Standards Support Frugal Habits for the New Year

1/03/2019

With the start of a new year comes fresh resolutions for a year of growth and positive change. One resolution found on many lists is to save money, and standards are there to help make this goal a reality.

Reducing recurring expenses is one of the most effective ways to increase your bank account balance. Large monthly bills for a gym membership can chip away at your paycheck, so many frugal exercisers choose to get their workout at home. These standards assure the safety of home exercise equipment:

ASTM F2115-18, Standard Specification for Motorized Treadmills, developed by ASTM International, a member and audited designator of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
ASTM F2810-15, Standard Specification for Elliptical Trainers, developed by ASTM International
UL 1647 Ed. 6-2015, Standard for Motor-Operated Massage and Exercise Machines, developed by ANSI member and audited designator Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

Even smaller expenses can add up if they're a part of your regular schedule, like a daily cup of coffee. Rather than buying a drink on the way to work, brew your own coffee at home with the help of ANSI/AHAM CM-1-2007, Household Electric Coffee Makers. This American National Standard was developed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), establishing a standard method that provides means for comparing and evaluating different brands and models of household electric coffee makers.

Money-conscious savers may already follow these tips - or maybe your gym time and morning coffee run are too valued to give up! In that case, consider saving money by taking up a new, frugal hobby: sewing. Repairing small holes in clothing or altering garments that don't fit properly can offer significant savings, preventing you from having to purchase new clothes as frequently. IEC 60335-2-28 Ed. 4.1 b:2008, Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-28: Particular requirements for sewing machines, deals with the safety of electric sewing machines for household use. It was developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)'s Technical Committee (TC) 61, Safety of household and similar electrical appliances. The U.S. holds the secretariat for this TC, with UL designated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as administrative secretariat and Randi Myers of UL as secretary. UL, an ANSI member and audited designator, is also the ANSI-approved U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) administrator for TC 61.

Of course, increasing how much money you earn is a surefire way to give a boost to your bank account, allowing you to put more money into savings. ANSI's Career Opportunities page provides a list of available positions in the standards community, offering an online network that connects members and constituents with progressive companies looking to hire qualified individuals.

If saving money is one of your resolutions for 2019, you can count on standards to help you achieve your goal all year long.