1. Haggle with Utility Companies
The oldest trick in the book is still worth trying—if you’re sticking with the same providers, call and ask for a discount and mention competitor’s prices. If you’re in the market for new companies, call different ones to find the best deal.
You could save hundreds a year if you fall into the right promotion, or you could at least get some extra premium channels as a trial. You could also go totally rogue and cancel your cable subscription, because Netflix.
2. Go Online to Buy & Sell
Try Craigslist for basic items like side tables and bookshelves before you hit up IKEA. You’ll be surprised what people are giving up for free or cheap. Alternatively, you can make some extra buck by selling your old pieces that you can’t quite find a place for in your new home.
You can also make donations and itemize your return, which might help you qualify for a tax deduction.
3. Junk Is Junk
Okay, so maybe you’ve had your listing for a rusted wheel you found in your uncle’s barn a decade ago up on Craigslist for weeks with no bites. Don’t pay for storage—it’s okay to accept the reality that some things you’ve been hoarding at your apartment (or more likely, your parent’s house) are just for the junkyard.
4. It’s Okay to Cheap Out on Your “Starter Supplies”
A short stop at the drugstore for some Windex, Febreeze, and Lysol can quickly turn into wanting to stock your home with every possible cleaning supply for each room in your house. While the notion is good, your wallet won’t necessarily appreciate it. Visit a dollar store for the supplies you need to get through the first few months.
5. The Power of Paint
Once-loved stuff can be re-loved stuff, and paint isn’t just for the walls. While slapping on a few coats to your new walls will make a world of difference, you can also breathe new life into old furniture.
6. …But If You Don’t Like Watching Paint Dry
Maybe painting isn’t your thing. But you don’t have to be the next Martha Stewart to jazz up an old bookshelf or create cool photo boards with just a few sheets of wallpaper. Not only are you saving money but you’ll also earn bragging rights for DIY diligence.
7. Not Everything’s Going to Match
Similar to the points made above, with the marriage of old and new things after you move, your amazingly comfortable but totally outdated couch might just not work anymore. Be open to taking on a reupholstery project, or just add some throw pillows with accent colors found elsewhere in the room (to tie it together) rather than buying a whole new piece.
8. New Hardware > New Cabinets
Swapping knobs, pulls, and handles on kitchen and bathroom cabinets (and drawers!) are easy fixes and create an updated look that’s way, way cheaper than buying brand new cabinets.
9. Swap Out Old Bulbs
All of the light bulbs that came with your new home are probably totally functional—but that doesn’t mean that they’re not costing you money. Change light bulbs to energy-efficient CFL or LED ones to save on your electric bill. They also tend to have much longer lives than normal incandescent bulbs.
10. Get a Grip on Your Power Strip
Yet another way to save on your electric bill—a smart power strip. It cuts power to all devices on the strip when you power the first thing that’s connected down. So at your desk, for example, powering down your computer would also turn off your monitor, printer, scanner, etc.
11. Get With the Times and Pay Online (If You Aren’t Already)
You’re probably already enrolled in online bill pay, but if you’re not, moving to a new home and changing your address is a great time to do so. You’ll cut costs on stamps, envelopes, and paper checks, you’ll do good for the environment, and you’ll be able to keep a close watch on your account activity. It’s a win-win-win.
12. Give the Loo a Quick Check
This is more along the lines of maintenance, but there are some important things you want to check off your list upon move-in when it comes to repairs, and an important one is checking for running toilets (and sinks, too). All that dripping water is money dripping out of your wallet.
Many sites offer easy DIY fixes for leaks.
13. Hang ‘Em Up to Dry
We’re not asking you to revert to ancient times and air dry all of your clothes—but if you think of it on a larger scope, you’ll be saving money and participating in more environmentally-friendly practices. Just hanging up 20 percent of your clothes on a line or drying rack each time saves you 20 percent more energy.
14. Is Your Home Properly Insulated?
Many homes don’t have adequate insulation, so one of the first things you should do upon moving in is to find out if your home needs some upgrades. Check your attic, fireplace, outer walls, windows, and doors for air leaks—they can waste a lot of energy and increase your utility costs. So seal and insulate to keep toasty (and to keep out pollen and noise)!
15. Find Out What Lies Beneath
It might sound like something you just see on HGTV, but especially if you’re buying an older home, it’s worth it to do some floor investigating. Before ordering a truckload of hardwood floor planks, peek under the corners of old carpets to see if there’s original wood underneath. If there is, and it can be salvaged, buff those floors and embrace the old charm instead of buying brand new.
16. Start a Veggie Garden
There’s obviously an initial cost in this for the soil, seeds, and supplies, but if done with diligence it will provide you some delicious, low-cost meals. And the best part? You grew them yourself!
17. Check Out Your Community Calendar
Many people often forget that the city or town in which they live probably has it’s own website with a calendar of events. Lots of these events could include free food and activities that can save you a chunk of change on all that take-out food you’ll want to order the first few weeks. Community events also give you a chance to meet your neighbors.
18. Check Out Your Neighborhood’s Parks and Recs Board
Sure, there’s probably an awesome movie theater and shopping center just waiting for you to uncontrollably stress-spend after the move. But there’s no better stress-reliever than the great outdoors (except maybe free things, which this totally is). Seek out local basketball and tennis courts, disc golf courses, and trails for a whole lot of free entertainment.
19. Buy a Crockpot
Maybe demanding you to go out and spend money on new things is the opposite of what this post is trying to accomplish, but investing in a crockpot will save you both time and money. After moving, you’re not going to want to whip up intricate meals, so instead throw some ingredients in a crockpot before work and you’ll have a delicious meal waiting for you when you get home.
20. Prioritize Your Projects
Simply staying organized can save you money when it comes to buying new things, remodeling, and repairing. It’s hard to resist wanting to make your house feel like your home as fast as possible, but it’s crucial to set these goals alongside a budget.
Keep a list of things you want to do for each room and for the house overall, and find out potential costs for each improvement. Maybe this month’s budget will cover a ceiling fan for your bedroom, but that shiny refrigerator you’ve been eyeing might just have to wait.
