Household bills are expensive, and along with your rent or mortgage chances are most of your wages are taken up by them each month. And while bills are an inevitable fact of life, it doesn’t mean to say you have to pay well over the odds. There are plenty of things you can do to reduce your bills, and free up cash for the things you’d rather be spending it on. 

Save on Your Gas Bill

Getting your windows double glazed and having wall and loft cavity insulation is a great start to saving money on your gas bill. But there are things you can do that don’t involve getting builders in- if like me you’re renting you can’t exactly start changing things like this and so have to work with what you have. So to save money on your gas bill, turning off radiators in unused rooms is a good idea (as well as keeping the doors shut to those rooms!) You could also have your heating on a timer so it’s not being left on all day, and get plenty of cosy throws for your sofa to cuddle up with in the evenings. That way you’re not having to put the heating up so high all night too. 

So much electricity is wasted every day just from leaving products on standby. The Energy Savings Trust claims that up to £80 a year is wasted in most homes due to appliances left like this. It’s not difficult to switch something off properly when you use it, so try and get into the habit as much as possible. Another easy way to cut down your electric usage is to switch to energy saving bulbs. They're not expensive and it takes a matter of minutes to do, it's such an easy change to make but can massively help the environment as well as save you money. You should also make sure to service your heating and cooling systems so that they aren't leaking energy, causing your bills to go up. Speak with AC repair Clarksville TN services, or services within your area, to have them do a thorough check.

Save on Your Water Bill

In the UK the prices for your water bills are set, and there’s nothing you can do to haggle a lower price or ask them to reduce it. Between 1973 and 1990, the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue put a valuation on all homes, and it’s based on these valuations that the water companies work out your bill. Of course this is crazy, the value of a property can change drastically in that time (for better or for worse). The Valuation Office no longer changes these rates either, and so you’re stuck with the water bills you’re given. However there are a couple of ways around this. The first one is to have a water meter installed, this means that you only pay for the amount of water you use instead of a set bill. However this does mean that your bill could end up being higher if you use a lot of water, and is only really worth doing if you’re a single person living in a property (or are a particularly thrifty household when it comes to water). The second way is to get your own private water supply. This can be achieved with borhole drilling, it saves you money and also means you’re not at the mercy of the water companies for things like hosepipe bans. Boreholes can be done even in small gardens, and gives you access your own clean private water source. 

Save on Your Shopping Bill

One of the key ways to save money on food shopping is preparation. Draw up a weekly meal plan, and then write a list based on exactly what you need. Then follow the list religiously, if you’re easily suckered into deals and things you don’t need at the supermarket then consider doing your shopping online. When you know what you’re eating for the next few days you can be prepared, you’re never caught short wondering what to make and won’t end up resorting to expensive and unhealthy takeaways. If you’re strapped for time during the week, batch cooking at the weekend can be helpful. Make a big meal and portion it into freezer bags or tupperware boxes ready to grab and reheat when it’s late and you’re tired. Another great way to reduce waste and make your money go further is to add some store cupboard recipes to your weekly rotation. The kinds of meals that can be made cheaply using the dried and frozen food you already have on hand- no need to run out to the shops to buy more fresh ingredients. Think things like chicken pasta using dried wholemeal pasta, frozen chicken breasts and homemade tomato sauce using tinned tomatoes and herbs from the storecupboard.

Running a beauty salon is incredibly rewarding, as you get to make people look and feel great about themselves. It's a great business for those who love speaking to and working with people, and you get to develop your creativity too. If you already have years of experience of working in beauty, starting your own business and becoming the boss could be the natural progression of things. But what does it take to get set up in the business of beauty? Here's a beginner's check-list that will help you to make a success of your salon business. Ready? Let's go!

Finances

First of all, you need to think about money. Now setting up a business is expensive, there's no denying it. If you set out a budget and have a small emergency fund set aside though, you won't be left with too many nasty surprises. There are ways that you can save money too. Finding a premises that needs renovating but which you can work on yourself is a great place to start. If you want to create a unique look for your salon too, check out markets, auction sites and second hand shops for some bargains too. Remember, we all have to start somewhere. Do your paperwork! Rules and regulations don't inspire much enthusiasm, but they are important. By staying on the right side of the law you won't run into any trouble. So make sure that you have all the correct licenses, have liaised fully with your local authority and have taken all the appropriate training before you even think about opening.

What Will You Offer Customers?

One of the main things you will need to decide is what services you will provide at your salon. A lot of this will be based on your skills and qualifications, but you can also hire others in the beauty industry to work in your salon to provide extras to clients. You could consider hair, makeup, tanning, nails, waxing, brow and lash treatments and much more. It can be useful to take a look at established and successful salons and see the route that they've gone down. For example, Mimosa Beauty, an award winning beauty salon in Chelmsford offer pampering packages for mums-to-be, think of what you can offer on top of your standard treatments. 

Marketing Your Business

Now, you're about to open for business and you want to drum up some publicity. So get yourself out there! Network with journalists from local papers, fellow business owners in your area and even reach out to some bloggers and ask them to come into the salon for a complimentary treatment. Getting to know a broad range of people will really help you get your name out to a big audience. Don't forget to set up a website and some social media accounts too. These are a great way to keep your customers in the loop about any special offers and upcoming events. You can also use them to build up a friendly rapport with people– vital if you're going to get people coming back again and again.

Here's To Your Salon!

So there you have it – your quick guide to getting your beauty salon up and running. Of course, you'll need to do much more in-depth research but this is a good place to start. If you've got the funds and plenty of enthusiasm, there's no reason why you can't make your business a success. So here's to 2017 – a beautiful new year where the sky is the limit!