to brass wheels, you can easily give an old piece of furniture a new lease of life.

Time it right

Buying ‘out of season’ is another great way of saving money. Rather than investing in something straight away, for example a barbeque, parasol or your first Christmas tree, plan ahead and think about when such items are less likely to be picked up by other shoppers.

This means that when summer arrives, and you’re thinking about hosting a family barbecue for example, you’ll be prepared and not have to spend extra money buying provisions during peak barbecue season. With prices throughout June – August at their highest, barbecues can be a costly purchase, particularly if you’re after the premium brands.

Instead, think about buying during mid-late October, as demand starts to plummet, and the warm weather starts to fade out. If you’re purchasing towards the end of the year, don’t forget to protect your barbecue set by buying a cover to avoid rust and frost damage.

Go eco

One of the many advantages of a new-build home is that they are typically well-insulated, and therefore much more energy-efficient than older properties. Though you’re bound to spend far less on heating and running a new-build, it’s still a sensible decision to monitor your energy usage by investing in a smart meter.

Not only will you get more detailed feedback regarding your energy use, you’ll also have the ability to adjust your habits based on the information you receive. For example, you’ll know if you need to have your heating on less often during the winter or have fewer electrical devices on at once in the kitchen.

There are plenty of options to choose from, with some even looking quite stylish on the walls of your home.

Don’t forget to use the eco-mode on appliances you have lying around the house, too. You’ll often find eco options on your boiler and shower systems, both of which will help to save money around the house each month.

If you have any money-saving tips of your own, why not share them with us over on our Facebook or Twitter pages?