There's no denying that owning a home is a dream for many of us, but there is a caveat to this: the expense! Mainly thanks to the stack of utility bills that fill our mailboxes, our bank accounts take a hit on a too-regular basis.


#1: Insulate your home
This is the best way to cut down your heating costs, as even during colder seasons, you won't have to turn your thermostat up so high if your home is insulated. So, you might consider replacing your doors and windows if the framework is old and worn, using double or triple-glazed glass panes so you won't have to suffer any pesky draughts coming into your home. Consider wall and flooring insulations too. And think about a loft and/or basement insulation, whether you do it yourself if you have the DIY know-how, or through the services of residential insulation contractors. Though if you can't afford the expense of any of these options at the moment, you can still insulate your home quite cheaply in the short-term, with sealants bought from your local DIY store to fix any gaps and cracks in your walls and flooring.

Smart home technology has stepped out of your favorite sci-fi movies and shows, and into reality. To cut down on your monthly bills, you can now buy a variety of smart products for your home, including smart thermostats, smart lighting, and remote power management for your electrical products, all controlled through your smartphone or tablet. You could also invest in a smart home security system, which won't save on your household bills, but it will save you the stress and expense of a home burglary. Check out these examples of smart home technologies, and do the smart thing by investing in one or all of them.

At around $12,000 for an installation, solar panels are expensive. However, in terms of long-term savings, experts suggest you will see a return on the cost within around 7 years, so to save money on your electricity bills, you might consider the investment a worthy one. Solar panels will also protect you from rising utility costs, add value to your home, and perhaps more importantly of all, help you to protect the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. What further incentive do you need? Okay, so you might still be balking at the costs, but you might be eligible for solar tax credits which will help you reduce the expense, so check with your local government.

Finally
Not many of us enjoy the cheery whistle of our mailman as he walks down the drive, especially when he's clutching a fistful of bills for our displeasure, but by considering the suggestions in this article, we need no longer fear his arrival.