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Did you know that the average American consumer spends $63,000 each year? A large portion goes to bills, such as utility and mortgage.
If you’re struggling to pay household bills, it’s time to consider becoming money-conscious. But without prior experience, you’re unlikely to know the methods of saving money. It’s especially when you aren’t familiar with the average household electricity bill.
Don’t give up yet.
With this guide, you’ll learn ways on how to save on your bills. That way, you can manage your finances better. Read on and find out more:
1. Look Around
You can also look around for cheaper utility providers. It’s similar to the process of looking for the right car, clothes, and loans. A good place to start is to call your power company and ask for their energy providers.
Once you get their energy providers list, compare the prices. That way, you can pick the cheapest among them.
2. Control Your Thermostat
If you keep your home too cool or too warm without people in it is a waste. That’s why it’s necessary to get a smart or programmable thermostat. You’re likely to save 10% on heating and cooling each year if you turn your thermostat back 7-10F for 8 hours from its normal setting every day.
3. Cool Your Hot Water Heater
A hot shower feels great when starting your day. But if you heat the tank, you’re spending a lot more on your energy bills. Take note. Heating water takes around 14-18% of your total utility bill.
Water heaters use 140F as their default heat setting. But it’s not a bad thing to drop it and enjoy a warm shower instead. The ideal temperature to make the most out of comfort and savings is 120F.
4. Run Appliances Late at Night
The best time to save money is to run certain appliances when it’s late at night. These include dishwashers and clothes dryers. The reason is that energy goes on sale during these hours.
When using energy at peak times, utility companies will charge you more. Make a plan for when to run these appliances. It ensures that you save more without compromising your appliances’ functionality.
5. Never Forget Filters
Change the filters regularly since this prevents your HVAC system from becoming filthy and getting bogged down. It will keep your heater and air conditioner in peak condition for longer.
Look at your HVAC manufacturer and see their recommended filter change routine. Depending on the quality of your filter, you’re likely to change it monthly or quarterly. Maintaining your system saves you from costs because of repairs.
When your HVAC system gets clogged by various debris like dust, dirt, and pet hair, its airflow becomes restricted. That makes your air conditioner work harder to keep your home cool. Aside from the bigger energy costs, it becomes easier for it to break as time passes.
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6. Decrease Lighting Costs
You need not sit in the dark if you aim to save some bucks for your electricity bill. The good news is that some lightbulbs use less energy compared to others. Another thing to invest in is timers that turn lights off as soon as you aren’t using them.
If you’re still using incandescent bulbs, it’s time to move to the future and use LEDs. The latter saves you lots of money throughout your lifespan. On average, an LED bulb lasts 42 times longer and consumes 80% less power than incandescent bulbs.
Another option you should look into is compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). It’s the best choice if you plan to have outdoor lighting that lasts longer. These last ten times longer and only consume a fourth of the energy when compared to incandescent bulbs.
7. Use Ceiling Fans
Your air condition uses around 25% of your household’s energy. It equates to about 36 cents per hour, and it’s the most expensive of all appliances. In comparison, a ceiling fan will only cost a penny for each hour of operation.
Ceiling fans can’t bring a room’s temperature down compared to an air conditioner. But it helps by making your room feel cooler. If you use a fan while bumping your thermostat temperature by 4 degrees, you’ll save $104 on cooling costs during the summer.
8. Unplug When Unused
Regardless of the appliance, unplug when you aren’t using them. It’s often easy to forget to unplug appliances like coffee makers and microwave ovens. Even while on standby mode, lots of things in your house eat your energy.
Computers and televisions hog more power even when unused. That’s why you’ll save more money when you unplug these. Put this on your household bills list of what to save to ensure you never forget.
9. Wash Clothes Using Cold Water
It’s often appalling how much energy households spend on frivolous things. If you opt to use the cold water setting on your clothes washer, you decrease your energy consumption a lot. It’s surprising to know that heating the water accounts for 90% of the energy used by a clothes washer.
If you want a cleaner, more cost-efficient energy, use solar to power your home. Look for the best solar contractors around to ensure you get the best systems around.
10. Seal Up Cracks
As your house ages, you’re likely to get some unwanted gaps around your walls. If you seal up these cracks, you stop heat from escaping your home. It saves you lots of money on heating, especially if you have severe winter temperatures.
A good place to start is your windows. Use insulation strips around the frame to keep heat from dissipating outside. As for your doors, use the same material around the edges.
Save on Your Household Bills Today!
These are the things you must do to save on your household bills. Use these if you aren’t sure how to decrease your monthly energy consumption.
Did this guide help you start a better energy-saving habit? If so, we encourage you to read our other posts and learn more valuable household tips and tricks today.
