Going green doesn’t just benefit the planet – it’s also likely to save you some pennies as well, putting it at the top of our new year’s resolutions list.
Start by thinking about ways you can make your home more eco-friendly. From little things like installing energy-efficient lightbulbs to bigger jobs like improving your insulation, it will all add up and could save you a lot on your energy bills throughout the year.
Tackling your heating usage is also another way to help the environment, with smart thermostats becoming an increasingly popular feature in many homes. Hive has a wide range of products and services to help you control your energy use from your phone, meaning you never have to come home to a cold house again.
Whether it’s decorating the spare room or a major renovation project, spending on your house can sometimes get out of control, leaving you in trouble for the rest of the month – or even the year.
Making a list of the projects you have in mind for the next 12 months can really help, and will encourage you to think about when certain projects will fit in best. For example, if you’ve got a big holiday coming up in the summer, it might not be the most suitable time to revamp your kitchen.
It’s also worth thinking about things you might have no choice but to spend heavily on. Has your boiler been making a strange noise? Have you spotted a damp patch on the wall? Better to plan these things into your yearly budget and have money left over than be left worrying about your finances later down the line.
One of the most common new year’s resolutions is to de-clutter, so put some time aside to get to the back of your kitchen cupboards and throw out the things that have been lurking there for months, if not years.
Then tackle your wardrobe and get rid of those clothes you’ll never wear again – and be ruthless! If you haven’t worn it in the last six months, it’s probably one for the charity shop.
It’s also a good time to look with fresh eyes at the furnishings around your home. Is one room looking particularly cluttered or tired? It could be time to get rid of those cushions you’ve fallen out of love with or the candles that have been shoved out of sight. A clean, fresh house is the perfect start for a new year.
Your home should be somewhere you feel comfortable inviting people into – so give it the attention it deserves. This might mean updating your tableware so you can host a fabulous dinner party or transforming the garden into a place to spend sultry summer evenings.
If there’s a room you avoid spending time in, think about why that is, and what you can change to turn your house into the perfect home.
January is a great time to learn something new, whether it’s via YouTube, an online course or an actual class. Find a task that you’ve always had to rely on someone else for, like putting up shelves or rewiring a plug, and learn how to do it yourself – safely.
As well as saving money, finally mastering a new technique you can use again and again is certainly one of the most rewarding new year’s resolutions on our list.
Having a list of new year’s resolutions for your home can really help you prioritise what needs to be done throughout the year and leave you with a space – and a bank balance – that’s exactly the way you want it to be.