Practical Ways to Care for your Things and Save MoneyNow that you know the rationale behind caring for your things, let’s look at some practical ways by which you can do so. In the following sections we will give some tips on you can take care of your house, car, computers, clothes, and appliances as these are the ones that you are going to use most often which are not only expensive to buy but also repair or replace in case they get damaged.

Caring for your Home

The various areas in your home have their own specialized cleaning requirements so we will just touch on the general ways by which you can care for your home so that you don’t have to spend so much for a major repair.

1. Thoroughly clean your home regularly. Cleaning is not only good for your home and gives you the chance to exercise, it’s also the best way for you to inspect if there are chipped tiles or other broken parts in your home. When you discover these minor issues early on and do something about them right away, you spend less and prevent it from getting worse.

2. Your fireplace chimney must be inspected and cleaned at least once a year. It’s best to leave the job to a professional so it’s given a thorough cleaning and you don’t have to injure yourself.

3. Clean gutters regularly. If you can’t do it yourself, let a pro do it for you.

4. Inspect windows and doors and see if their caulking and weather stripping needs to be replaced. Doing this at least once a year does not only keep your house warm, it also prevents your energy bills from rising.

5. Check your toilet tank for leaks. Having it repaired right away or changing the flapper yourself if the toilet is leaking from the tank to the bowl will save you money on your utility bill as well as prevent water damage to your floor and the possible replacement of your toilet itself. You can perform a simple test for a leak by adding some red coloring inside the toilet tank. Let it stand for one hour. If the water

remains red then you don’t have a problem. But if it has turned pale to a pink shade then you have a leak.

Caring for your Car

1. Avoid driving too fast or accelerating suddenly. This will put wear and tear in your car parts and make it more susceptible to repairs. In the first few minutes of driving, take care to accelerate slowly. This will prevent too much wear in the engine.

2. Change the engine oil frequently. Your car manufacturer will specify when you need to do so. Follow it to optimize your car’s performance and prevent breakdowns. Make sure that you also know when to change the other automotive fluids of your vehicle so that its internal parts are kept in mint condition, helping you avoid costly repairs.

3. Take care of your tires. Maintain proper inflation as under-inflation can cause your tires to be worn faster while over inflation can be costly in terms of gasoline consumption. Rotate your tires and check for uneven wear and tread regularly. This will ensure that you get the most life out of your tires.

4. Have your car washed regularly. Dust, grime, and debris that accumulate can lead to the formation of rust and ultimately, corrosion. Make sure to set a regular schedule for a thorough washing at all times of the year—especially during winter.

5. Find a mechanic you can trust and take your car for scheduled maintenance checkups. These will reveal potential problems in your car and have them repaired before they get worse.

Caring for your Computer

A computer is considered a necessity these days. Whether you have a laptop or desktop computer, the following tips will help ensure optimum performance.

1. Always have a good anti virus protection installed in your computer. Having one protects your computer from harmful files and downloads and from malicious sites online that you might accidentally visit.

2. Avoid bringing or leaving beverages and sweets near your computer.  Spills can easily damage the internal parts of your system which can potentially ruin files and even its internal components, necessitating costly repair and costly replacement.

3. Use your laptop in a well-ventilated area. See to it that you don’t cover the fans so that extreme heat does not fry the motherboard.

4. Invest in a good and sturdy laptop bag so that your computer is protected from accidental bumps and bruises.

5. When you are going to be leaving your computer for more than a couple of hours, turn it off. The electricity you use when you start up your computer is still considerably less than if you let it run continuously doing nothing.

Caring for your Clothes

1. Follow washing instructions on the clothes. If it says “hand wash only” then don’t put it together with the others in the washing machine together with the others that can be machine-washed.

2. Be careful when removing stains on colored clothing using bleach. Be sure to use a product that does not remove the color of your clothes together with the stain.

3. Store your clothes carefully so that you won’t have to replace them next season. Wash them very well and let them dry thoroughly. If you place them in an airtight container you won’t need to put mothballs. Otherwise, you can position the mothballs in the upper portion of your closet to give the best protection for your clothes since the repelling odor travels downward.

4. For newly-bought clothes with buttons, prevent removal of the buttons by sealing the threads in the middle with a little dab of nail polish. For those with zippers, occasionally wax the zipper teeth with a candle to keep it functioning well.

5. Avoid crumpling your clothes in a ball and throwing them on the floor or when you are done wearing them. Instead, fold those that need to be washed and put them in the hamper. For clothes that you will wear again, be sure to put them on a hanger. When you take care of the fabric, your clothes will not be stained and will obviously last longer.

Caring for Appliances

1. Always clean kitchen appliances after using. Residue and dirt left on blenders, food processors, and others will hamper their efficiency and decrease their lifespan.

2. As much as possible, don’t power larger appliances like washing machines and refrigerators with extension cords. If this cannot be avoided, be sure that the extension is the right one for it. For electrical appliances, ensuring that the power source is stable is the best way to keep it working efficiently for a long time.

3. Run your dishwasher on a full load. This will enable you to save money on energy and water bills and let your appliance last.

4. Defrost your freezer when the frost becomes ¼ inch thick. Thick frost hampers the efficiency of your appliance, decreases its lifespan, and increases your electric bill.

5. Always read the instruction manual thoroughly on any new appliance you have. By doing so, you can install it correctly and troubleshoot minor problems. If something is wrong and you can’t find the solution in the manual, be sure to take it to the service center. New items are still covered by warranty so it’s best that you don’t tinker with it so that you don’t void the warranty.

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