No matter how cheap something is at the time you buy it, if it breaks two months later you haven’t really saved that much money, have you? Here are 6 ways to save money by making your stuff last longer.
Clothes
If holes are a feature of all your clothes, don’t blame it on poverty—blame it on your own carelessness. If you toss all your clothes into the washing machine and immediately press the hot water button, don’t be surprised when they become misshapen and discoloured much sooner. Machine washable clothes should be washed in cold water. And never, ever use the dryer as it completely warps them.
Mobile Phone Battery
The heat in Singapore saps not only your own energy but your mobile phone’s battery life too, so keep your phone out of the sun and if possible store it in your bag rather than your pocket when you’re out and about. Turn off 3G whenever you don’t need it, and deactivate Bluetooth, wi-fi and GPS whenever you’re not using them. Adjust the brightness of your screen so it doesn’t blind you and deplete battery life at the same time.
Air Conditioner
An air con with a dirty air filter is like a human with dirty lungs and more vulnerable to breakdowns, so change your air filter regularly. Make sure the vents are unobstructed by curtains or furniture. Since this is the largest energy guzzler in the house, you really want to make sure that it is running as efficiently as possible. Saving energy (and money, of course) on air conditioning is tricky in itself, but we’ve got some tips on how you can do just that.
Mattress
Rotate or turn your mattress regularly so it doesn’t start to sag in one place. Vacuuming your mattress every now and then will keep it from becoming a cesspit of dust and mites. In Singapore’s steamy climate, a padded mattress cover is a must as it keeps your perspiration from seeping through and also helps to maintain the shape of the top of the mattress.
TV
So many people who shell out big bucks on LED and LCD TVs don’t even know that the screens have a limited lifespan. The brightness of the TV slowly diminishes as it gets older, and eventually becomes too dim to watch. The longer the TV is kept on the sooner it will age, so don’t keep the TV running if you’re not watching it. Lower the brightness and contrast as much as possible, as these make the TV work harder. Just like a person, the TV not only has a finite lifespan but also needs to breathe, so make sure its ventilation system is not blocked by putting some distance between the wall and the back of the TV.
Refrigerator
A broken fridge could spell starvation, so look after yours well. If you see an abnormal amount of condensation on the fridge, that’s a sign that all is not right, so check the seal (the part of the fridge door that seals shut) immediately to see if there’s anything stopping it from closing completely. Try lubricating the seal with Vaseline to keep it airtight. You should also clean the coils now and then and change the water filter every month.
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