{"id":42305,"date":"2025-09-04T04:24:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T04:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/42305\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T04:24:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T04:24:27","slug":"9-things-frugal-people-always-do-when-they-first-buy-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/42305\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Things Frugal People Always Do When They First Buy a House"},"content":{"rendered":"

Frugal people don\u2019t stop saving once they\u2019ve bought a house<\/a> \u2014 they keep looking for ways to make the most of their money. From claiming every property tax exemption to tackling DIY projects, they know exactly how to avoid unnecessary expenses.<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s how to follow suit and make sure you don\u2019t spend more than necessary after purchasing a house<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Take Advantage of Property Tax Exemptions<\/p>\n

Frugal people look for every opportunity to save, including on their property taxes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to be frugal about your property tax bill, there\u2019s no better way to do it than to take advantage of each and every property tax exemption that is available to you,\u201d said Chris Gleason, the founder and CEO at Simplicite Tax Loans<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlenty of homeowners fail to take the necessary steps to claim their homestead or primary residence exemption. There are also generally other exemptions for seniors, veterans and disabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Prioritize Needs Over Wants<\/p>\n

Frugal people have a good handle on their budgets and focus their spending on what they actually need instead of things they might want.<\/p>\n

Matt Vernon, head of consumer lending at Bank of America<\/a>, recommended focusing on acquiring essential items for your new home first, such as a bed, sofa and basic kitchen appliances.<\/p>\n

\u201cCreate a list and budget for these necessities before considering non-urgent purchases like decorative items,\u201d he explained. \u201cThis helps you prioritize \u2018needs\u2019 and prevents overspending.\u201d<\/p>\n

Take Advantage of DIY Projects<\/p>\n

Frugal homeowners know that they can save big if they tackle home improvements themselves<\/a> rather than hiring a professional. Considering you could spend $45-$150 per hour to hire a professional to do anything from painting an accent wall to replacing a showerhead, this makes a lot of sense.<\/p>\n

\u201cUse online tutorials for guidance on tasks like painting, assembling furniture or installing shelves,\u201d he said. \u201cInvesting in multi-purpose tools can be cost-effective and allow you to handle various projects. Start small to build confidence and gradually take on more complex tasks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shop Second-Hand<\/p>\n

It might be tempting to buy furniture for every room in your home with so many long-term 0% financing offers available from national furniture stores \u2014 but frugal people know better.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsider furnishing and decorating parts of your home on a budget by buying second-hand items,\u201d Vernon suggested. \u201cCheck thrift stores, consignment shops and online marketplaces for quality used furniture and decor.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cInspect items for damage and test electrical goods before purchasing. Don\u2019t hesitate to negotiate prices, especially when buying multiple items.\u201d<\/p>\n

Use Energy Wisely<\/p>\n

Frugal people know that energy costs can put a big drain on your budget if you don\u2019t make an effort to increase the efficiency of your home and curtail energy usage.<\/p>\n

\u201cReduce utility bills with energy-saving measures<\/a>,\u201d said Vernon. \u201cSwitch to LED bulbs, seal drafts around windows and doors and adjust your thermostat. You can even consider a programmable thermostat for better energy management.<\/p>\n

According to Vernon, these changes will not only help you save money but will also support a sustainable home.<\/p>\n

Use Coupons and Cashback Apps<\/p>\n

Frugal people know it\u2019s not practical to expect to buy everything secondhand. When they can\u2019t, frugal people find other ways to save.<\/p>\n

Jaclyn Anastasakos, a real estate agent at LUXE Properties LLC<\/a> said when buying new appliances<\/a>, tools or household items, look for discounts, promo codes and cashback offers.<\/p>\n

\u201cApps like Rakuten or Honey can help you find the best deals and rebates,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Install a Water Filter<\/p>\n

Bottled water is a nice convenience, but frugal people know that paying for those bottles is like pouring money down the drain. .<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of constantly buying bottled water, invest in a quality water filter for your tap,\u201d suggested Anastasakos. \u201cIt\u2019s an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to enjoy clean drinking water.\u201d<\/p>\n

Avoid Unnecessary Subscriptions<\/p>\n

Buying a new home is like a fresh start, and frugal people always evaluate their current expenses to see what they can reduce or eliminate.<\/p>\n

Anastasakos said you should\u00a0consider whether you need multiple streaming services, magazine subscriptions or memberships right away.<\/p>\n

\u201cLimit them to essentials until you\u2019re certain of what you use regularly,\u201d she suggested.<\/p>\n

Reevaluate Insurance Policies<\/p>\n

Frugal people also know not to assume that their current insurers are offering them the best bang for your bank. In actuality, it pays to shop around.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompare homeowners insurance rates regularly to ensure you\u2019re getting the best deal,\u201d Anastasakos recommended. And keep in mind that \u201cbundling insurance policies can also save money.\u201d<\/p>\n

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com<\/a>: 9 Things Frugal People Always Do When They First Buy a House<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Frugal people don\u2019t stop saving once they\u2019ve bought a house \u2014 they keep looking for ways to make…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":42306,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[177],"tags":[79,31886,31882,31884,18,19,17,31883,234,235,31887,31881,31885,19639],"class_list":{"0":"post-42305","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-personal-finance","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-chris-gleason","10":"tag-decorative-items","11":"tag-diy-projects","12":"tag-eire","13":"tag-ie","14":"tag-ireland","15":"tag-matt-vernon","16":"tag-personal-finance","17":"tag-personalfinance","18":"tag-property-tax","19":"tag-property-taxes","20":"tag-simplicite-tax-loans","21":"tag-unnecessary-expenses"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42305"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42305\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}