There’s no getting away from the facts: UK households are heading for a cost-of-living crisis this winter. UK businesses will also need to cut down on avoidable day-to-day spending to help with energy costs this year.
With bills almost certain to soar, it’s going to become essential that we all cut down on other areas of spending. Household and business items such as clothes, appliances, kitchenware, and cleaning products make a significant dent in monthly spending. Making savings in these areas can therefore really boost spending power in other places, such as bills.
Cleaning for less
Forget the expensive price tags of premium cleaning products and get back to basics. Invest in low-cost, long-living natural products such as baking soda, white vinegar, tea tree oil and lemon juice. Make your own multi-surface cleaner, toilet cleaner, window cleaner, and even laundry cleanser from these simple, natural products. You can save even more by recycling old clothes to make rags for cleaning windows and dusting surfaces. Depending on how much you currently spend on household or office cleaning items, you can save yourself tens of pounds every month. Not only do these natural cleaning solutions save you money, but they also help you do your bit for the environment.
Repair furniture and appliances
In a bid to reduce spending, it’s time to say goodbye to our throwaway consumer culture and get fixing. Whether you’re the owner of broken appliances, furniture, or even kitchenware, choosing to fix, rather than replace items, can save £££s every year. To get started, invest in a proven adhesive, such as a bestselling epoxy from Unibond. A good adhesive is key to successfully repairing and upcycling items around the house or office. An effective glue can be used on everything from plastics to wood, and even metal. You’ll also need a set of basic tools. Look on sites such as freecycle.org or ilovefreegle.org to find people giving tools away. If you are looking to repair specific appliances, such as a broken kettle or toaster, then the internet is full of helpful guides. Repairing household and office items, such as furniture and appliances, is a great way to free up money to help with bills.
Shift your clothing perspective
Clothing can make a significant dent in our monthly spending, especially if you have growing children or a passion for fast fashion. Whilst for many businesses, uniforms can be a significant cost. However, clothing is another easy way to cut back on day-to-day spending. Buying fewer new items of clothing, making repairs, and looking at other ways to refresh the wardrobe are key to saving money. Check out these top tips:
- Use accessories to update older items
- Swap with friends to refresh your wardrobe
- Shop for second-hand clothes
- Rent clothes for special events
- Create a versatile ‘capsule’ wardrobe
- Repair ripped or worn clothing or uniforms
- Invest in higher quality clothing
- Start a uniform bank, and encourage staff to return uniforms they no longer wear
- Buddy up with other parents to swap children’s clothes around as they grow
Shifting your approach to clothing can offer you huge household and business savings. Like everything else we’ve explored here, it’s also an Earth-friendly measure.
These simple, but small shifts in your spending behaviour can help free up operating costs to help with bills, whether you’re looking to save money as a household or a business. As a bonus, many of these money-saving tips can also help you become a more eco-friendly business or home. There are plenty of other ways businesses can save too. Making savings wherever you can will prove key to getting through this winter, for everyone.