15 easy ways that you can cut down your bill

1. Wash clothes on cold

Cold water requires less energy than warm water to wash which saves you money.

2. Adjust your thermostat

Moving your thermostat up or down a few degrees will save you hundreds of dollars each year. Especially if you use electric heat anywhere in your house. You can also install a Nest Thermostat. This can help you save hundreds per year.

3. Turn your hot water heater down

If your water isn’t being heated over 120 degrees, you are saving on energy.

4. Do chores at night

Run the dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer later at night when energy costs are cheaper. Utility companies will charge more for energy that’s being used during peak times.  Plan to run these appliances when costs are cheaper.

But – this will only work if your utility company is had “dual time” rates. Many have flat rates and it doesn’t matter what time you use energy.

5. Air dry your clothes

This might be hard to do in the colder months, but once it’s nice outside then do this.

6. Clean or replace your HVAC filter monthly

Save money by buying your filters in bulk. Just search for the right dimensions and specs and you can find 6 or 10 packs on Amazon for a fraction of the cost of the big box stores.

7. Unplug appliances when you are not using them.

Get in the habit of not just turning off the lamp but unplugging it. Even items that are turned off pull electricity when they are plugged in. An easy way to do this is plug things into a power strip and unplug it when you are not using them. You can also upgrade to a smart power strip which might be easier.

8. Contact your utility company.

There may be some cost-savings programs available to you. There are some companies installing remotely controlled thermostats that are set to shut off from time to time. You won’t notice the difference except on your monthly bill.

9. Change your shower head and faucets.

You can purchase a low flow shower head which doesn’t cost a lot and will push out less water. Or you can purchase a slightly more expensive shower head with ShowerStart technology.

These shower heads conserve all the water that runs while you wait for it to warm up and alerts you to it. The cost of these shower heads should be recovered in just a couple of months.

10. Keep your home sealed tight.

Not only should you cover drafty windows with plastic in the winter, but you should also install weather stripping around doors which allows air in and out. You can also install insulation pads to go inside electrical outlets and add spray foam around windows that will allow your utility costs to decrease.

These following 4 options will require some up-front costs; use as many outlets for saving yourself money on these before purchasing.