Servicing the Sun Coast Since 1972

Stop Spending So Much on These 5 Things

When you own a home in the Bradenton, Florida, area, there are a number of expenses that come along with that ownership. Between maintenance, heating and cooling, other utilities, and technology, you may find that it’s hard to keep up with your growing list of expenses. These simple tips will help you stop spending as much on some of the costliest things in your home.

Heating and Cooling

As the seasons change, it’s easy to alter the thermostat to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. But when you have it too low during the summer or too high during the winter, the next bill that comes may be an unpleasant surprise. It’s also hard for the system to run efficiently if the ducts or vents are full of dirt, dust, and other debris. Keep your vents clear and your bills lower by having cleaning them at least once a year.

Additionally, it’s smart to use a programmable thermostat that will allow you to set it instead of constantly changing it to adapt to the weather. If you don’t currently use a programmable thermostat, now is the time to do so, since it will help you spend less to heat and cool your home.

Entertainment

Many people pay hundreds of dollars each month for entertainment, including cable or satellite TV, movies at the theater, and much more. Cut back on these expenses by figuring out what channels you watch the most and then trimming your cable TV package to include only the ones you watch. Many cable subscribers pay a lot for packages that include channels they never (and probably will never) watch. Additionally, skip the pricey tickets at the movie theater and rent movies through kiosks for much less. You can still enjoy the feeling of a theater by popping some popcorn and enjoying treats.

Household Products

You might have a cupboard, closet, or even spare bedroom devoted to storage of your cleaning supplies and paper products. When you see a coupon for something you think you’ll use, it’s easy to head right to the store and pick up another bottle of bleach or package of paper napkins.

But before long, you may find that you have more household products than you have room to store. And even when something is a good deal, you still end up spending money to get it. So avoid paying too much on these types of products and use what you have until you need more.

Food 

As the cost of living has increased throughout the country, many people are struggling with the higher food prices in grocery stores. Even a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread is more expensive than it was just a few years ago, but you can easily cut costs on groceries and food. Take advantage of loyalty programs, digital and paper coupons, and other benefits that will reduce food prices. It’s also smart to plan meals for a week at a time and only visit the grocery store once during that period, if possible.

HVAC Repairs

If you’re constantly spending a small fortune on repairs for your HVAC, it’s time to rethink how you handle it. Older units tend to run less efficiently, causing you to spend more on heating and cooling bills. Certain components might wear out faster, so you’ll have to replace them more often. While replacing the furnace or other portion of the HVAC system might seem like a costly expense, it’s often well worth it to reduce the bills and costs of repairs down the road.

You can also hire a professional HVAC technician for routine maintenance. During this checkup, your technician will examine all parts of the system to make sure they’re working properly. If the technician finds any problems, he or she can diagnose and fix them right away instead of waiting for something more serious to go wrong. Essentially, preventive maintenance is a great option for every homeowner.

If you’re willing to make a few sacrifices and plan ahead, you can save money on necessities. Here in Bradenton, our team at Climatic Conditioning Co. will handle your routine HVAC maintenance, repairs, and cleaning services, so call us at (941) 758-3080 to schedule an appointment.

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Climatic Conditioning Company, Inc., Air Conditioning Contractor, Sarasota, FL