10 Simple Ways to Save Money and Energy at Home

While we’re all staying safe at home, I’ve been looking into ways to save money and lower our home energy costs! I’ve rounded up 10 here:

1. First – check with your energy provider to find out what rebates are available for making energy-saving upgrades!

If you are a Minnesota Energy Resources customer, you can lower your energy costs AND get a rebate of up to $100 when you install a programmable, Wi-Fi enabled or advanced thermostat, like this Google Nest smart thermostat!

I’m amazed at what a smart thermostat can do. It actually turns itself down when you are away, and you can control it from anywhere. It actually saves people an average of 10% to 12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills.

Here is a list of thermostats eligible for a rebate:
https://accel.minnesotaenergyresources.com/home/thermostat_rebates.aspx

For a list of all rebates:
http://cashrebatesnow.com/

Other ways to save on energy costs:

2. Insulate your water heater and keep your water heater temperature lower than 120.
3. Don’t waste energy while cooking! Keep your oven closed when cooking, and use your toaster oven or microwave to heat smaller portions.
4. Change your furnace filter every month – especially during heating season.
5. Do full loads of laundry in your washing machine, or if you do a partial load, adjust the water level. Clean your dryer’s lint trap regularly (this is wise to prevent fires, too).
6. Close your drapes or window shades during the day.
7. Replace your showerhead with a low-flow showerhead – you can save 15,000 gallons of water a year! (If you are a Minnesota Energy Resources customer you can also get a free water conservation kit which includes a free showerhead!)
8. Install a ceiling fan. Reverse the fan direction in the winter to draw cold air up and force warm air down.
9. Switch to energy-saving lightbulbs.
10. Sign up for a home energy audit to find any energy leaks and identify other areas that could use improvement.

What other ways do you save money and energy in your home?

For more information: https://accel.minnesotaenergyresources.com/

Also check out this fun page for kids!

https://minnesotaenergyresources.e-smartkids.com/kids/

(Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.)

The roof on your house works hard to keep your home’s interior separate from the wild outdoors. It keeps you dry during rain and snow, gives you shade during sunny summer days, and prevents squirrels and other wildlife from becoming a part of your family unit. After decades of doing this, however, your roof needs to be replaced. In general, you should replace your roof every 30 to 40 years. If you know that your roof is approaching its 30th birthday, it’s the perfect time to start considering how you will pay for a new roof, which doesn’t come cheap. Let’s take a look at the most helpful tips for budgeting for a new roof for your house.

Know What Your New Roof Will Cost

The most important part of budgeting is knowing what amount of money you need to budget for. The average cost of a new roof can fall anywhere in the range of $5,000 to $10,000. Although these costs vary wildly, you can nail down the likely price of your roof by breaking the cost down into three categories. The first category is materials. The cost of your roof will depend on what types of shingles you use, protective coatings you add, and the underlayment and flashing you need. Asphalt shingles tend to be the most affordable option and the smaller your roof is, the less your materials will cost.

The second category is labor. You’ll have to pay skilled workers to remove your old roof and install the new one. With about 60% of the cost, labor will take up the majority of the budget for your new roof. The third category is disposal, as you will need to recycle or throw out your old roof materials once they’re removed.

By doing your homework on each of these categories and knowing the exact materials you will need to have installed, you can start conversations with contractors on an informed note. With these details in hand, you can keep estimates consistent and encourage competitive pricing between different contractors.

Ask for Free Estimates

The next step is to shop around for roofers. Get some recommendations from your friends and neighbors who have replaced their roofs recently and then ask a few of the roofing companies for free estimates. This will be where all of the homework you’ve done comes into play. You can let the roofers know the materials you would like to use and ask for their professional advice. Keep in mind that the estimates usually include labor and disposal costs, but it’s a good idea to clarify that with each roofer you speak with.

Before you commit to one roofer, get at least five estimates from different companies. This selection will allow you to choose a roofer who gives you a fair price and a high-quality job. Be wary of going with a company just because it has the lowest rate. Too often, low prices mean low-quality work. Remember to ensure that the roofer you choose offers a warranty on materials and installation and that they are properly licensed and insured before you sign any binding work contracts.

Save Up

Unless you need a new roof immediately, take the time you need to save up some money after you get the estimates. Break out the calculator and determine how much you need to save every month in order to afford the roof replacement. If you want to do the roof replacement in two or three years, you’ll likely need to save about $300 to $400 every month for the replacement. If you want it done faster, you’ll have to sock away more money. Examine your future expenses and cut out any of them that are unnecessary, such as expensive vacations or pricey electronics.

If you’re handy and have the proper equipment, you could ask your contractor if you can remove your old roof yourself. This would help cut down on the costs of the replacement, although it means that you’ll have to arrange and pay for the disposal of the old materials on your own. Consider what method of saving and cost-cutting works for your family and commit to a plan so that you can get a new roof over your heads.

Having your roof replaced is a big project that comes with a big price. By starting to plan for this major expense years in advance, you won’t need to empty your savings account to replace a crumbling roof at the last minute.

As the seasons change, it’s natural for families to need to make adjustments to their homes. We’re all familiar with the amount of work that goes into preparing a home for the winter. However, much of what is added to a home during the wintertime isn’t suitable as the weather begins to warm up.

It needs to be stripped away, and furthermore there needs to be preparations made to ensure that a home is ready for the summer. It’s important to remember that hot temperatures can be just as severe as cold weather, and in order to preserve your home against that severity you must be proactive. This is even more important for family homes, which tend to be larger and therefore more prone to problems if they aren’t prepared as they should be.

With all that being said, you won’t want to break the bank when preparing your home for hot weather. It’s all too easy to spend too much money on these types of alterations, and you really don’t have to. By saving money on prepping your home for hot weather, you’ll have more to spend on enjoying the summer when the time comes.

And you’ll certainly be better equipped to have a good time if you don’t have to endure sweltering temperatures! Let’s look into some of the more budget-friendly ways that you and your family can prepare your house for warmer weather.

1. Check Your Attic’s Insulation

Not every home has an attic, but those that do can potentially become hotter than those that don’t. Remember that attics are not only at the highest point of the home, where the temperature increases or decreases are often at their most noticeable. They also lack the kind of air conditioning systems set up in the rest of a house. This means that during the spring and summer they can build a heavy heat that is centralized in the attic, but can often affect the lower levels of the house, especially the one that is most directly below the attic itself.

The best way to prevent this from happening is to check your attic’s insulation twice a year. This would include once during the spring, and once during the fall. This way, the attic won’t release cool or hot air and compromise the rest of your home. Insulation is meant to seal in the attic, essentially. And as, on average, 40% of a home’s heat loss is due to an escape through the attic, this particular location should not be neglected. Ideally, checking the insulation will be easy and inexpensive, and staying on top of that will prevent you from losing money on energy costs.

2. Shop Locally And Act Early

Even before the weather fully or consistently heats up, you should be checking your home for any damage that may have occurred during the winter. So much of preparing your home for any seasonal change involves checking and maintaining, rather than making any dramatic changes.

Investing in maintenance doesn’t equal spending a lot of money. Rather than dropping a lot of money on tools online, try shopping locally. You don’t have to waste time driving from store to store. Just as 46% of Google users are searching out local information, you too can look up the right local store online and head there yourself. Buying locally is not only easier and more direct. It’s also often gentler on your wallet.

3. Consider Natural Products

Many of us have the idea that cleaning the house in preparation for warm weather requires using chemical cleaning products. There’s a misconception that a deep clean is impossible to achieve without harsh disinfectants. However, you can easily clean your house with more natural products, and you don’t have to spend a ridiculous amount of money to do so.

Keep in mind that not all organic products are overly expensive. Nonetheless, investing in more natural cleaning products is also investing in your health. Right now, the United States is the number one consumer of chemical products globally.

These products often have an adverse effect on the health of individuals. You can easily inhale harsh chemicals without intending to do so, without even recognizing the health issues they cause until years later. This is why some people choose to make their own natural cleaning products, often featuring ingredients like lemon juice. But if you can’t avoid using chemical products, make sure to keep your windows open while cleaning.

3. Avoid Rugs and Curtains

Now, whether due to your personal preferences or simply because of the type of home that you own, you may not be able to avoid rugs or curtains in general. However, it’s a good idea to avoid excessive fabric hangings. For one thing, you can often save money simply by skipping on these types of furnishings.

For another, you may actually end up spending more money in the long term on maintaining these types of fabric products. They can easily collect dust, pollen, and other allergens; and for that matter, of course, dirt. Not only will you simply spend less if you avoid these types of furnishings; there’s also a certain degree of convenience that comes with having a home that is brighter and cleaner, especially during the summer months.

4. Decorate With Shabby Chic In Mind

Of course, preparing your home for the summer months isn’t just about doing the practical preparation. You’ll also want your home to look summer-friendly! Embrace shopping at thrift stores, or even looking at roadside finds. You can save a lot of money by embracing the beachy, ever-popular shabby chic vibe.

Don’t feel like you have to spend a lot to create a beautiful, summer-ready home. Rather, explore your own vision! With the right amount of innovation, you’ll have your home looking exactly as you want it to look.

It’s New Year’s Eve and that means you only have one more day to finalize those resolutions for the new year.

Just kidding.

But if you’re stuck for inspiration, consider this piece your muse. Countless people hope to achieve New Year’s resolutions each year but many don’t know where to begin.

According to some news outlets, home-inspired resolutions are among the most popular (after losing weight or getting fit, of course). Many people hope to get more organized, spend more time with family and friends, and live life to the fullest. Luckily, these resolutions can be achieved without leaving the comfort of your home.

Here are some of the top ways you can achieve these resolutions by making small changes in your home.

Get More Organized

The home organization craze came to a head between 2018 and 2019 with Marie Kondo’s Netflix special. Her “KonMari” method inspired viewers to organize their home by getting rid of items that don’t spark joy in the owner. She also showed her audience folding tips, organization secrets, and tips on how to start the process.

This type of organizing is essential since over 62% of Americans own more than 10 t-shirts in their closet. Marie Kondo recommends taking each item within a category and assessing each one to see if it sparks joy. Even if there’s an old, ratty t-shirt in the mix, this item might still be worth keeping if it sparks joy because of sentimental purposes. All the items that do not spark joy can be tossed, recycled, or donated.

Getting more organized might also mean rearranging your home or finding new ways to use each corner of your home. That old, unused office might make the perfect nursery, but you’ll have to buy plenty of baby products and paint the room a different color. Luckily, hiring someone to paint the bedrooms of your home only costs between $400 and $600 on average. Establishing a unique feeling to each room of your home using paint and decor can help some homeowners feel more organized.

If you find that certain areas of your home are prone to collecting clutter, you can also look for storage solutions, including mail organizers and hanging shelves. Any nick-nacks or unused items can also be donated to reduce the amount of clutter in your home from the start. Hello, Marie Kondo.

Spend More Time with Loved Ones

Finding time to spend with loved ones is a different type of organization. Between work, errands, and taking care of your family, it might seem impossible to squeeze in a fun night out with your friends or extended family. Worse yet, traveling to distant destinations might be time you simply don’t have.

That’s where your home comes in. Many people are hesitant to invite people to their home because it isn’t the “hottest” spot for entertainment. But inviting people to your humble abode will not only save you time, but it will also save you money. Grab some cheap snacks from the store and rely on these tips to craft the perfect entertaining space.

Rearrange your space: Many people choose to situate their furniture in a way that suits their home’s layout. This might look great, but it isn’t always the most conducive for conversation. Try to angle couches toward each other, instead of toward the television. That way, you can actually talk to your guests instead of zoning out on the television.

Don’t forget your backyard: When the weather is nice, your outdoor features can be your saving grace. All you need are a few chairs and some outdoor lighting to make this a cozy getaway for your friends and family. You don’t need to become a top-tier gardener to impress your in-laws, either. Simply buying a few potted plants and keeping a green lawn is enough to impress any guest you invite over. Most lawns only require about one inch of watering each week while your potted plants can be brought inside to resist colder nights. Hang up some string lights or invest in a fire pit and you’ve got the perfect hangout spot all summer long.

Stock your kitchen: Stocking your kitchen refers to both food and your kitchen utensils. For a single person, the last thing you think of buying is large bowls, ample plates, and serving dishes. Once you’ve got the right ingredients for the perfect dish, make sure you can serve them to appease your guests. Buying a cheeseboard will look a lot better than serving your appetizers on a cutting board.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to go crazy buying new items for your home. Americans are already $9 trillion in mortgage debt. After all, the whole point of crafting an entertaining home is to spend time with loved ones and save money and time in the process.

Live Life to the Fullest

Of course, this New Year’s resolution will look different for everyone. Some people might find increased levels of happiness from hitting the ski slopes while others will finally book a ticket across the pond. But as a whole, living life to the fullest means appreciating each day and doing the things you want to do with the people you care about.

For some people, that means trying new things, like getting a new hobby. With so many new gadgets, like drones, entering the market each day, there are ample opportunities to try something new. Others will simply be happy with becoming a more adventurous eater. If you’ve been eyeing that new restaurant that just opened, now is the perfect time to give it a try.

For others, that might even mean getting a new job or transforming the way that they do work. If you feel guilty leaving your pet at home each day, working from home might be the right answer. In fact, up to 50% of employees throughout the world will work outside of the office a few times per week. What once seemed like a pipe dream is becoming all the more common in office settings.

If you’re stuck thinking of ways to live your life to the fullest, you can always rely on other people for inspiration. There are plenty of inspiring books designed to encourage self-improvement: Eat, Pray, Love, Predictably Irrational, and Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It are three books to get you started.

What would help you live your life to the fullest? Consider these tips to help you craft the perfect New Year’s resolutions for 2020. Whether that means investing in Invisalign, hitting the gym, or improving your home, any goal is admirable as long as you’re bettering yourself in the process.

When it comes to saving money around your home, your plumbing system might be the last thing that comes to mind. But you can end up saving a lot of money in the long run by serving your plumbing system regularly and reducing your risk of needing major repairs.

Here are a few simple tips you can use to help save money around your home by keeping your plumbing system in good working order.

Schedule your annual plumbing maintenance

Plumbing systems need maintenance just like any other part of your home. It’s important that you have your system inspected and serviced at least once a year to avoid major problems like clogs, leaks, and rust.

Undetected leaks that continue throughout the year can end up costing you $164.50 in those 12 months. What’s more, those leaks can lead to water damage.

Water damage is expensive to repair and it can have a major impact on your home. For instance, wood can last for hundreds of years without wear or rot with proper care. But water damage can cause wood to rot, weaken, and fall apart.

Every day, approximately 14,000 people experience a water damage emergency at home or at work. By having your plumbing system serviced annually, you can avoid becoming one of them.

Be careful about what you pour down the drain

Many homeowners who have a garbage disposal believe they can send anything from their plates down the drain to save room in their garbage cans. But that’s not true.

Even with a hard-working garbage disposal, there are some foods that you should never pour down your drain. Pasta, which can be cooked in over 100 shapes, is one of those foods because it expands and sticks together when kept in water. Other foods you want to avoid pouring down the drain include:

• Coffee grounds
• Gravy
• Butter or margarine
• Mayonnaise
• Sauces
• Salad dressings
• Cooking oil
• Egg shells
• Asparagus
• Celery
• Fruit pits
• Flour
• Chia seeds
• Rice
• Bones (including chicken and fish)

By avoiding pouring these foods and cooking oils down the drain, you can reduce your risk of clogs forming in your plumbing system, which can be expensive to remove depending on the size.

Do a DIY audit on your plumbing system

Although it’s recommended to have your plumbing system serviced once a year, you can reduce your risk of plumbing problems by inspecting your plumbing throughout the year yourself. Walk around inside and outside your home checking for leaks, blocked drainage, or debris.

Listen for sounds coming from your drains or your plumbing that you’ve never heard before. You might be able to pick out small issues that can be taken care of much easier than larger problems. Determine whether you can fix the problem yourself before you call in a professional.

You can also save money by having a professional come to inspect your plumbing system when you’re already working on a renovation project. Minor kitchen remodels have an average ROI of 82.7%. But you can get an even higher ROI by making plumbing repairs at the same time as the remodel and hitting two birds with one stone.

It’s important to take proper care of your home’s plumbing system to avoid having to make costly repairs later on. By inspecting your system regularly, maintaining it, and fixing leaks, you can save money on water and reduce your risk of expensive issues later down the road.

Winter is just around the corner, and while the weather might soon be frightful, there’s plenty of time to make your yard delightful. Taking care of your backyard before winter hits is important to getting your yard set up to thrive in the spring, especially if you’re planning on starting a garden. Use these tips as a starting point to fix up your backyard in time for the start of winter weather.

Fix Up Your Shed

Many homes will have a garden shed or garage as part of their yard, and this space can be incredibly useful. However, just like any other fixture in your home, it’s going to require maintenance if you want it to last long. A wooden shed should last at least 15 to 20 years, but it could begin to show signs of age before then if you don’t care for it properly. Be especially careful about your shed’s roof, as this tends to wear down fairly quickly. A typical metal roof will last about three to seven times longer than a typical asphalt shingles roof, so it may be worth looking into for your yard’s shed.

Prepare Your Patio

If you have a porch or patio, you’ll need to get it ready for the oncoming winter weather. While most patios and decks are built to withstand harsh weather, a bit of extra weather-proofing never hurt anyone before a big winter storm. Make sure any stain or surface-treatment options you use for your patio are weatherproof and ready to withstand low temperatures and high humidity. The better you care for your patio or deck now, the longer it’ll last without major repairs.

Check On Overhanging Roofs

If you’ve got a patio or deck, it’s not just the floor material itself you have to worry about. Be sure to look up when you’re working on repairs for your deck or patio – any roof overhang should also be maintained and taken care of. Your roofing can make a surprisingly huge difference for your home, including on your home costs. Simply choosing the right roofing material could result in as much as a 30% decrease in your home’s energy needs. While you’re tackling deck and patio maintenance, take a look at your roof too to make sure it’s in good condition for when snowstorms hit.

Watch Water Usage

While you might not be too concerned about watering your plants in the winter, you should still pay attention to your backyard hoses and water systems. Without the right preparation, your hoses and pipes could freeze, damaging your home’s plumbing. Shorter hoses are generally more efficient for backyards and will reduce the risk of damage due to freezing plumbing. For green landscaping, it is often best to use a soaker hose no more than 100 feet long. Additionally, make sure you shut off any automatic sprinkler systems you have in your yard before the temperatures drop below freezing. Otherwise, you’ll likely have issues with freezing or even burst pipes.

There are only a few weeks left of fall, but that’s still plenty of time to protect your yard against winter weather issues and damage. Use these steps as a starting point for taking care of your yard in the coming weeks. What maintenance tips would you give to other homeowners? What do you still need to take care of before the first major winter storms hit?