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Best things to do to save money when you buy a new house?

B

BigToque

Lifer
Replace all lights with energy efficient bulbs?
Insulate the house as best you can?
Add solar panels to get some free electricity?
Low (or mid) flow toilets?
Reuse water?


What are some things a new homeowner can do to to help reduce the overall cost of living in the house?
 
steal utilities from neighbors. cable, electricity, phone. then hunt local wildlife for sustenance. squirrel-ke-bab ftw!

energy efficient bulbs are a good way to go, but wont save u that much money. low flow toilets have their ups and downs, u might end up flushing more... u can set up a gray water system if u want to reuse water for car washing and/or watering your lawn.

but the best bet is insulation or solar heating options. those will save u the most money, as far as im concerned.
 
Originally posted by: bonkers325
steal utilities from neighbors. cable, electricity, phone. then hunt local wildlife for sustenance. squirrel-ke-bab ftw!

energy efficient bulbs are a good way to go, but wont save u that much money. low flow toilets have their ups and downs, u might end up flushing more... u can set up a gray water system if u want to reuse water for car washing and/or watering your lawn.

but the best bet is insulation or solar heating options. those will save u the most money, as far as im concerned.
Click to expand...

Do you think solar panels are worth the initial investment yet? I know the big concern is that it took like 10 years before you started having any savings.
 
I "hear" solar panels will cost more than they will save you.

If they saved money, people would be buying them left and right.
 
solar panels aren't cheap enough yet, unless you live in a state that gives rebates for purchasing. Cheeck with your local energy standards
 
replace single payne widows and doors with triple payne insulated ones. Replace any large appliacne over 12 years old with "energy star" compliant - you may get a tax break and/or rebates from your electric co
 
Don't fill it with new furniture and drapes purchased on credit. There's the big savings. It's ok if the bedspread and the curtains don't match.


Good luck getting the wifey to believe it though.
 
Originally posted by: BigToque
Originally posted by: bonkers325
steal utilities from neighbors. cable, electricity, phone. then hunt local wildlife for sustenance. squirrel-ke-bab ftw!

energy efficient bulbs are a good way to go, but wont save u that much money. low flow toilets have their ups and downs, u might end up flushing more... u can set up a gray water system if u want to reuse water for car washing and/or watering your lawn.

but the best bet is insulation or solar heating options. those will save u the most money, as far as im concerned.
Click to expand...

Do you think solar panels are worth the initial investment yet? I know the big concern is that it took like 10 years before you started having any savings.
Click to expand...

You can get a limited tax deduction for costs of eco-friendly modifications to your house, so that'll help offput the costs of installatiob.
 
Originally posted by: Howard
He didn't say solar electricity, he said solar heating.
Click to expand...
The OP did say electricity, but the first responder specified it down to heating.

I can see heating having a good, relatively fast, ROI. Panels for power, not so much.
 
Solar panels are not worth the initial investment.

Contact your utility regarding possible credits, low interest financing, etc. for installing energy saving improvements. You may be surprised to find out what's available.

Whatever you do, don't go into credit card debt for the house (or for anything).
 
best thing we did was replace all the blinds with new ones that would shut properly and block out the sun and heat. saved a good bit in the summer when it was blazing.
 
Buy your hardwood furniture (not upholstered) for keeps. Buy good stuff once and be done with it forever. Buying cheap crap every decade costs more in the long run, and it's nicer to own good quality stuff over the years anyway. Win/win situation!

Our bedroom set and livingroom tables were purchased 25 years ago, and will be passed on to the grandchildren decades from now. It was expensive, but well worth it. Dining room table was purchased from a classified ad, and is of equal high quality for a fraction of the cost new. We also find great deals at a local estate liquidation dealer. Quality furniture is just as nice if it's two years old, or twenty!
 
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