It’s a little strange to wrap your head around the idea that living can be expensive. While it doesn’t cost anything to wake up and take a breath, the cost of all the little things that go into making that breath possible—food, shelter, and clothing—can accumulate quickly. While this can be difficult to manage, it is possible to find ways to reduce your cost of living to make budgeting easier to navigate.
Rethink Transportation
Between gas money, car payments, and repairs, the price of transportation can grow steep, making it difficult to get to work. One of the simplest ways to reduce these costs is to avoid them completely. If you live close enough to your work, walking or riding a bike brings your transportation costs close to zero. Or try to take advantage of public transportation to avoid paying for parking and car maintenance.
If you live in an area where public transportation is unavailable, there are still methods for reducing your cost of living in this area. You can elect to carpool, which will cut back on gas expenses. If this isn’t possible, try finding ways to reduce wear and tear on your vehicle to reduce the amount you pay for maintenance and fuel. You can also reexamine your insurance policy to see if there are less-costly options.
Save on Energy
One of the highest bills homeowners tends to be their energy bill, especially during cold weather. However, because there are so many factors that go into one’s energy bill, there are plenty of ways to bring it down. Here are a few options:
- Lower the temperature on the water heater
- Seal cracks in walls and windows
- Turn down the thermostat
- Change furnace filters
- Wash the dishes in the dishwasher but skip the heat dry in favor of air drying
- Replace lightbulbs with LED lights
- Use cold water for laundry
Examine Your Shopping Habits
In the hustle and bustle of the week, we often end up choosing a grocery store based on convenience. But if you do some research, you may find that there are cheaper grocery options than Walmart for staples. Also, when you go to the store, make it a priority to stick to your shopping list whenever possible. If you have the option to buy groceries online that you go and pick up, it may eliminate the temptation to stray from the list and the budget.
