Comments on: 11 Ways to Reduce and Save Money on Utility Bills http://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/ Personal Finance Blog, Your Guide to Financial Fitness Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ky8ztzhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/#comment-34601 Ky8ztz Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:50:00 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/?p=660#comment-34601 Here is a simple way to keep your home warm where you spend 90% of your time. It might cost you $20.00 to save $100.00. This method just depend on how much you implement it. Heat rises!! I remember this from my great grandmothers home. We have a four level home. I put curtains up and compartmentalize the different levels. For example: the recreation room and the kitchen are one area. The living room where the digital thermostat is located is another. I keep the digital thermostat set at 67 during the day and 63 at night. Keep an extra blanket on the bed at night. The kitchen and rec room/TV area stay 74 degrees throughout the day. If you have one of the infrared heaters advertised, you can keep an area of yoyr house warmed at 78 degrees easy for 9 cents an hour. The wife was not crazy about all the curtains, but when she seen how much it saved in gas heating, she was happy. The heater never goes on during the day and we are warm and saving money Here is a simple way to keep your home warm where you spend 90% of your time. It might cost you $20.00 to save $100.00. This method just depend on how much you implement it. Heat rises!! I remember this from my great grandmothers home. We have a four level home. I put curtains up and compartmentalize the different levels. For example: the recreation room and the kitchen are one area. The living room where the digital thermostat is located is another. I keep the digital thermostat set at 67 during the day and 63 at night. Keep an extra blanket on the bed at night. The kitchen and rec room/TV area stay 74 degrees throughout the day. If you have one of the infrared heaters advertised, you can keep an area of yoyr house warmed at 78 degrees easy for 9 cents an hour. The wife was not crazy about all the curtains, but when she seen how much it saved in gas heating, she was happy. The heater never goes on during the day and we are warm and saving money

]]> By: Debt Assisthttp://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/#comment-34274 Debt Assist Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:27:00 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/?p=660#comment-34274 Simple, but effective list you got here. I would just like to add that the girls can minimise using their hair blowers, hair curlers, and other electrical gadgets used for primping. Lessening use of these gadgets not only reduces electric bills. It also helps avoid damaging their hair. That's like hitting two birds with one stone, right? Simple, but effective list you got here. I would just like to add that the girls can minimise using their hair blowers, hair curlers, and other electrical gadgets used for primping. Lessening use of these gadgets not only reduces electric bills. It also helps avoid damaging their hair. That’s like hitting two birds with one stone, right?

]]> By: Loishttp://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/#comment-33815 Lois Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:45:00 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/?p=660#comment-33815 One thing I do to save money is not to use my dryer all the time. In the summer months I hang my laundry outside and in the winter months inside. I bought myself a couple clothes rack and use them all the time. It may seem hard but you will see it in your electric bill. One thing I do to save money is not to use my dryer all the time. In the summer months I hang my laundry outside and in the winter months inside. I bought myself a couple clothes rack and use them all the time. It may seem hard but you will see it in your electric bill.

]]> By: Aprilhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/#comment-33527 April Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:11:00 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/?p=660#comment-33527 Casey, about 2 years ago I began unplugging all of my lamps, kitchen appliances that sat on the counter, hair dryers and straighteners that would sit out and stay plugged in through the school and work day. When I heard that by unplugging them we could save some money, I began unplugging everything except what I couldn't get too (oven, washer, dryer). I first saved about $30 a month until I realized how I could stay on top of it more. Now that we are in a good habit, I save between $80 and $120 a month depending on the season. It made a huge difference for us! Casey, about 2 years ago I began unplugging all of my lamps, kitchen appliances that sat on the counter, hair dryers and straighteners that would sit out and stay plugged in through the school and work day. When I heard that by unplugging them we could save some money, I began unplugging everything except what I couldn’t get too (oven, washer, dryer). I first saved about $30 a month until I realized how I could stay on top of it more. Now that we are in a good habit, I save between $80 and $120 a month depending on the season. It made a huge difference for us!

]]> By: Charleshttp://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/#comment-21882 Charles Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:26:54 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/?p=660#comment-21882 We have been able to reduce our electricity usage by almost 50% over the last couple of years using some of the tactics you listed. The biggest contributors have been switching to CFL (compact fluorescent lights) and switching to front load washer and dryer combo. Other things that have help: setting all our computers to hibernate after 30 minutes of inactivity, using fans as much as possible in the summer, washing with warm or cold water instead of hot water. Sometimes it is the simple things that can save a lot of money. Lately I have noticed our electricity usage creeping back up, and I realized that we were having trouble finishing the laundry. We would start a load and then forget about it, causing us to have to re-wash or re-fluff the load wasting electricity. We have been able to reduce our electricity usage by almost 50% over the last couple of years using some of the tactics you listed. The biggest contributors have been switching to CFL (compact fluorescent lights) and switching to front load washer and dryer combo. Other things that have help: setting all our computers to hibernate after 30 minutes of inactivity, using fans as much as possible in the summer, washing with warm or cold water instead of hot water.

Sometimes it is the simple things that can save a lot of money. Lately I have noticed our electricity usage creeping back up, and I realized that we were having trouble finishing the laundry. We would start a load and then forget about it, causing us to have to re-wash or re-fluff the load wasting electricity.

]]> By: Home Power Saverhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/#comment-16608 Home Power Saver Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:57:31 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/?p=660#comment-16608 I've found that some of my most unexpected savings come from the little things. True, replacing energy hog appliances is easy and makes a large impact, but I've saved $150+ a year by using better power management on my computer and "smart" power strips to stop 'vampire' power. I've saved $10-$20 installing occupancy sensors and timers on various lighting. There are a number of useful products like ratcheting door strike plates that can help you seal your house for a couple of dollars and minimal time. I devote my site to these sorts of ideas and just want to make sure everyone realizes you can chip away at your high bills in many ways. I’ve found that some of my most unexpected savings come from the little things. True, replacing energy hog appliances is easy and makes a large impact, but I’ve saved $150+ a year by using better power management on my computer and “smart” power strips to stop ‘vampire’ power. I’ve saved $10-$20 installing occupancy sensors and timers on various lighting. There are a number of useful products like ratcheting door strike plates that can help you seal your house for a couple of dollars and minimal time. I devote my site to these sorts of ideas and just want to make sure everyone realizes you can chip away at your high bills in many ways.

]]> By: Machttp://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/#comment-10197 Mac Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:52:18 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/?p=660#comment-10197 Our utility bills have always been way to high for the size of the house. Several years back I paid for a home energy audit from our local gas company and they zeroed in on a lot of spots in the house where heat was escaping and recommended ways to fix each one. I spent a lot of time after that sealing up all the leaks I could, and probably saved a few bucks. The biggest offender was our old windows though, but I'll let the next owners deal with that! ;) Our utility bills have always been way to high for the size of the house. Several years back I paid for a home energy audit from our local gas company and they zeroed in on a lot of spots in the house where heat was escaping and recommended ways to fix each one. I spent a lot of time after that sealing up all the leaks I could, and probably saved a few bucks. The biggest offender was our old windows though, but I’ll let the next owners deal with that! ;)

]]> By: DGhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/#comment-8940 DG Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:18:52 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/?p=660#comment-8940 I think that solar paneling is a good investment if you have the money or even insulating attics/basements. Helps save a lot on utilities in the long run. What we do though is unplug appliances. you don't save a ton but it adds up and we also limit our shower to between 5-10 min (depending if it involves washing hair) - hard to get used to it but it really ends up saving us a tidy bundle per year I think that solar paneling is a good investment if you have the money or even insulating attics/basements. Helps save a lot on utilities in the long run. What we do though is unplug appliances. you don’t save a ton but it adds up and we also limit our shower to between 5-10 min (depending if it involves washing hair) – hard to get used to it but it really ends up saving us a tidy bundle per year

]]> By: DEANNASHEAhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/#comment-6196 DEANNASHEA Fri, 17 Oct 2008 05:15:38 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/?p=660#comment-6196 You can also save money by budgeting your phone bills. An example is using a company that won't charge you for directory assistance. You can try 1-800-411-SAVE. It's absolutely free. They have live and friendly agents that give out very accurate phone listings. You won't regret trying it! You can save more than a dollar per call.. Imagine how much you can keep. Remember the number 1-800-411-7283! You can also save money by budgeting your phone bills. An example is using a company that won’t charge you for directory assistance. You can try 1-800-411-SAVE. It’s absolutely free. They have live and friendly agents that give out very accurate phone listings. You won’t regret trying it! You can save more than a dollar per call.. Imagine how much you can keep. Remember the number 1-800-411-7283!

]]> By: Ryanhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/#comment-6187 Ryan Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:51:01 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/?p=660#comment-6187 I read something about this...can't remember where. But they sell these devices that you can plug your applicances into to see how much electricity they are using, even if they aren't "on". One guy did it with all his electronics and found out that some things definitely suck on electricity even when they are "off". He suggested putting everything on power strips and then just turning off the entire power strip when they are not in use. For example, plug all your computer stuff (monitor, tower, printer, speakers, etc.) into one power strip and turn off the power strip when you have the computer "off". Not sure how much it will save, but the guy who wrote the article made it seem like if you did this for everything that you could save a considerable amount of money. I read something about this…can’t remember where. But they sell these devices that you can plug your applicances into to see how much electricity they are using, even if they aren’t “on”. One guy did it with all his electronics and found out that some things definitely suck on electricity even when they are “off”. He suggested putting everything on power strips and then just turning off the entire power strip when they are not in use. For example, plug all your computer stuff (monitor, tower, printer, speakers, etc.) into one power strip and turn off the power strip when you have the computer “off”. Not sure how much it will save, but the guy who wrote the article made it seem like if you did this for everything that you could save a considerable amount of money.

]]> By: Caseyhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/#comment-6184 Casey Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:22:20 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/?p=660#comment-6184 I have heard that unplugging appliances can save a lot of money on utility bills because power will still surge through even if the appliance/device is not turned on. This makes sense, but how much does it actually save? $5 a month? $20 a month? $100 a month? Any idea? Of course it would depend on how many things were plugged in, but I guess I am just wondering if it is a significant amount or not. I have heard that unplugging appliances can save a lot of money on utility bills because power will still surge through even if the appliance/device is not turned on. This makes sense, but how much does it actually save? $5 a month? $20 a month? $100 a month? Any idea? Of course it would depend on how many things were plugged in, but I guess I am just wondering if it is a significant amount or not.

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