How Can I Pay Less for My Utilities? 11 Tips for saving on Utility Bills.

Utilities must be paid and seeing the bills come in the mail is one of those things we can count on in life.  So, that is undeniable, but you can make those bills smaller perhaps by changing a few of your current habits.  Perhaps you are already doing some of these things, but if you are not, you can benefit by implementing some new ideas, and sticking to them. 

1.  In the winter, lower your thermostat setting one or two or more degrees.  Even lowering it just one degree, you can save one or two percent on your heating bill.  This can translate into a lot of money over time.    If you get chilly, put on a sweater, or warm up your feet with toasty socks or slippers.  When you are going to bed, you can turn down your thermostat even more, and for sure when you leave.  You will definitely save money and especially over time by doing these things.

2.  Ask your utility company for an energy audit, or arrange for them to come and install some energy conservation measure.  It used to be that they would send out a contractor and they would charge for just the materials they used, and that still may be the case for some. Call to find out.  Sometimes they offer rebates to encourage people to buy energy efficient new appliances.  If you find that you have a large project that needs to be done, sometimes you can find zero interest financing on a loan, or at least for a time.  Find out all the small details involved though first. Know that over time you will be saving a lot of money.

3.  In the summer time, use fans and less air conditioning. 

4.  There are some not too expensive tune ups that you can get for saving more energy around the home.  For instance, get an annual furnace tune up, to make sure your heating system is running efficiently.   You can have them wrap a water heater in insulation.  The biggest drains of energy and your wallet are going to be the heating system, refrigeration equipment and the hot water heater. 

5. Ask your utility providers if they offer any discounts. Sometimes they may offer a discount for using energy during off peak hours, like nights and weekends for example. If they do, sign up for this and buy a timer for your water heater. This way it cycles on only during off peak hours.

6. Close off a room that may not be in use to conserve heat. Close the vents, and let the air be focused to the areas of the house you are actually living in. This takes the greater strain off your heater to keep heating the whole house including parts not being used.

7. By simply sealing up your house, you can save around 10 percent on your energy bill.  Seal up the cracks that let in cold or hot air with caulking, and do some weather stripping wherever it is needed on doors and windows. By pulling down the shades or closing the draperies, you can conserve the temperature inside a bit more as well. Some people put up insulation in the attic, from six to nine inches.

8. Consider looking for a better phone plan/option. You may not even be really using some of your older phone options. If you are not, maybe consider just keeping what you use and saving the money to put toward other things. Always find out all the details on your plans. There is no need to pay large or sometimes huge sums of money to phone companies, because you simply didn't know or realize something fully.

9. Save energy when baking. If you have just a small amount to warm up, consider using a smaller appliance for doing so, like a toaster oven instead of a large oven. Or use the microwave if need be.

10.  Save money by using free online services instead of using the phone.  Or, use the good ole postal service.  Happily shock someone by sending them some paper mail and make their day!  You spend only .44 cents now, though that may go up soon.  There isn't anything quite like getting paper mail, a letter or a card.  Online email services are about the least expensive ways to go.  Conversing while on a cam is even better now, and that has bridged the gap for many families. 

11. Consider air drying your clothes. I like to do this and more in my family do it now as well. Whether you do it on a clothesline in or out, or on one of those wooden dryer racks that you can set anywhere, it doesn't matter. You are for sure saving money on energy by not using your clothes dryer, as well as extending the life of your garments.