4 Money-Saving Smart Home Upgrades for Renters or Homeowners

Article courtesy of Curtis Fisher of tradesbright.org

It seems like everyone wants their homes to be smarter these days, and that’s for good reason. Smart home products can save families a lot of time and money, and picking up these devices doesn’t have to cost a fortune. If you are thinking of taking the plunge, you can use these smart home tips to find upgrades that fit your needs and your budget.

Smart Lighting to Keep Homes Safe & Secure

As ProtectAmerica explains, having smart lights in your home is an effective way to deter would-be criminals from targeting it. With smart lights, you can turn your lights off and on from your smartphone, which means that you can keep up the appearance of someone being home even when they’re not.

Best of all for your budget, switching to smart lighting doesn’t have to be expensive. You can pick up bulbs from retailers like Best Buy to upgrade your home security and safety in minutes. While Best Buy typically offers some pretty sweet deals on smart lighting and other smart home products, exploring a Best Buy shopping guide helps you save even more. Shopping clearance, open box, and Best Buy outlet items are just a few of the ways you can snag the latest smart home products for less.

Smart Thermostats to Save on Energy Costs

Keeping your home comfortable, while also being mindful of energy costs, can feel like a chore. Lowering your blinds and switching your ceiling fans to the correct settings during the summer can help with both, but installing a smart thermostat in your home or condo takes it a step further.

These thermostats gradually learn which temperature settings you prefer in your home and then automatically adjust heating and cooling settings. Some of the best smart thermostats of this year are also some of the easiest to install, which makes these devices perfect for both homeowners and renters.

The energy savings from having a smart thermostat in your home are undeniable. Of course, the peace of mind and convenience you get is worth so much more.

Smart Appliances to Help Reduce Grocery Bills

Do you throw out old and expired food after each grocery store trip? If so, you are definitely not alone. Each year, Forbes says American families toss out a staggering 31.9% of the food they purchase in stores. The average costs of this food waste is $1,866 per year for each household!

If you want to cut down on the amount of food you throw away, you can use your smartphone to create shopping lists and meal plans. If you want to get serious about reducing your food waste, however, you could always invest in a smart refrigerator. Rising in popularity, these smart appliances allow you to peer into your refrigerator while you are in the grocery store. That way you don’t end up buying ingredients and food that you already have. As an added bonus, smart refrigerators also tend to be Energy Star compliant, which can lead to more power savings.

 Smart Home Products That Save Priceless Time

At the end of the day, your time is more valuable than any other possessions or assets that you have, so finding ways to save this priceless commodity is so important. The most popular devices were created to help save homeowners and renters time during their busy routines, and you can likely find most of these gadgets at your local big box store or online.

In addition to smart lighting, thermostats and appliances, NBC News points out that some of the best time-savers are things like robot vacuums and personal assistants.

Wifi switches also add more convenience to your routine. These low cost gadgets can make other electronics smarter, and you just need to unplug them to move them—which makes them perfect for renters.

Are Smart Home Products For You?

Making your home smart is honestly one of the smartest moves you can make. Not only will adding these devices help save you time and money, but it will also help keep you and your loved ones safer and more comfortable in your home. Plus you can find devices to fit any budget or style, which make them perfect for anyone!