365 Ways to Live Cheap (20 page)
Run all sinks, toilets, baths, and showers to ensure no problems (mostly just the ones not used frequently)
Check the gauge on all fire extinguishers and replace if needed
Use a pipe cleaner and baking soda to clean all drains
Check all gutters for blockage and clean as needed (bird’s nests, leaves, and so on)
Check all visible pipes for leaks (don’t forget under sinks)
Check and clean refrigerator and freezer coils (once every six months is sufficient)
Check all caulking and repair as needed
241. L
EARN
H
OW TO
D
O
S
IMPLE
H
OME
M
AINTENANCE
T
ASKS
There are countless little tasks around your home that you can do yourself instead of hiring an expensive handyman to take care of them, such as installing a ceiling fan or fixing a faulty light switch. Pick up a general book on home repairs and when a minor issue develops at your home, such as a backed-up drain or a leaky faucet, try repairing the issue yourself using this guide. Most of the time, the fix is incredibly simple and doing it yourself is quick and easy, saving yourself the cost of having a repairman come in and fix it.
242. D
ON
’T O
VERSPEND ON A
L
AWN
M
OWER OR
O
THER
H
OME
M
AINTENANCE
E
QUIPMENT
When you first move into a home, particularly for the first time, you’ll be hit with many obvious home and lawn maintenance tasks that need to be handled. Your first tendency will be to go to the local hardware store and pick up equipment to handle the task, but that would not be a cost-effective plan. Instead, hit yard sales and look for this equipment on the cheap. Many people upgrade to riding mowers while push mowers still do the job and will get rid of their older push mower for just a few dollars. If you can get just a year or two of use out of such an old mower, you’re ahead, and then you can upgrade your mower on your own terms with proper research to find the best deal. The same policy is true for other maintenance equipment, like weed removers and leaf blowers. Look for them used for your first purchase and upgrade later on when you can do adequate research and get the best bang for the buck.
243. B
UILD
R
ELATIONSHIPS WITH
Y
OUR
N
EIGHBORS
Put in time and effort to build a relationship with the people who live around you, and the relationship will pay off in many ways. A good neighbor will lend you stuff in a pinch, keep an eye on your property when you’re traveling, and help you out when you need a hand. If you put effort into cultivating that relationship by being friendly and taking the initiative to do those little things for your neighbor, you will almost always be repaid in kind, and little things like that can subtly save you time, money, and worry over and over again.
244. C
ONSIDER
B
UILDING
Y
OURSELF
A more intense option for people who are looking to upgrade their living space with an eye toward the bottom dollar is to build your home entirely yourself, starting with just a piece of land. In effect, you would serve as your own general contractor, doing the pieces of work that you’re most comfortable with and paying others to do the pieces that you’re less confident about. This is a huge cost-saver for anyone who is into home repair and doing things themselves. If this is intriguing to you, visit the library and look for books on building your own home. There are many resources available to help get you started on this big project.
245. C
ONSIDER AN
A
LTERNATIVE
L
IVING
S
ITUATION
If you’re looking to own your own home but simply don’t have enough money to do it, consider an alternative living situation. Offer to split costs with close relatives, such as siblings or parents, and have them share the house with you. Consider a group living environment, particularly if you’re single and are primarily focused on building your career. If you’re living rurally, look into buying a large property with one house on it, then share that home with another family while you build a second home on the other end of the property. Think outside the box a little when it comes to living situations and you can save a great deal of money on your housing costs.
246. R
ENT
O
UT
U
NUSED
R
OOMS
If you live in a home with significantly more space than you need, you can recoup some of your costs by renting out an unused bedroom or other rooms in your home to a student or another person looking for temporary housing. Not only will you be able to earn some income this way, but that person can also help with household chores by reducing the amount of space that needs to be maintained. This can be an excellent option for a person with extra space who could use some help keeping things in order.
247. D
OWNGRADE
Y
OUR
H
OME
Another option to consider if you have more space than you need is downgrading your home. Put your home up for sale and buy a smaller home in a less expensive neighborhood, and not only will you have a house that’s more manageable for you with lower bills and upkeep costs, but you’ll also have significant proceeds from the sale that you can use to pay off debts or save for the future. Downgrading is a powerful way to live cheap. You can reduce your housing costs while also earning some money from selling the larger house.
C
HEAP
T
ACTIC
$
FOR
I
NSURANCE
248 Know Your Reasons for Insuring
251 Consider Long-Term Disability and Long-Term Care Insurance
252 Drop Collision and Comprehensive Coverage on Very Old Vehicles
253 Shop Around for Automobile and Homeowners’ Insurance
255 Try Bundling Your Policies for a Discount
257 Pay All of Your Bills on Time
259 Know What Your Real Rebuilding Costs Are and Provide Proof
260 Make Your Home More Disaster Resistant
261 Combine Health Insurance with Your Spouse
262 Bypass Agents and Buy Policies Directly from the Companies
264 Use a Payment Option That Lets You Pay the Least Amount Total over a Year
248. K
NOW
Y
OUR
R
EASONS FOR
I
NSURING
Many people buy insurance on their home, their car, and other things simply because they think they’re supposed to do it. With that mindset, you’re probably not insuring some things enough and overinsuring other things, resulting in a hodgepodge of policies that aren’t adequately protecting you and could be costing you more than they should. Whenever you buy or renew an insurance policy, ask yourself what sort of worst-case scenario this policy is covering, and make sure that scenario is fully covered and nothing more. Investment options and other bells and whistles are unnecessary, just make sure that the things that you need covered are covered. Using this tactic with any insurance you buy will always save you money in the long run while ensuring that you are adequately covered.
