Domestic skills can help you create a lifestyle that works for you. Not only can domestic skills create a smooth home life, but these also can absolutely save you money and are skills everyone in the family should have!
Let's explore what domestic skills are and how they can help save you money. Plus, how to build domestic skills you want to have.
What are domestic skills?
So what are domestic skills exactly? They are household skills that can help you create a smooth living experience through self-care and general cleanliness. A few examples of common domestic skills include cooking, doing laundry, and light handy work.
You may think that these tasks are just a part of your routine. But tackling extra domestic tasks truly saves you a lot of money! Now you know the domestic skills definition, let's cover why they are so important!
Why are domestic skills important?
Domestic skills are essential to know for several reasons. First, they can help you create a clean and comfortable atmosphere in your home. It is comforting to know that you can handle the tasks that pop up around your house without assistance. Not only is it empowering, but I find it genuinely enjoyable to take pride in my home with a suite of well-executed domestic skills.
Beyond the sense of accomplishment ad responsibility, domestic skills can save you a significant amount of money. With these savings, you can take steps towards the financial future of your dreams.
The best domestic skills to know to save money
So, what domestic skills should you know that will make the most impact on your wallet? Here are a few that can save you money:
Doing your own laundry
First on the list is laundry. Although you can pay someone else to take care of this task, it can be a valuable skill to have. The cost of paying a wash and fold service can add up quickly. You may have to pay anywhere from $1.29 to $2.25 per pound to cover the service.
Depending on the amount of laundry you create, this bill may run out of control quickly. For example, let's say that you create 25 pounds of laundry each week. That could lead to a cost of $32.25 to $56.25 per week to have your laundry done. Imagine how quickly those savings would add up if you tackled this chore yourself.
Painting your home
It is surprising how quickly a coat of paint can transform a space. Personally, I saved a few hundred dollars on replacing my kitchen cabinets by choosing to paint them instead.
Although I'm not incredibly handy, I decided to tackle this item on our pre-move-in list. Although it took some time and patience to transform the cabinets with a fresh coat of white paint, it was completely worth it. The kitchen in our new home looks great. Plus, it only cost about $100 in paint!
Tidying up and decluttering your space
Tidying up or decluttering your space is an often overlooked skill. Although it may seem like a small task, you can transform your entire space by tidying it up. The act of cleaning out clutter doesn't just save your sanity. It also saves you money!
With the average cost of a storage unit running around $90 per month, the cost of clutter can grow quickly. Plus, it can save time to know where everything is in your home. Otherwise, you may be stuck spending hours searching for items when you could use that time better.
Stocking your kitchen on a budget
The cost of groceries seems to be constantly on the rise. But one domestic skill that can combat these rising costs is the ability to stock your kitchen on a budget. It is easy to see how the savings created by this simple skill can add up quickly. Want to learn how to put this skill into practice in your life? Check out our practical tips to cut your grocery bill in half.
Meal planning
Meal planning is one of the best money-saving domestic skills you can learn. However, creating and sticking to a meal plan takes practice. It can be tempting to disregard your perfectly laid plans in favor of a quick take-out meal.
But meal planning can help you think ahead for the right meals for each meal of the week. I was able to slash our food costs by half through meal planning. Ready to learn how to meal plan on a budget? Learn everything you need to know to get started with meal planning here.
Cooking your own meals
Cooking is one obvious way to save money. The more you cook, the less you can spend on delicious meals. But it can be difficult to find the motivation to get started.
If you are reluctant to cook or simply hate cooking, I highly recommend giving an Instapot or Crockpot a try. You can create simple home-cooked meals with minimal time and effort involved.
Knowing basic handyman tasks
Basic tools can help you tackle small but important home tasks. For example, you can use a hammer to hang pictures or a small screwdriver to replace wallet outlets.
The cost of a handyman can run between $50 to $70 per hour. Why not give small home tasks a try with a basic toolset. If you aren't sure where to get started, then YouTube is a great resource.
Finding home decor that suits you on a budget
Home decor that looks picture-perfect doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Although it can certainly be easy to spend a substantial amount of money to furnish and decorate a home, it is possible to find decor that suits your style and your budget. As a domestic skill, many overlook the value of being about to create a homey atmosphere without overspending.
Luckily, it is a skill that you can hone over time. A few good places to start your search for cute and budget-friendly decor, check out thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace to see what's out there.
Hosting parties without overspending
It is lovely to hang out with your friends without spending on overpriced food and drinks out on the town. Instead of going with the conventional approach of dining out to catch up, consider hosting friends at your place.
There is a considerable amount of skill that goes into rounding up a fun group of friends to spend an evening. If you aren't up for cooking an entire meal, consider hosting a potluck to spread out the challenge of cooking multiple dishes.
Since dinner and drinks, out can add up quickly, check out your own budget to see how much you could save. Depending on your spending habits, this skill could save you a few hundred dollars each year.
Cleaning up your house
A clean home is critical for health and wellness. Of course, you can hire a maid to handle cleaning for you. But that choice will cost you between $25 to $50 per hour.
At that hourly rate, you can see the savings add up quickly. Although cleaning isn't necessarily a fun task, it is necessary. When you make it a priority to tackle this skill yourself, you can save big.
Managing your household finances
Household finances are a key part of anyone's long-term wellbeing. However, many outsource this critical task to an advisor. Instead of putting your financial choices in the hands of an advisor, you can take charge of your financial future. The choice to tackle your finances on your own can save you thousands over your lifetime.
You can get started by tackling your budget. Once you have a handle on your budget, it might be time to learn more about investing to build a financial future that works for you. Need some help setting up your budget? Take advantage of our completely free budgeting course!
Learning domestic skills: How to get started
If you aren't sure where to get started with a new skill, then the internet is an amazing resource. Check out sites like YouTube and Pinterest to help you learn almost any skill.
You can also head to Lowes and Home Depot for free DIY workshops for you to learn handyman skills such as installing baseboards, crown molding, and even organization classes! If you're trying to brush up on your cooking domestic skills, then you can take free online cooking courses from the Institute of Culinary Education.
When you are learning new domestic skills, take the saying that practice makes perfect to heart. It is completely understandable to need some time to practice new domestic skills. You'll boost your confidence in domestic skills over time.
It is important to be kind to yourself as you make the effort to learn a new skill. So, don't be too hard on yourself if it takes some time to learn. Instead, just keep practicing until you are comfortable with your new skill.
Save money using these domestic skills!
So now you know the domestic skills definition and how to learn them! Domestic skills can help you reclaim a significant portion of your budget. You can tackle tasks that you would otherwise have to pay someone to handle. So why not take the time to learn these new skills and transform your budget.
Want to learn other skills too? Take a look at these high-income skills that you can use to earn more money.
Start saving even more money with our completely free savings challenge bundle! Also, check out the Clever Girls Knows podcast and YouTube channel for more great financial tips.