Utility Bills. Easy to read. Easy to spell. But not easy to ignore. (Ha ha) Am I right? Utility bills had been there already. Before we were even born! This had been the era of our parents. It came to them every month. A regular customer to all the paychecks and cards. But is there a way to get away from them? Well, sad to say, but NO. Not unless if you live in an isolated place where there is no electricity and water. The question is, do you want to go and live there? Of course not! (Well not all people don’t want to live there!) The main reason is that we are now used to live the lifestyle here in the city. And now, thanks to our intelligent inventors of LED, Air conditioners, and to some of the electronics, our life has never been easier. Here are some basic tips to cut down on your utility expenses!
(1) Renting an Apartment – If you are renting or planning to rent an apartment. Try to consider having some company. In that way both of you will share the payment of the utility bills. From water to electricity. Let us all admit it, there are very few apartments up for rent who got free utility bills. For your safety, just make sure you know the person that you are going to share with.
(2) Learn how to turn OFF – Always turn off what’s not in use. For example, you have tons of lights in your entire house. If it is daylight and you can still see inside your house, why not turn them off? In that way you can conserve some electricity. When it comes at night, just turn the ones on the outside and in your path way inside your house.
(3) To more movies or less payment – Are you familiar with the PlayStation Vue? It is cheaper than cable. The price starts at $39.99 per month and before you subscribe, they have a free 5 day trial. Their bundle includes live streaming from your favorite sports channel.
(4) Darkness – Close all the curtains every time the sun is so high to keep you cool inside. It can also be used when it is too cold, it will keep you warm and comfy inside. Try using a thick double curtain dark colored curtains. It might help or go to a thrift shop and purchase a cheap fan instead of using your air conditioners.
(5) Cold Surroundings – Have you tried to turn on your air conditioner all day? Well, it is okay but with precaution. You can actually turn on your air conditioner whole day! The trick is, turn it on and set the thermostat to its highest temperature for an Hour. After an hour, you can lower the temperature. It is not advisable if you leave your house! Please be aware of that. The more you turn on and off the air conditioner, the more it is likely to consume high voltage of electricity. Air conditioners are like fridge, they adjust to the temperature of the room.
(6) Do not ignore Ceiling Fans – Ceiling fans help the air circulate in the room. But I suggest ceiling fans to a much bigger space or area of the house. In that way, you are not going to use your air conditioner often.
(7) Thermal Power – Use thermal curtains. They actually help to keep the room to its cool temperature when it is closed all day if you are not home. I highly suggest that you use dark colors for curtains as it blocks the ray of the sun rather than using a light colored curtains. But it is all up to you.
(8) Old School Drying – Before dryers were invented, we used dry racks and clothespins to dry up all our clothes. Why not ditch dryer and use the old method? You can save tons of money with this method. Place it outside and let the sun do its job. It also depends on where you live.
(9) Unplug – Unplug all the electronics in use when you leave home. I know it is not working when it is turned off but don’t you guys know that even though they are turned off but it is still plugged, the electricity still flows through the wire.
(10) Insulator – One good ways to cut down your bills is to install some Polyiso insulated sheathing in your windows, ceilings, walls and doors. It does not allow the heat or air to pass through. It also helps reduce the air infiltration in your home.
(11) LED and Watts – When purchasing new appliances, electronics, and bulbs that you will use in your home. Make sure it is LED as it helps you conserve energy. And also you need to consider checking the watts of each electronics and appliances. The higher the watts, the more electricity it consumes.
(12) Full Load – John Wesley once said “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” But when you want to cut down your bills, you will ignore that saying. If possible, try to wash dishes and laundry when it is in full load. In that way you can save electricity and water. Please note that I am not forcing you to do it.
(13) Keeping it Cool – Make sure your fridge has enough supply or make it at least almost full. Keep in mind that having an empty fridge has a hard time maintaining its temperature to keep it cool. If you have no time go and buy a supply. A gallon of water and sodas will suffice.
(14) Social Media Life – How often do you use the internet? How much do you pay for your internet service provider? Are you working from home? If you are using the internet for social media then consider switching your ISP. Most of the internet service providers charge you for using their modem or router. Be open to wireless broadband. It is way cheaper than the wired broadband.
(15) Maintenance – Do at least a quarterly or yearly maintenance in your home. Call an all-around person who can check the pipes, drainage, air vents, electrical wires and many more. In that way, you can prevent some damages that might get big when it is prolonged and you are not aware of it.
We have reached at the end of our lists. You see, only you can cut down your own utility bills. The way you handle it. I really hope our lists helped you and can help you in the future. Did we miss something? Comment it down below! Thank you for giving your time reading this!
