How To Save Money on Your Utility Bills

Are you trying to save money on your household expenses, but aren't sure how to start? One of the best places to cut expenses without cutting down on your quality life is your utilities. You can slash hundreds of dollars off of your utility bills every year just by using these simple tips that anyone can do.

Heating and cooling

When weather gets to extremes, heating and cooling bills can skyrocket. That's why it's particularly important to know how to keep these costs down. The first thing you should do to be sure that you're not wasting energy and money on keeping your home comfortable is to look for air leaks, and not just around doors or windows. Anywhere that there could be a path to the outside, including baseboards, light switches, and vent grates, can be the source of an air leak. You can simply visually inspect for cracks or gaps, or you can turn the lights in the house off at night and have someone shine a light into the areas to see if there are any visible leaks. Use a thermostat that you can program so you can turn your heating or cooling on and off when appropriate. For example, you likely won't need your heat on as high during the night when you're sleeping as you would during the day. You can program your heating and cooling systems to turn off when you're at work, and turn on long enough before you return home to assure a comfortable climate when you walk in the door. Keeping blinds closed while it's sunny out during hot days will help keep the temperature in your home down naturally, and letting the sun in during cold days will help heat it up.

Water

As with heating and cooling, the start to saving on your water bill is by looking for leaks. Check all of the spigots in your home. Even a seemingly insignificant leak can add up quickly when running round the clock; in fact, one slow leak can produce as much as two gallons of water per day. To continue to save money on your water bill, be sure to minimize the use of water in your home. Baths are water wasters, and should be avoided on a regular basis. Keep shower time minimal, and remember to turn off the water when brushing teeth, shaving, or scrubbing dishes. If you water your lawn, try to either do without or optimize the timing of watering. If you water your lawn or garden during the day when the sun is beating down, much of the water you're using will be wasted as it will be evaporated. Water your garden either very early in the morning, or long enough after the sun goes down for the ground to have cooled.

Electric

The most obvious way to save money on your electric bill is to turn anything that uses electric off when not in use. While everyone knows this rule, it's often not put into practice. When you leave a room or change activities, take a second to evaluate the electricity being used in the room. Do you really need the TV on in the background while reading a magazine? Does the light above the stove really need to be on while you sleep? When the weather allows, you can line dry clothes to save money on running the dryer. If possible, you can even hang a line in your laundry room or basement to line dry clothes year round. To save money on lighting even when in use, switch out traditional light bulbs with CFL bulbs. These bulbs can last up to five years, and switching all of the bulbs in your house to CFLs could save you up to $1,000 over the five year life of the bulbs.

Gas

While your heating bill is tied to your gas consumption, there are other areas you can work on to save money on your gas bill. For example, setting your water heater to a lower temperature, around 120 degrees rather than the typical 180 degrees, will cut costs. Avoiding the use of hot or even warm water when possible will also cut costs. If your oven uses gas, try cooking large quantities at one time to cut down on the total time cooking gas is used. When your food is nearly done cooking, turn off the oven or stove and let the residual heat cook your food the rest of the way. This is a simple change, but doing this every time you cook can add up to savings.

Cable and Telephone

Although you're probably not going to save energy by cutting down on your cable, phone, or internet bill, you can certainly save a hefty amount of money. One way many people are now saving money on their cable bill is by curtailing it altogether. Many television programs are available online through the network website, and can be watched more flexibly than on television. Another option is to stream video to your television through a subscription-based service, using a compatible video game console, Blu-ray player, or television. To save on your telephone bill, consider getting rid of your land line in favor of cell phones. It's likely that you already have a cell phone, and paying for a land line that you rarely use is just another waste of money. Many cell phone service providers offer a plan that includes unlimited minutes to talk, and may even include international calling.