Save Money on Practically Everything, 2011: Utilities and Home Improvement
Don't pay for dozens of TV channels you don't watch.
Cable basics
Drop the pricey packages.
Don't pay for dozens of TV channels you don't watch. Go basic and save big. Although cable packages and prices vary by region, most providers offer a bare-bones plan. Verizon's FiOS TV Local Digital, for instance, delivers local channels for $13 a month. And rather than pay for premium channels, sign up for Netflix's streaming service. For $8 a month, you can watch unlimited movies and TV shows (albeit not always the latest offerings) via your home Internet connection.
ANNUAL SAVINGS: $648 (basic cable plus Netflix versus average digital cable bill of $75 a month)
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Energy wizard
Shrink your utility bills in ways big and small.
Energy costs -- which average $1,900 annually -- are a budget buster for many U.S. households. In Ithaca, N.Y., Jon Harrod, president of Snug Planet, an energy-auditing and retrofit firm, says these ideas can save big.
Quick payback. Start with the easy changes that cost nothing. These include switching off lights and electronics when not in use and turning down the thermostat (or properly setting your programmable thermostat). Put compact fluorescent light bulbs in your five most-used light fixtures, and swap out your showerhead for a next-gen, very-low-flow model. (More suggestions at www.energystar.gov and www.energysavers.gov.)
SAVINGS: $454.
Long-term payback. Replace an older refrigerator with a new one (you'll save $100 on energy annually by replacing a 20-year-old fridge with a new, Energy Star-rated one). If you're doing lots of laundry, replace an older washer (save $135 a year when you retire one that's at least ten years old).
SAVINGS: $235.
Air leakage through the exterior shell and interior ductwork is a big issue. Also, attics, basements and crawl spaces often lack sufficient insulation. Sealing your home's gaps and adding insulation may cost in the range of $2,500, says Harrod, but these measures can cut heating and cooling bills 20% to 50%.
SAVINGS: $300.
TOTAL ANNUAL SAVINGS: $989
Get fit at home
Set up your own gym.
The average gym membership will set you back $40 to $70 per month. With a budget of about $1,500, it's easy to build a state-of-the-art gym at home.
For cardio, pick up an elliptical machine, such as the Schwinn 420 Elliptical ($600). And for strength training, get a total-body machine, such as a Classic Bowflex ($650). Fill out the rest of your gym with resistance bands (three for $30), a stability ball ($40) and a few sets of dumbbells ($50).
ANNUAL SAVINGS: $600 (savings on a $50-a-month gym membership after initial investment)
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
-
Five Common Credit Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistakes are an often inevitable fact of life, but knowledge truly is power when it comes to financial wellness.
By Rod Griffin Published
-
Should You Change Your Estate Plan Before the Election?
You might need to modify your estate plan before the election — or at least before a new administration.
By Tom Taulli Published
-
403(b) Contribution Limits for 2024: Good News for Teachers
retirement plans Teachers and nonprofit workers can contribute more to a 403(b) retirement plan in 2024 than they could in 2023.
By Jackie Stewart Last updated
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2024
Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up for 2024. Here's what you need to know.
By Jackie Stewart Last updated
-
How to Find Foreclosed Homes: Best Foreclosure Listings Sites
Making Your Money Last Find foreclosed homes for sale on these foreclosure listing websites. Search for properties on these free, paid or government sites.
By Bob Niedt Last updated
-
Luxury Home Prices Rise as the Rich Dodge High Mortgage Rates
Luxury home prices rose 9% to the highest third-quarter level on record, Redfin reports, growing nearly three times faster than non-luxury prices.
By Kathryn Pomroy Published
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb
real estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
By Miriam Cross Published
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute Vacation
Travel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
By Vaishali Varu Last updated
-
How to Figure Out How Much Life Insurance You Need
insurance Instead of relying on rules of thumb, you’re better off taking a systematic approach to figuring your life insurance needs.
By Kimberly Lankford Last updated
-
Amazon Big Deal Days Is Coming! We’ve Got All the Details
Amazon Prime To kick off the holiday season with a bang, Amazon Big Deal Days runs Tuesday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 9. Here’s what to expect.
By Bob Niedt Last updated