If you are an independent adult then you must have had the pleasure of paying for utilities. No amount of budgeting and calculation can prepare you for the utility bills, as they are known to be quite unpredictable. Most people have to pay hundreds of dollars for utilities mostly during summer. It can be hard managing household bills, personal expenses, transport expenses, etc. We try our level best to save every penny because every penny counts but sometimes things can get out of hand, which is why it is necessary to know some tips and tricks that help us to save some cash.
If you are new to adulting then this article will be a huge help. So what are utilities? Utilities are those services that are the primary requirement for a house. These services consist of water, electricity, and gas. There are some places where phone services and internet services are also considered as utilities but we will be focusing on the big two, that is electricity and water.
The main reason behind a huge utility bill is mostly electricity. So let us first talk about the tips and tricks to reduce electricity bills.
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Go Old School, Invest in Fans
Central heating and cooling systems are much more expensive than a Fan, also, central heating and cooling systems consume a lot of energy as compared to Fans. Most people believe that ceiling fans are a bad choice in terms of summers but recent technology has made a lot of upgrades on ceiling fans. Nowadays fans are equipped with a switch that enables fans to switch rotation direction, with this you can set the fan rotation to clockwise ( winter, to push hot air down and pull up cool air ) or counterclockwise (summers, to push cool air towards the floor and pull hot air out).
In case for some reason you cannot install ceiling fans in your rented apartment or house then you should consider investing in pedestal fans. These consume less energy and some of the pedestal fan models come with remote controls.
Unplug Your Devices
Before you go berserk, I am not talking about television sets and computers, I am referring to that phone charger that is plugged into your nightstand power board and the hairdryer that is constantly connected to your bathroom plugs. I admit, I too have a habit of leaving cords plugged in, but leaving them plugged leads to electricity usage which further leads to extra expenses. Plugged-in appliances keep on drawing current even after switching off the switch this is called “phantom charge”. Keep in mind the number of electrical appliances we use this “phantom charge” might be the reason behind your excessive utility bill. Now there are a few lazy options such as smart power cords and strips but might I suggest you take some time out every day to unplug all appliances when not in use.
Blackout curtains
Now blackout curtains do work. During winters these curtains trap heat to maintain a warmer house and during summers these curtains keep out heat and light. These also cancel noises and sounds to a certain degree. With these curtains, you will be able to set your thermostat at a lower degree than usual.
If you are a night owl, then go-ahead, install these curtains on all your windows, otherwise, buy one for the biggest window in your house.
Dryer Balls
Let me just say, the person who invented dryer balls has a special place in heaven. You must have seen dryer balls before, no they are not meant to prevent static or wrinkles, instead, these balls help dry your clothes faster, saving up to 25% of drying time. Imagine all that saved money, you can finally buy that ridiculously expensive vase (just kidding).
Clean Those Vents and Change the Filters
You remember those dirty vents and filters the repair guy found when fixing the Air conditioner, yeah those are bad. Dust collection of filters and vents is normal but when these filters are left dirty they block the airway which leads to the air conditioning needing more power until it finally gives up. So if you want to avoid that 1000$ bill, clean your filters and vents.
Use a Dishwasher
No, dishwashers do not waste water, they use less water than hand washing the dishes. The only advice is to make sure that the washer is full of dirty utensils before giving it a go. Do not use the washer for one or two plates or utensils.
Change the Heater Temperature
The default temperature in water heaters is 140 F, which costs you an extra 30-40 dollars. Changing the temperature to 120 will lessen the load on your bill.
Here are some easy ways to save money on utilities. Make sure you apply these little tricks and tips and see the benefits.
