New homeowners often find themselves absolutely shocked when it comes to how money time, energy and money is required to keep up with the responsibilities of a new house. From little repairs and improvements to insurance and utility bills, it’s natural to become overwhelmed in the face of these seemingly hidden costs.
Fortunately, there are plenty of steps you can take to start beefing up your home budget and stop sweating the small stuff when it comes to your house’s upkeep.
But where do you start?
Do Your Work from Home
Now, there’s two approaches you can take when it comes to working from home.
The most extreme option involves quite literally quitting your day gig and enjoying the benefits of being a stay-at-home solopreneur. Between having no commute and being able to transform your house into your personal office, working remotely often seems like a dream come true for many homeowners.
That being said, doing so is often unrealistic.
The more actionable way to make money from home is through having a side gig or investing with some of your disposable income. For example, the Tim Sykes Challenge team uses penny stocks as means of turning chump change in thousands of dollars per month. Supplementing your income with side jobs and smart investments can help keep extra money in your pocket in the case of home emergencies without eating up all of your time and energy.
Adopt the DIY Lifestyle
Rather than paying a neighborhood kid to mow your lawn or hiring a professional to do small repairs on your home, why not take on such challenges yourself? Although learning the in’s and out’s of home repair may involve a learning curve and take some time out of your day, consider how much money you could potentially save.
If you have a knack for home projects you could turn your skills as a handyman into a side gig in and of itself. Likewise, smart home makeover projects such as installing windows or painting your home could actually increase the value of your home when it comes time to sell.
Be More Conscious of Your Energy Bill
This seemingly simple tip involves mindfulness in regard to your utility bill. While it may be seem obvious to monitor your energy expenditures, make it goal to take shorter showers, leave the lights off when you aren’t using them and overall ensure that your home is energy efficient.
For example, if you live in a warm climate you may literally be leaking dollars and cents if your home has poor insulation. When you pay attention to your monthly energy costs, you’re more likely to lock down areas of your home which may be unnecessarily cutting into your budget.
Rethink Your Food Budget
Finally, one of the biggest hidden costs of our day-to-day lives comes in the form of food. Although there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself and your family to the occasional meal, the cost of eating out can quickly add up. Instead, consider cooking more cost-effective bulk meals at home which represents a win-win situation as you spend more time with your family and keep your food budget under control.
Cutting costs in your day-to-day life doesn’t mean being a millionaire, but rather understanding what you can do at home to keep your budget in check. The aforementioned tips represent the perfect starting point to keeping more money on hand and ensuring that you’re comfortable at home.