Ways to Save on Utilities

Regardless of where you live, what type of home you live in, and how long you’ve been living in a place, utilities are always a necessity begging to be paid. If you are late or don’t make a payment, suddenly all of the conveniences of modern day living cease to be. Many people - both renters and homeowners alike- become frustrated by the change of seasons and the random spikes in utility bills and wonder what ways they can save money monthly. Well, we are here to give you a few tips about ways to keep from sticker shock every time the electrical company sends a bill your way.

First, let’s cover some of the minor changes you can make to your home or apartment. There are simple tips that allow for a potentially big change, especially for those on a tight budget. One good place to start is the weatherstripping. Check around your doors and windows and see if the weatherstripping that is already in place has any major holes or aging. Old and broken weatherstripping can easily be replaced for a small cost. Spending five $5 on a cheap fix like this can save hundreds a year on utility costs from air leaking out slowly (or quickly, in some cases) and air blowing in on a breeze.

Another small change can be making sure your water heater is insulated. Around the year 2015, new guidelines regarding purchasing new water heaters cropped up and this resulted in a higher interest in keeping water heaters insulated. If your tank is older than the year 2015, it may not have built in insulation. This is an easy fix and can also save bundles on utilities. It’s possible to buy an insulating blanket for the water heater for as little as $25 and doing so will have your pocket book kissing your feet at the end of a high pay period.

Those who are holding onto the lightbulbs they purchased in the 1990s should seriously consider chucking them and instead should look into buying newer bulbs. Replacing the lightbulbs in your home or apartment can cut energy costs by quite a bit over time. Technology has allowed for moe watt-smart lighting options and this means more money in the bank for you come the time of the month to pay utilities. Not to mention, light bulbs being manufactured nowadays last up to 20 years, so there’s little need to pull out the ladder and replace them in the near future. How much time does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Mere minutes, but with lasting effects.

For our next tip, we suggest checking out what programs are available in your area. Some homes may be eligible for a steady price. This means that no matter how low or high the utility bill is per month, the price tag remains the same. Other companies offer incentives that push customers toward a more energy efficient lifestyle. Take some time to peek around the websites of your power, electric, and water providers and you could be surprised at how easy it is to knock a few bucks off of each month’s bill. A couple of dollars may not seem like much, but they could buy milk or a candy bar, so each dollar counts.

Over half of the money spent on utilities per month goes to keeping homes at the right temperature. That’s right, heating and cooling make up the majority of most people’s monthly utility statements. Because of this, many experts suggest a slightly more costly, yet effective and long-lasting solution. Technology has allowed us to have more accurate programmable heaters, and this is one of the most popular pieces of advice in reference to saving money. Since these thermostats are more accurate and more easily set to the proper temperature than their predecessors, they make it easier for you to pick a lower temperature for winter and a high temperature in summer. This logic may seem counterintuitive, but even a few degrees can make a difference on the bill. Start adjusting more slowly to a cooler heat setting in the winter and it will give your body time to adjust to the change. Same in the summer, but instead of keeping the home cooler, you’d warm up the home slightly. Like all of the tips and tricks previously mentioned, this will help you keep your money, plus it will allow for a smaller carbon footprint.

One final tip is to check out the options available in low-flow showerheads. Many homeowners don’t realize just how much water their showerhead expels per minute. Today’s technologies have worked out designs that will keep the water flow to a minimum without sacrificing the integrity of a great shower. This solution can be relatively inexpensive or it can cost a fair chunk of change, but that all depends on the type and brand of shower head you choose. Shop around and save up a bit and you may be able to find a showerhead that blows your current one out of the water. Plus, it will help to conserve water. Energy efficiency can be a daunting phrase to hear, but taking it in small bites can be the difference between a $400 bill and a $200 bill. Implementing large changes can be a bit jarring, so try to take these baby steps to help to improve the overall efficiency of your house. Trust us, you’ll be thanking yourself later when your bill goes down anywhere from a few dollars to quite a bit more.

Sources https://www.angieslist.com/articles/don-t-let-new-water-heater-rules-surprise-you.htm http://www.moneycrashers.com/10-ways-to-reduce-your-utility-bill/