4 Ways to Save Some Cash on Household Mainstays
Wednesday, January 25, 2017, 6:00 PM | Leave Comment
The basic items that you need for your home on a regular basis can add up quickly at the store.
From toilet paper to batteries, you could easily spend a considerable amount of money on these household mainstays.
These tips will help you to save some cash on basics for your home.
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Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk is a simple tool for cutting costs on the household items that you use the most.
It is important to know your usage before making a bulk purchase, and you will need space to store your bulk items.
Once you know what type of toilet paper, detergent or floor cleaner you like, purchase the largest size.
Bulk sizes often have the lowest price per ounce or per foot of the product. Bulk products also have less packaging.
Consider making your bulk purchases from a warehouse or ordering online through a subscription service to save even more.
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Make Your Own
Many household mainstays can be made with basic ingredients.
For example, you can make your own floor polish with equal parts of white vinegar and vegetable oil. Just mix them in a spray bottle and use as needed on scuff marks.
The raw ingredients for many basic cleaners cost less than purchasing commercially prepared products, and they are often safer and environmentally friendly.
Consider reusable products, such as microfiber cloths for cleaning.
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Plumbing
The plumbing system is one of the most critical and heavily used aspects of your house. You can save money on your plumbing system by taking care about what goes down the sink.
For instance, a Heber City, Utah plumber knows that using drain guards to collect hair in the shower is a great way to start.
Kitchen sink strainers prevent food debris from going down the drain, which can save you on a pricey repair with the plumber.
Regularly cleaning your drains with equal parts of white vinegar and baking soda, allowing the mixture to bubble for 30 minutes and then rinsing it with hot water for five minutes prevents drain obstructions.
Installing an aerator or low-flow fixture helps to reduce water consumption on faucets and shower heads.
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Seek Discounts
While you can still clip coupons, digital discounts offer an efficient way to save money.
Use free smartphone apps to get discounts on basics such as dish soap and batteries.
Store offers change, but you can digitally “clip” those coupons or scan products with your phone’s camera and see if there is an offer.
Digital rebate programs allow you to upload photos of your receipts and get a cash deposit into your account.
According to the Money Crashers website, you could save 80 percent or more on household basics by combining coupons, sales and rebate offers.
If a store is out of what you need, ask for a discount on a similar product. Look for cash back programs or programs that award points for purchases.
Online programs often allow you to redeem your points for gift cards to popular retailers.
Look for discounts on gift cards at bricks-and-mortar stores. Many stores offer fuel points on gift card purchases. You could buy a discounted gift card to a store where you planned on shopping at anyway for your household supplies and then save again on your tank of gasoline.
Saving money on household basics does not have to take a lot of time or energy. Discounts, bulk purchases and decreasing product usage can all help you to save.
You can even implement these automatically, such as signing up for subscription deliveries of paper towels and dishwasher detergent so that you do not have to think too much before every purchase of supplies for your home.
Employ one or all of these strategies for considerable savings.
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Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on twitter and Facebook.