(1/6/2012) Erate Exclusive - It's a landlord's market in housing's rental
sector and that means you'll pay through the nose to rent a home, if you don't know where you can cut
costs.
Because it's tough to negotiate flat out for a lower rent, one of the best ways to cut rental costs
is with a long term rental contract instead of a month-to-month deal. That's
a lot like buying a home with a fixed rate mortgage (FRM) instead
of an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM).
With the longer rental term and a FRM you can budget for a fixed housing
cost each month, for a given term. Move in with a month-to-month rental
contract and, in this market, you can expect your rental costs to rise over
the short term.
According to Rent.com,
you can use some of the same lifestyle adjustments home owners use and save
more than $360 a month, or $4,400 a year.
Here's how.
Dump cable. As a renter you pay, on average, $100 per
month for cable television, but how many shows do you really watch when they
are broadcast new? Consider watching shows for free on network websites,
subscribe to Hulu Plus, Netflix or other internet video sites and connect
your computer to your television. The average savings is $92 per month, says
Rent.com.
Space heat. Energy bills run, on average, $183 per
month. Turn your thermostat to 62 degrees and use an energy efficient space
heater only in the room you are using. That will save you about $17 a
month.
Cut the phone cord. Unless you work at home, do you
really need that land line? Smart phones are making landlines obsolete.
Eliminate your landline and save an average $35 a month. If you live in an
area prone to disasters and need to keep a land line for emergencies, reduce
the services to bare minimum local calls.
Illuminate your savings. If you have six lamps in your
home burning old incandescent bulbs and replace them all with Energy Star
qualified light bulbs you can save about $3 a month. That's not a lot, but
it is a savings.
Chill out in the laundry. Do your laundry in cold water,
rather than hot and save about $6 per month.
Work out in your pad. Skip the gym membership. Rent
where there is an exercise room with or without equipment. Get a stationery
bike stand for your bike. Don't disturb the neighbors, but expect to save
$65 a month working out at home.
Eat in. Your kitchen is included in the rent, even if
you don't use it. Order in. Rent.com says the average American eats out 6
times per month, spending an average of $172. So eat out just once a month
and save about $144 a month.
Pull the Plug. Unplug appliances and electronics when
you are not using them. Unplugging one fax machine, one computer monitor,
and one television can save an average $6 a month.
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