How to Save Money With These Simple Yet Effective Home Upgrades
Home upgrades and improvements are crucial at some point in your life as a homeowner. Old furniture and appliances get damaged, flooring and windows need to be changed.
Renovating your home does not always have to include tons of money. If you’re willing to dedicate some time to do certain home improvements, you can increase the value of your property and keep money in your bank account at the same time.
1) Add Eco-friendly insulation flooring
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If you want a soft, warm and easy-to-clean surface, choose cork flooring. The material is acquired by stripping the outer bark from the Quercus suber (more commonly known as the cork oak).
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This is not harming the tree, as it can be done to a particular tree every 9 years. The cork oaks live for up to 200 years.
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Cork pieces are cured, pressed and boiled, and scraps are collected for reuse so nothing is wasted. Cork can be used in almost any room of your home.
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It’s fire-resistant, long lasting and naturally impervious to mold and termites. Cork flooring does not negatively affect the indoor air quality. It’s also a natural thermal and sound insulator, which makes the room naturally warm and quiet.
It’s a great addition to your home; the beautiful, natural brown colors can complement every interior design.
2) Install a ceiling fan
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In the warmer months, ceiling fans cool the room by creating breezes which improves the air condition; this way you can reduce the need for using air conditioners.
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In the cooler months, ceiling fans circulate the hot air around the room and keep it warm for a longer time. Ceiling fans are not only energy-efficient, but, are also a great addition to your home decor as they come in wide range of colors and styles.
3) Replace old windows with bigger ones
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If your old windows need to be changed, why not consider replacing them with bigger ones? Let the natural sunlight into your room.
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This way, you will save money on lighting costs and your room will appear cozier and brighter. The sunlight will warm up the room inside in the transitioning seasons when it’s not too cold, like in spring and autumn.
4) Install shutter blinds
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Installing shutter blinds will instantly improve the look of your house. There are interior and exterior types to fit your personal needs.
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These blinds are easy to install and give you the benefit of controlling when to open or close, so they can provide you with privacy and insulation.
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Closing them during the hot summer days will save you from the cooling bills since it will prevent the UV light flowing in your home.
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Exterior blinds can decrease the heat loss during the cold winter months; these blinds can be great insulation and addition to your interior design.
5) Re purpose old items & furniture
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Don’t hurry to toss out the items you no longer need. Doesn’t matter if it’s an old jar, chair or a wooden shelf; there are plenty of DIY projects out there you can find inspiration from.
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So don’t rush to throw out the plant pot, light bulbs or the broken cabinet door, instead find an idea online to make your home unique and save some cash. I love this collection with great ideas from Apartment Therapy where you can find what to do with old jars, how to repurpose storage boxes and much more.
6) Install This Grade A “Healing Water”
Installing Kangen water in your sink can save you a great deal of money every day. This is a great way to save the environment – if you stop buying plastic water bottles you will save tons of plastic as well as your money and your health will improve.
7) Install dishwasher
A study shows that an automatic dishwasher uses less water than humans washing up in the sink with soap and water.
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Modern dishwashers use an extensive setup of filters and pumps that reuse water during the whole cleaning process; they use clean water at the first and the final rinse of the dishes.
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The water is heated for maximum cleaning effect. If you install one in your kitchen you will save money on your water bill and you’ll save time. Let’s be honest, nobody likes to wash dishes every night, so why not consider buying a dishwasher and saving your time for more pleasant activities?
8) Fix dripping faucets
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Broken faucets waste water and cost a lot of money; check for leaking outlets in your bathroom and kitchen regularly to be sure you’re not wasting resources.
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Whilst you’re listening to the drops dripping down, you’re wasting water and money. If you can’t do it yourself, call a plumber, but be sure to fix that dripping tap.
9) Upgrade the light bulbs
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Switch to energy-efficient lighting to brighten your home using the same amount of light for less money.
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You can change the light bulbs in your home to energy-efficient ones to save money as traditional lighting uses a lot of energy to produce light.
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jNeedless to say, the yellow light is not good for your health as well. You have many choices in using white lighting, which is also saving energy.
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The most popular are fluorescent lamps and light-emitting diodes (LED). They may be more expensive, but in long-term, save a lot more money than the regular ones.
10) Cut the clothes dryer
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You can use a folding drying rack or a clothesline instead of the electric dryer to save electricity and money.
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Hanging indoors can also be a great way to add humidity to the room in the winter when the air is dry and cold.
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Most of these projects are easy enough to do on your own. If you’re not sure whether you have the right skills, you can always call a professional company to do the jobs on your behalf.
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Knowing when to cut money and when to purchase more expensive and qualitative appliances is crucial for your home.
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Do you have some tips on how you can save from electricity and improve your home at the same time? Share them in the comments below!
Eva Bowker
I am a passionate illustrator and writer. I love reading and writing. I live with my husband and with my beautiful cat. I have hot chocolate and dark coffee in my system.
