Every Penny Counts: Things You Can Do in Your Home to Help with Inflation

It is no secret, inflation is the highest it's been in a long time. No matter what your financial status is, every penny counts. We'll share a couple tips for your home that can help save money and take the sting out of this inflation. Some of these tips may also help improve home values.

Stay Home More

Create an enjoyable oasis in your home. Cook at home instead of going out. Consider making some small changes to your kitchen so it’s more convenient to cook family meals in. Add to your island if there is space. Add more shelving or a pantry if there is any unused space in your kitchen. Buy a larger refrigerator/freezer or a second refrigerator or freezer for your garage or basement. Schedule more family game nights or family movie nights instead of going out and spending money on entertainment. Get outside and spend more time in your backyard. Many families are creating incredible backyards with activities for every member of the family. Examples are playsets for the kids, a putting green for the golfer in the family, a yoga area for exercise and meditation, or a pool for the entire family. While you’re spending more time outside, plant a garden with fruits and vegetables. This will help save on grocery bills, be healthier and can be an activity the whole family can take part in.

Set Your Thermostat to Save Money

Set your thermostat a couple degrees warmer in the summer months and a couple degrees cooler in the winter months. This will help save money on energy bills. Don't forget to change your furnace filter. A clean filter will improve the efficacy of your heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system.

Solar Panels

Another big money saving improvement to your home may be installing solar panels. If you live in an area that gets enough sun, it could save you almost your entire electricity bill. Even if you live in an area that doesn’t get sun all the time, you’ll still save. There's a recent article about solar panels and money savings on nerdwallet.com, What Do Solar Panels Cost and Are They Worth It?, which will help you decide if solar panels will save you money in the long run. People who add solar panels to their homes will also increase their home values.

Room Darkening Blinds and UV Window Coatings

Simply adding room darkening blinds can keep unwanted heat from entering your home in the summer and unwanted cold from entering your home in the winter. Consider adding UV film to your windows if you live in a hot climate as well. These small steps will save you money on your energy bills.

Install a Plug for an Electrical Car and Consider Getting One

With gas prices as high as they are, it may behoove you to consider purchasing an electric vehicle. Even though they are more expensive, they may pay off in the long run because you won’t be purchasing as much high-priced gas. You’ll also need to install an electric car plug in your garage. This is the future norm. More and more homebuyers will be looking for homes with electric car plugs already installed in them.