Use a programmable thermostat.

Use a programmable thermostat. Have you heard of a programmable thermostat? These are amazing devices. Some let you set the temperature hour by hour for seven different days in two different modes, heat and cool. What this lets you do in the summer is cool your home down a bit first thing in the morning when you're going to be around the house getting ready - then let the temperature naturally rise a bit during the day while you're at work. Then set it to cool down to a REASONABLE temperature when you get home. Does it need to be that cool while you sleep? Probably not. Are you occasionally home unscheduled? That's fine too, there is typically a home button that will set your temperature to the schedule of a weekend instead of weekday for that reason.

Try changing your temperatures by one degree during both the day and night. Leave it in the new setting for a week and see if it's okay. Don't punish your family for a dollar by making it a miserable temperature - but what can you live with to Feed Your Pig?

Turn down your thermostat in the winter and up in the summer.

Turn down your thermostat in the winter and up in the summer. Were you raised in a barn? Not sure everyone has heard this question but it's a question frequented to those who can't seem to close doors behind themselves. We can go so much further than closing doors to save money on heating and air conditioning costs nowadays! By turning down the temperature a few degrees during the winter months and possibly wearing warmer socks we can save electricity and wear and tear on the heating system in our homes. The same is true in the summer by turning the temperature up a degree or two.

Use washable HVAC filters

Use washable HVAC filters What we discovered is our local Lowe's carries a resizable, washable filter. No matter what size space your return has, these can be adjusted properly. Now anytime you think about the filter you can pop it out and wash it - or have it on a once a month schedule with which you're disciplined. It is a onetime monetary investment equal to 10 or so cheapish filters, depending on the varieties you purchase, but in the long run it pays off in so many ways.

Don't care for the idea? At least be sure to change your filter regularly to save energy costs and keep your system and family healthy. Anything we can do to Feed the Pig!

Clean or Replace HVAC Filters

Clean or replace HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) filters regularly. Now this is a multi-topic concept: energy, materials, environment, and health. Most houses have central heating and air now days - I know - not all. Even if you are renting you are affected by your system. Anyone who pays for the electricity used by a heating/cooling system should be aware of their filter. If your filter gets full of muck - you will start paying more and getting a less healthy result as well.

Open windows for circulation.

By opening windows on two sides of your house you can create a breeze through your home to change the temperature and to circulate the air helping to avoid stagnation and mold growth. Opening your windows in the early morning can be a real tool before the temperature gets too warm allowing a cool breeze to waft your home.

Use automatic lighting for porches and nightlights.

Use automatic lighting for porches and nightlights. If you insist on using a nightlight, find a variety that will sense the light in the room and only turn on when it is dark. This is a great tool if the nightlight is efficient enough to not be a phantom power drain while it's testing for light or dark to turn on or off. Motion sensor porch lights are another great alternative to leaving lights on for hours and days at a time.

Caulk and seal up your home. Weatherproof anything you can touch.

Caulk and seal up your home. Weatherproof anything you can touch. Adding weather trimming to your main doors can be work for a few hours but it can really pay off. $1 for a tube of caulk and an hour of your time may feel like a waste since you may get only pennies back this month, but consider you weren't working at a job at the time, in a few months it pays for the materials, your home will feel more comfortable, and your HVAC  (heating and cooling systems) will not damage themselves so much when trying to keep up with your home. Adding insulation to your attic may be a messy and itchy idea that could be better left to a professional, though. You can even call inspectors that can use special temperature sensitive devices to monitor each part of your home to locate issues to improve.

Plant a shade tree to shade part of your house.

This can be a great tool in the really sun beaten parts of the country. In Houston, Texas, where the summers are HOT - you can feel the difference between a part of the home with a tree over it vs. another part in the same home without - even in many of the nicer and newer homes. The sun's rays are pretty penetrating but those trees do a fabulous job of protecting us.

Scrutinize your bills!

We have everything setup on auto pay. It is a great system to avoid missed payments but it is so hands off that we may be paying a lot for charges we never see. Get your bills out and read line by line about what you are paying for. Be accountable for your spending every dollar of your money.

Internet bill: On ours we were paying $5 a month for a loaned modem. After how many months would that basic/cheap modem have been paid in full? Do you need cable and internet with so much TV online? Can you cancel your landline or get a different plan for your cell phone with better features for less?

Know your mortgage statement. How much extra in a month would it be to pay a whole extra month every single month? If your payment is $600, that total is going to escrow, principal and interest. An extra monthly payment may only be $200!

Water bill: Are you getting a service fee because of that flower bed blocking the access panel? Is your lawn watering costing you overage charges because of a conservation policy?

Utility leveling helps all of us reach our monthly budgets by smoothing the cost of utilities across all months of the year. It usually requires a year’s worth of bills to determine the initial baseline for leveling. The average level is adjusted periodically to ensure the bills continue to be in line with changes in usage and pricing. 

Shop around for insurance

If you know the level of insurance you need, now is the time to shop around to get a true and complete comparison between insurance companies. Make sure you understand the features you must have, the levels of coverage, and be sure that each company is presenting you with an exact quote of what you want. Liability vs. Comprehensive. Medical limits. Towing. Be sure to mention the same features of your vehicles. Be sure to mention all affiliations to get the same rewards as available to have a true comparison across companies.

Is your insurance right for your home's value?

Your insurance needs to be for the full value of the home and the rebuild cost for the structure. If your reimbursement for a home isn't enough it could cost you dearly.

Maintain your home so it maintains its value

Regular maintenance is important to your home to avoid larger maintenance needs. Maintaining the appearance and function of the home also helps it uphold its value. Mint.com uses another website http://www.zillow.com to find the most current market value of a home. Every dollar up or down that your home value realizes is, in reality, a dollar in or out of your pocket when the time comes to sell it. By maintaining your home well, you also encourage a standard in your neighborhood which will also affect your resale value.

Stay on top of home maintenance

Home maintenance can be expensive, but fixing things after they break is much more expensive than just keeping them running with regular maintenance. Fix what needs to be fixed when it needs to be fixed. Look at all sides of your house. Clean your roof gutters. Watch for yard hazards. Check for branches around cables. Oil things that squeak. Change the HVAC (heating and cooling) filters. Have heater coils cleaned and central air systems prepped. Clean your flue. Check your smoke detectors. Clean your dishwasher filter. Brush out your dryer vent. Inspect your fire extinguishers.  Run water in unused faucets and toilets. Vacuum your refrigerator coils. Deep clean every area of your home: bathrooms, utility rooms, kitchen, and entries. 

Rent a room in your home

Rent a room in your home (if it's legal in your community). This may not be the most comfortable option for a family and you may not have the space. Some single and more independent people have the room and resources available to take in a roommate of some sort to cut their housing costs.

Reduce your stuff and don't pay for storage space

 There has been a growing plague of storage facilities throughout America. If you need a storage unit, consider what you could get rid of instead. Make it a price per square foot for storage and figure what in your house really isn't worth that much EVERY MONTH to keep around for no good reason. $80 per month for an 8X10 storage room is $1 per square foot. Do you love that crate you found on the street $2 per month? How about the bicycle that no one is riding-ever? $5 per month for the 5 square feet it takes up. The things in storage are obviously costing storage space but the items that are taking up space in your house are taking up the same amount of space, just in a different location that the storage items could be using.

Needs, wants, future.

Obviously there are some things that everyone needs. Bedrooms, maybe 1 per child - maybe have them share. Must be in a safe neighborhood. Must have a yard... well, there are parks close by and then you wouldn't have to maintain a yard (or pay someone). Consider your needs and consider the value. If you must have 3 bedrooms because in 10 years you'd like to marry and have children, think about renting spare rooms out and having roommates. Be sure of course it's cost effective AND LEGAL in your area. What could you do with $300 or $600 EVERY MONTH if you could shrink your housing expense?

Come on folks - let's FEED THE PIG!

Downsize

Think smaller. Think value. Is where you live small enough for you? If you have too much space it's very easy to spoil ourselves with lavish purchases; even if that means several electric appliances cluttering your kitchen counter or a huge space of a large living room taken up by the entertainment system. If you didn't have so much space to spare would you have bought the six piece sectional, matching love seat, and matching recliner? A smaller space encourages you to be smart. You also can save on your utilities if you play your cards right. A smaller space is easier to heat and cool, in theory, assuming it is constructed and insulated in a similar manner.

Choose an affordable location.

Now I know - most people aren't just eager to jump up and move - it's not fun. Consider, though, what portion of your monthly spending goes to your housing payment and utilities. 25%, 50%, maybe 75%? Do you live close to work? Are you paying a high price for that prime location? Where I grew up this was not a significant difference but in a large metropolitan area living "in town" and 30 minutes away meant for us $1000 less in our housing budget.

Calculate if it's better to rent or buy.

There are few calculations that can truly predict exact information but try out this calculator that gives a very nice estimate of which will cost more in a particular situation. Amazing!
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/upshot/buy-rent-calculator.html

Don't try to keep up with the Joneses

You and your family are the only family you will ever be and will always be. What someone else does with their money will affect their future and what you do will affect yours. Resist all temptations to compete or compare yourself with anyone else in your world, your mayor, your neighbor, your brother, your best friend. They are not you, and you need to only be responsible for you (and yours).