New Homeowner? These Tips Can Help You Keep Your Sanity And Your Pennies!

As many of you know, my husband and I took the plunge last August and bought our first home! We moved from Virginia (good riddance!) to my quaint hometown in NE Ohio. Our home is almost 100 years old and full of charm and character. Of course, it does need some updating and some work. Since we paid for our home in full, we have been able to do things bit by bit to maximize our investment, and make our new house truly feel like home.

Here are some great tips that every new homeowner should know. These tips will not only save you some potentially costly headaches, they will also save tons of money in the long run!

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1. Upgrade to Energy Star Rated Appliances
Our home had appliances in it when we moved in, but they certainly weren't the most energy efficient, since they were probably around 10-15 years old. Luckily, the awesome folks at Maytag sent me an entire set of kitchen appliances, and since then, our utility bills have dropped substantially. Also, our food stays fresher so there is less waste!

2. Install Energy Efficient Lighting
My husband has a light bulb fetish...Okay, I joke with him and tell him that often, because whenever we go to the store, he ALWAYS claims we need new light bulbs. While this may seem expensive at first, replacing traditional light bulbs saves a great deal of money, not only on your electric bill, but also on light bulb purchases, since high-efficiency LED or CFL bulbs last much, much longer than traditional light bulbs!

3. Check Your Insulation!
It's always a good idea to check seals around windows, doors, or in attic spaces for drafts. It's fairly inexpensive and simple to apply new weather-stripping, and this will save bundles on heating and cooling costs during the summer and winter.

4. Use a Clothing Line to Hang Clothes to Dry
One of the things I love about finally owning my own home is the fact that I can line-dry my clothing and linens. This can save bundles of cash, and let's face it: There's nothing like sun-kissed clothing and sheets.

5. Clean Carpets Professionally Before You Decide to Replace Them
When we moved into our home, we had a LOT that needed attending to. Most of our home has gorgeous old hardwood floors, but we have a few areas with carpeting. Of course our carpet is rather old, and my first instinct was to simply rip it up and replace it. I did some research, though, and found some great advice from a company that specializes in carpet cleaning Grand Rapids MI. Often times, even the dullest, dingiest of carpets can be revitalized with a professional cleaning. Sure, this costs money, but it's far cheaper than carpet replacement!

Do YOU have any money saving tips for homeowners? (Like me!) I'd love to hear them!