Marc Serafino
Having a frugal lifestyle doesn’t mean you won’t take the time off. However, even when you’re going to a vacation, you should know how not to waste money. There is no good reason for that.
And because we argue that the money should be spent on things that matter, we have prepared an article to help you keep home costs at bay while you’re having a good time on your well-deserved time off. Here are…
8 ways to avoid extra costs while you’re away
1. Electricity
Inspect the entire house, going from room to room, and turn off or unplug any appliance that won’t be used while you’re away. This includes all entertainment devices, clocks, microwave, computer router and anything else that draws power while not in use. Kitchen, on the other hand, is different as you will want to keep your refrigerator running even when you’re not at home. (And when you’re at home, read this: 7 Ways to Save Money on Electricity)
2. Adjust your thermostat
Depending where you live, you may want to turn it off completely or — if you live in colder areas — set the temperature above 55°. Completely turning your thermostat off for people living in the north can cause frozen water pipes and other damage, hence making home insurance that much more expensive.
3. Prepay your bills
If you haven’t set automatic payments for the regular monthly bills, you may want to prepay those bills before leaving. It’s a bummer to return home with bills waiting to be paid.
4. Suspend subscriptions
In general, we advise you to rethink your subscriptions especially those that are seldom used, like gym memberships and cable TV — for the latter there are more affordable alternatives like Hulu and Sling TV. If you’re still paying to get some paper edition newspaper or magazine, now’s the time to at least suspend that subscription for the days when you’re out of town. The growing pile of magazines in front of your house is pretty much an invite to burglars, so make sure that doesn’t happen. The same goes for digital subscriptions — hit the pause button for the days when you can’t use them.
5. Fill your prescriptions
Those taking daily medications might want to fill their prescriptions before leaving town. This is not only more convenient, but could also save you money if your meds are covered by your health plan.
6. Plan the arrival meal
This is an extra step only the most organized people take. They have a ready-to-be-prepared meal sitting in their freezer, and when they return home — all they have to do is put it into a microwave or an oven. If you do this, you will save on ordering the food upon arrival.
7. Avoid burglars
Not really a money saving tip, but could potentially save you a ton. You will want to make sure all doors, windows and gates are locked. Also, is possible you may want to leave a car in the driveway, and talk to your neighbors to check your home from time to time. Moreover, consider getting a few timers for your lights and set them in a way to show like someone’s inside the house.
8, Rent out your home
Finally, you may want to consider renting your home and actually make some money while you’re away. Not everyone likes doing this, but for those who are open to having strangers sleeping at their homes we have prepared an article with a bunch of tips how to maximize their earnings on Airbnb. Check it out.
Have something to add?
While I like taking vacations, I also enjoy my frugal lifestyle. So I — and the rest of the Wallet Weekly crew — want to hear any smart money tips you may have. If you’re doing something else, or have heard some other tip, feel free to drop it in the comments form below. We love learning new stuff…
