Tips on household savings

Recent changes in the economy have led to Americans being more frugal with their everyday expenses. Much of this can be done at home without feeling the “pinch”. Here are a few suggestions:

Lower Your Energy Costs
The Home Energy Saver is a government sponsored site that offers tips on how to save on home energy bills: http://hes.lbl.gov/

Saving on Property Taxes
Many cities offer a residential exemption for a homeowner’s primary residence. The city of Boston offers this deal – the details of which can be found here: http://www.cityofboston.gov/assessing/resexempt.asp

Bundling Services
Some phone, internet and cable providers offer savings if you bundle your services – and some offer introductory plans that save you a great deal (provided you don’t remain with the add-ons after the introductory time period).

Movie Rentals Instead of Movie Theaters
The cost of going to a movie has gone up dramatically, while the cost of renting a movie has not. If you are a frequent movie-viewer, it may make more fiscal sense to join a movie rental club (like Netflix.com, with plans ranging from $5-$17 per month) for your entertainment. And having popcorn, candy and soda at home won’t cost you almost $20.

For more information on the Boston real estate market, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.