I've spent Easter weekend helping do up my parents' house in Kaikohe. It's been a few years since anyone looked at the insulation and it's fair to say that it tends to leak a bit of heat.
That's okay in summer, but not so great with winter approaching. Hopefully, their power bill will be smaller and their house a lot warmer.
The experience has got me thinking about all the ways that people lose money, and often don't even think about it. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Spare change: It's rare to pay for anything with cash these days. If you take a $20 note and buy something, what do you do with the change? Set up a jar on your kitchen counter and get the family to drop in their leftover coins. It will add up.
Check your power bill: Have you looked to see whether you're getting the best deal possible? It's a good idea to do this before the high-use winter months. See if you can save more by setting up an automatic payment to take advantage of the discount many providers offer those who pay on time. Focus on getting it down further by turning appliances off at the wall where you can, using efficient heating solutions, wrapping your hot water cylinder if it's an older model and draught stopping.
