How can you stop wasting money? After reading these lines you will never pay for these services again!
There are countless things to do in life, such as work, housework, maintenance, health care, and feeding our families and ourselves. When you cross something off that list, what’s your reward? Hmm… in most cases you will probably end up doing a few more other chores. And it’s exhausting, I get you. Because of that, many folks (including myself in the past) are willing to pay others to do some of the things for them.
Sounds convenient, right? But it’s not always worth it just because you can pay someone to do a task for you. Doing things yourself can often save you a little money and wasted effort, even though everyone’s DIY skills (and particular needs) differ.
In the following lines, we will talk about all the services you don’t need to pay for if you want to stop wasting money.
Roof cleaning
One of the first services you don’t need to pay for is cleaning your roof. Not everyone is indeed comfortable or able to climb up on their roof, so many people choose to hire someone to perform these maintenance tasks (or, worse, to ignore them completely, which is a bad idea).
Unfortunately, if you want your roof to last a long time, you’ll need to do regular maintenance, which includes keeping the gutters clear and periodically removing the roof of snow, leaves, and branches.
So what do you do to stop wasting money on hiring someone else to clean it? With a roof rake and a gutter rake, many homeowners can remove the majority of snow and debris from their roofs and gutters in a matter of minutes. This requires zero physical effort and eliminates the need to spend time on a ladder regretting their recent choices.
Basement waterproofing
There are steps you should take if your basement is damp or has standing water in it after every rainstorm. For example, a sump pump can help remove standing water. For one straightforward reason, however, hiring a waterproofing contractor is probably not worthwhile since most of them are treating a symptom rather than a cause.
Since water is a smart demon that will always find a way into your home—often inexplicably—waterproofing the interior of your basement is probably not going to work.
The grading of the ground surrounding your house, the condition of your gutters (adding gutter extenders can ensure they aren’t just dumping water on your foundation), and the planting of a rain garden are all external factors that you must address if you want a dry basement. These are among the things you can do on your own without wasting money and paying others to do them for you.
In certain situations, it might be wise to invest in interior waterproofing, but only after taking care of the simpler and budget-friendly issues outside the house.
Shipping
Yes, you’ve read it well! Another thing you should stop wasting money on is paying for shipping services. Why? There’s no reason to pay for shipping in the era of Amazon. You can either go to the store yourself, order what you need on Prime, or wait for free shipping offers. Otherwise, you’re wasting your money that you can use for other things on a pointless charge.
Home security
It is not a bad idea to have a security system for your house. Research indicates these systems are effective preventative measures because professional thieves prefer not to deal with the additional work that may be required. However, police response times can be slow, and their false alarm rate is frequently high.
So what can you do instead of paying a lot for installing a smart home system? In addition to offering plenty of other features, such as the ability to see who is at your door (and what they are doing) and even speak to them, smart doorbells with cameras stop potential burglars in a way comparable to that of traditional home security systems.
Plus, the doorbell is easy to install on your own, so you don’t need to pay someone else to do it for you!
Air in your tires
Another service you should stop wasting money on is putting air in your tires. If you’re living in Connecticut and California, you can do this for free at the gas stations when they fill up. Additionally, you can use the free nitrogen fill stations at Costco tire centers whether or not you are a member.
Air duct cleaning
If you have an air conditioner installed in your house, then you know that once in a while, usually between seasons, it’s mandatory to clean the duct. The typical argument is that eliminating all that filthy dust and other pollutants will improve the efficiency of your HVAC systems and the quality of the air in your house.
However, according to the EPA, there is no proof that cleaning your ducts actually prevents health issues, and there probably won’t be much of an effect on heating or cooling unless your ducts are completely clogged with dust, infested with rodents, or filled with mold.
We’re not saying that you shouldn’t clean it at all, but stop wasting money on other people to do it for you! It’s super easy to clean it on your own and use that money to save for that long-awaited vacation.
Credit reports, scores, and monitoring
Among all the services you don’t need to pay for is credit reports. Keep a close eye on your accounts and credit for indications of fraud, but don’t hire a company to do it for you. Although identity theft monitoring services range from $10 to $30 per month, you can do it yourself for free.
To find out how to enroll, visit the websites of your bank, credit union, and credit card companies. Many financial institutions have made it possible for their clients to view their FICO scores for free.
Dry cleaning
Do you have a lot of clothes that have on the label “dry cleaning only,” and do you usually get them to a professional cleaner? However, “hand wash” and other instructions indicate that you can do your own laundry if you’re careful, and “dry clean” is merely a suggestion.
Stop wasting money on professional cleaning services! Depending on your washing machine, you can easily program it to do hand-washing or washing at lower temperatures (68 degrees Fahrenheit).
Picture framing
This is going to sound a bit old-school, but I live in a town with six framing shops. Additionally, since this is a small city, I must presume that at least a few of these establishments are merely fronts for organized crime. Since I’ve only ever had to frame maybe six or seven photos in my life, I can’t imagine that this is a high-volume business.
You’re better off just buying a frame from Target or another store if you do need something framed. Going to a frame store to pay for the service only makes sense if you have something with unusual dimensions or if you truly want a custom frame and presentation because there isn’t much of a difference in how the finished product will look once it’s on your wall.
What are the things you will stop wasting money on from now on?
Are you going shopping often at Trader Joe’s? Then check out our article Trader Joe’s Hacks Every Shopper Should Know.
