You can indulge in your love for gadgets and still be semi-frugal. How? By buying gadgets that pay for themselves and save money in other areas of your life. Some show immediate benefits, while others show savings over time.
These gadgets are often energy-efficient and environmentally safe. Most of all, they aren’t impulse buys. A wise investment requires an assessment to determine if the device can potentially return money to your wallet.
A triple benefit of the gadgets we’re going to look at today—they’re perfect gift ideas for fellow homemakers.
So let’s see how we can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Home Gadgets to Save You Money
1. Universal Battery Charger
If you have kids, your house is probably a mini-toy r us with dozens of noisy, remote-controlled toys everywhere. Those toys need batteries, and so do their hand controllers.
Add in the remote for your television and radio, your flashlight, and other battery-powered gadgets, and it’s safe to say—you go through a lot of batteries yearly. Enter rechargeable batteries.
A universal battery charger + rechargeable batteries = saving on regular battery costs. It’s a long-haul savings option, which you may think is insignificant, but every dollar saved counts.
Another perk to consider is your contribution to fewer batteries in our landfills. So it’s a win for you and the environment.
2. Electricity Usage Monitor
Ever looked at your electricity bill and wanted to pull your hair out? You just spent an entire month trying to conserve your wattage, but the bill is still the same or more. Is your utility company playing a sick joke, or is there a hidden problem you don’t know about?
Your electricity usage monitor will answer that question.
It shows you exactly how much power a device consumes, on or off. And yes, you want to test how much your gadgets are draining even when they’re turned off.
Powered-down electrical devices pull a ‘phantom load’ through the wall outlet. Some devices pull a tiny quantity while others pull a bill-raising amount. Unplug all heavy drainers. And if that is too much of a hassle, plug them into power strips and flick the switch when not in use.
Try your month of conservation again without the phantom loads sabotaging your efforts, and see how much you save.
3. Smart Power Strip
Desktop computers are the unassuming phantom drainers in your home. We leave our CPUs and periphery devices plugged in a button press away from use, but in the between-time, they drain wattage from your outlets.
Here’s how a smart power strip saves you money. Traditional power strips allow you to expand your power outlet count, but it also encourages you to leave everything plugged in. In standby mode, these devices waste electricity.
With a smart strip, you get the outlet numbers, but the strip shuts down power to devices that go into standby mode.
So again, you can save money by continually unplugging your gadgets or investing in a smart power strip.
4. Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Fluorescent light bulbs use about 75-80% less energy than regular incandescent bulbs. These light bulbs emit less heat, which significantly reduces the energy consumed by your air conditioning unit.
They also last more than six times longer than regular bulbs, so you’re saving on bulb replacement.
Extra tip: Create a lighting plan for your rooms. Use low-wattage bulbs in what we call “non-reading” areas where bright lights are not necessary. Clean your bulbs and lighting fixtures, as dust lowers light levels.
5. Low-Flow Shower Heads
Is your shower head a saver or a waster? Water-saving shower heads are low-flow options that deliver just enough water to rinse your shampoo without wasting unnecessary amounts.
According to federal regulations, low-flow shower heads use 2.5 gallons per minute (GMP). Most water-saving show heads aim for 2 GMP, which earns them the coveted WaterSense certification issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A showerhead with 1.5 GMP can reduce water consumption by 40 percent. An average household in America saves about 15,000 gallons per year by installing low-flow shower heads. Now that’s some wise savings.
6. Solar Outdoor Lighting
Make use of renewable energy with solar outdoor lighting. It’s a great option if you want to light your yard in the evening without worrying about adding to your electric bill.
Solar outdoor fixtures recharge themselves during the day, providing adequate lighting at night. Weatherproof and easy to maintain, outdoor solar lights are environmentally friendly. Better yet, they switch on and off automatically based on sunlight. This eliminates your worry about coming home in the dark and high energy costs.
7. Smart Home Thermostat
Do you have central air conditioning? Then you need a smart thermostat. They provide precise temperature regulation, allowing you to control your home’s temperature on a predetermined schedule.
Meaning you can set temperatures for different times of the day.
Outside of manual setups, your smart thermostat learns your preferences and habits over time, adapting your home’s temperature accordingly.
Sensors built into the thermostat can determine whether or not the house is occupied and suspend heating or cooling until your return.
The wifi feature allows you remote control over heating/cooling settings from your smartphones and laptops. It records data on internal and external temperatures, the time your HVAC system has been running, and even notifies you when you should replace your air filter.
The advanced features of the smart thermostat give you control over your energy use, saving you money.
8. Space Heater
Another great way of reducing your energy consumption is with a space heater. Central heating and air conditioning systems come with high monthly bills unless you apply cost-saving measures (e.g., smart thermostats). A space heater offers a simpler solution — heat spaces as needed.
Small space heaters are portable. Move them from room to room as it becomes necessary at chiller times of the year. Don’t waste money heating the spare bedroom or your office when you’re cozied with a book in the living room.
9. Freshness Extender
A weekly meal plan saves you time during your busy week. But what throws off the whole ‘saving’ part of the plan is food going stale. Groceries that don’t last as long as you expected while refrigerated.
The freshness extender helps with this problem. It keeps your produce edible for longer. Put it into the crisper drawer inside your fridge, and voila! You cut down on your food waste and your grocery bill.
10. Dash Cam
Save loads on car insurance with a dash cam. This handy gadget provides an eyewitness account and video proof you can take to your insurance company.
Presenting video evidence in the case of a collision that isn’t your fault cuts down the time you spend pleading your case. And if your car is damaged while parked, your dash cam can help you identify the culprit.
Conclusion
To save money with your next gadget purchase, ask yourself these questions:
- Is it energy efficient?
- Does it solve or help find solutions for money-sucking issues in your home?
- Is it environmentally safe?
Gadgets will save you money—if you plan your purchase and invest in the right ones.
