5 Painless Ways to cut household bills

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Family / Money Saving Tips / 5 Painless Ways to Cut Household Bills
5 Painless Ways to Cut Household Bills
See how to save some money without feeling the pinch
By Arianne Cohen Posted July 09, 2009 from Woman's Day; August 4, 2009
5 Painless Ways to Cut Household Bills



Trimming your household expenses doesn't have to mean doing without the things you need most. We found five easy ways to save money without suffering.

1. <span style="font-weight: bold">Skip the paper towels</span>. There’s almost nothing that a paper towel cleans that can’t be done well with a <span style="font-weight: bold">dishrag</span>; just toss it in the wash afterward. Savings: $60 per year

2. Brew smart. Buy tea and coffee loose (not in pods), and try using a third less. Packaging often overstates how much you really need. Savings: $100 per year <span style="color: #990000">yes brew the old fashioned way </span>

3. Close your closet doors. If they’re open, you’re paying to cool your closets—which keeps your air conditioner chugging more. Savings: $30 per summer <span style="color: #990000">if the closet is full how can air get in there to heat or cool off anyting? </span>

4. Cancel garbage pickup. Instead, drive your trash and recycling to the dump. Take turns with a neighbor, so one of you goes every few days. Savings: $300–$450 per year <span style="color: #990000">it is paid with the taxes so no savings here and besides who wants to literally fill up dem cyar wid garbage pon a regular?</span>

5. Simplify your beauty routine. Try using just shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, face lotion and a hairstyling product. Savings: $100 per year

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Re: 5 Painless Ways to cut household bills

Penny Pinching around the house

<span style="font-weight: bold">Laundry -</span> Wash in cold water whenever possible. Laundry detergents today work just as well in cold or hot. Running the water heater less saves quite a few pennies.

Save even more pennies by using less detergent. I know, the label says use a full cup; but I use only half a cup and my clothes come out clean.

• Change brands of your detergent frequently. Why? It can build up in your clothes and cause them to dull. A different detergent will wash out the last one.

• Buy the least expensive brands, your clothes or your washing machine won’t know the difference.

• Don’t buy brand name additives; pick up a box of good old borax. It is inexpensive and does the same job that Borateem will do. Don’t buy Clorox, head for the dollar store or Big Lots and pick up their brand, same product, much cheaper.


<span style="font-weight: bold">DRYER CLOTHS</span>
Save up to 50% per month on dryer cloths by cutting them into half, when they don’t work in the dryer anymore use them as dust cloths around the house, and then throw them away.

• If you have a swiffer sweeper, used dryer cloths can be put on it, to dust the floors through out the house.

• Be sure to check your filter on the dryer, by using dryer sheets constantly, it causes a build up on the mesh and air can’t circulate properly. This can be potentially dangerous and could cause a house fire. It can be cleaned off with dish detergent and water.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Window Cleaner </span>

Run out of Windex? In the first place don’t buy it, it is too expensive. Buy store brands or head for the dollar store or Big Lots. Much cheaper.

If you already did your shopping and forgot to add it to your list. Make your own. A little water and some white vinegar will do the trick; after all, you still have the spray bottle.

To clean those mirrors and windows through the house, use your newspaper, works wonders and a lot cheaper than paper towels.