Tips for lowering costs around your home

Everyone is feeling the squeeze of rising inflation, not just when it comes to checking out at the grocery store. So, here are ways you can lower costs around your home:

• Turn off the lights in rooms that are not in use.
• Don’t leave your faucet running when you brush your teeth.
• Shower instead of taking a bath because showers use less water.
• Don’t over-dry clothing; it is a waste of energy and money.
• Close your blinds and curtains on hot summer days to keep your home cooler.
• Clean the lint filter every time you dry your clothes. Lint build-up restricts airflow and prolongs the drying time.
• Run full loads in dishwashers and washing machines. Maximize efficiency by maximizing the load.
• Clean or replace the filter in your air conditioning or furnace unit. You can save 5 to 15% off your monthly cooling bill with proper maintenance.
• Switch off your outdoor lighting at dawn.
• Don’t open the oven door to peek in. That will lower the temperature and require more energy.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when they’re not in use. If you have a laptop, put it in hibernate mode when not using it.
• Seal drafty doors and windows so your cooling and heating systems don't have to work overtime.
• Try to utilize reusable alternatives. For example, instead of paper napkins, use cloth napkins and wash them. Use reusable plastic bags instead of disposable ones.
• You can add a little water to an almost empty detergent bottle to get the last bit out.
• Clean out your closet. Remove anything that you rarely or never use. Give these items to family and friends, hold a garage sale, or donate them to charitable organizations.
• August 5 to 14 has been designated as a sales tax holiday in Illinois by the state’s Department of Revenue. That means you can purchase many items at a reduced rate of state sales tax. During that period, the state’s portion of sales tax is reduced from 6.25 percent to 1.25 percent. Items include qualifying clothing and footwear with a retail selling price of less than $125 per item and certain school supplies used by students to study. School supplies are not subject to the $125 threshold.
• You can buy clothing much cheaper at the end of the season or the beginning of the next one and save it for the following year.
• Buy a reusable bottle and fill up your bottle instead of purchasing bottles of water from the store.
• Sign up for email newsletters from your favorite stores. They often include offers and coupons so you can save more money on the products you need or want.
• Grill in the summertime. When you use your stove or oven to cook, it creates a lot of heat. And in the summertime, it can make your air conditioner work extra hard. If you're not much of a grill cook, consider preparing meals in a slow cooker.

My Money Manager with Warren-Boynton online banking is a financial management tool that allows you to setup a budget, create goals, and track your spending. To find out more, stop in at one of our branches in New Berlin, Springfield, Modesto, or Palmyra.