Tips To Save On Household Expenses
Most of us may know that the cost of running a household keeps increasing. Daily expenses such as food and utilities may be taking a larger portion of our income each month. On the road to financial freedom learning how to save on everyday expenses makes a huge difference. Here are a couple of tips to help yoou save toward your debt settlement.
Food
Stay At Home
Allrecipes, a leading site for recipes, recently completed its Annual Food Trend Forecast. Results indicated that 80 percent of respondents plan to cook at home more in the upcoming year to help manage their food budgets. Also, 61 percent of respondents reported that they dined out much less during the past year.
Spend $3 Per Day On Food
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the typical American family spends 15-20% of their household budget on food. Grocery Outlet, a grocery store based in the western part of the U.S, developed the \”$3-a-Day Program,\” which helps families save money with a weekly eating plan for $3 per person per day. Even if you do not have one of these store chains in your local area, you can visit their web site at www.groceryoutlets.com and download the 8-page brochure: \”Feeding Your Family on $3-A-Day.\” This publication includes recipes for inexpensive meals and a weekly shopping list.
Coupons May Help You Save Money
According to a recent poll conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, shoppers who use coupons and store-loyalty cards save over 10 percent a year on groceries, the equivalent of $678 a year. Coupons may help you to reduce your grocery bill, as long you remember to use coupons only for items that you will use. The Consumer Reports survey also indicated that 73 percent of the participants find coupons in the weekly newspaper. Finding coupons online is also becoming a common practice. You may also consider swapping coupons with friends and neighbors to find the ones that you need.
Energy
Wash Clothes In Cold Water
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, clothing washers and dryers may account for more than six percent of your annual energy bill. The Alliance recommends that consumers do full loads of laundry to avoid wasting water and clean dryer lint after every load to improve air circulation and quicken drying.
View Energy Tips Online
Last fall, the Department of Energy launched the web site www.energysavers.gov to help consumers be more energy efficient and save on energy costs. This site offers easy energy saving tips, financial assistance links, long-term solutions, and a blog covering energy topics. Visitors to the site can also download an energy saving to-do list and other materials.
Take Advantage Of Tax Credits
As part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, energy efficiency tax credits will allow homeowners to lower their monthly home energy bills and their federal income taxes in 2009. Taxpayers have the opportunity to use tax credit up to $500 to make specific energy efficient home improvements to their insulation, exterior windows, furnace, air conditioner units, and much more.
Miscellaneous
Fix It
According to a recent survey from the Part Store, an online retailer that sells replacement parts for household appliances and electronics, 82 percent of consumers are more likely to repair a product rather than replace it in order to save money in this rough economy. Visit www.partstore.com to see if this site can save you money.
Senate Extends DTV Date
The United States Senate recently approved legislation to shift the nation\’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. This decision was made in order to better educate consumers about the transition and give households an opportunity to utilize the converter-box coupon program. Consumers with expired coupons may apply for new replacement coupons at 1-888-DTV-2009.
New Web Site Helps Keep Consumers Secure Online
The new site: www.JustAskGemalto.com is a place where people can go for advice on topics such as Internet security, online payments, password management, credit card fraud, and identity theft. As the use of digital technology broadens, consumers have a role in safeguarding their identity more than ever. This site is set up in a user-friendly question and answer format. You can find helpful answers to questions such as \”What is the safest way to pay online?\” or \”What are common ways identity theft occurs?\”
Food
Stay At Home
Allrecipes, a leading site for recipes, recently completed its Annual Food Trend Forecast. Results indicated that 80 percent of respondents plan to cook at home more in the upcoming year to help manage their food budgets. Also, 61 percent of respondents reported that they dined out much less during the past year.
Spend $3 Per Day On Food
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the typical American family spends 15-20% of their household budget on food. Grocery Outlet, a grocery store based in the western part of the U.S, developed the \”$3-a-Day Program,\” which helps families save money with a weekly eating plan for $3 per person per day. Even if you do not have one of these store chains in your local area, you can visit their web site at www.groceryoutlets.com and download the 8-page brochure: \”Feeding Your Family on $3-A-Day.\” This publication includes recipes for inexpensive meals and a weekly shopping list.
Coupons May Help You Save Money
According to a recent poll conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, shoppers who use coupons and store-loyalty cards save over 10 percent a year on groceries, the equivalent of $678 a year. Coupons may help you to reduce your grocery bill, as long you remember to use coupons only for items that you will use. The Consumer Reports survey also indicated that 73 percent of the participants find coupons in the weekly newspaper. Finding coupons online is also becoming a common practice. You may also consider swapping coupons with friends and neighbors to find the ones that you need.
Energy
Wash Clothes In Cold Water
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, clothing washers and dryers may account for more than six percent of your annual energy bill. The Alliance recommends that consumers do full loads of laundry to avoid wasting water and clean dryer lint after every load to improve air circulation and quicken drying.
View Energy Tips Online
Last fall, the Department of Energy launched the web site www.energysavers.gov to help consumers be more energy efficient and save on energy costs. This site offers easy energy saving tips, financial assistance links, long-term solutions, and a blog covering energy topics. Visitors to the site can also download an energy saving to-do list and other materials.
Take Advantage Of Tax Credits
As part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, energy efficiency tax credits will allow homeowners to lower their monthly home energy bills and their federal income taxes in 2009. Taxpayers have the opportunity to use tax credit up to $500 to make specific energy efficient home improvements to their insulation, exterior windows, furnace, air conditioner units, and much more.
Miscellaneous
Fix It
According to a recent survey from the Part Store, an online retailer that sells replacement parts for household appliances and electronics, 82 percent of consumers are more likely to repair a product rather than replace it in order to save money in this rough economy. Visit www.partstore.com to see if this site can save you money.
Senate Extends DTV Date
The United States Senate recently approved legislation to shift the nation\’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. This decision was made in order to better educate consumers about the transition and give households an opportunity to utilize the converter-box coupon program. Consumers with expired coupons may apply for new replacement coupons at 1-888-DTV-2009.
New Web Site Helps Keep Consumers Secure Online
The new site: www.JustAskGemalto.com is a place where people can go for advice on topics such as Internet security, online payments, password management, credit card fraud, and identity theft. As the use of digital technology broadens, consumers have a role in safeguarding their identity more than ever. This site is set up in a user-friendly question and answer format. You can find helpful answers to questions such as \”What is the safest way to pay online?\” or \”What are common ways identity theft occurs?\”
Leave a Reply
