The Thrifty Thriver

We can all relate to those dreaded times when the bills for everyday essentials and services are due. Watching our hard-earned money go down the drain for the basics of everyday living sometimes doesn’t leave much room for the more fun side of spending or saving. Fortunately, conscious everyday-living habits can have a rewarding impact on utility costs and leave more room for spending on the good stuff.

What are Considered Utility Bills?

Utility bills are simply statements used to collect the amount that is owed for services such as water, electricity, sewage, garbage, TV, phone, and internet. Obviously these services are the basics and most are essential so simply avoiding these services is typically not much of an option for most people.

Ways to Save Money on Utility Bills

I’ve put together a list of ways to save money on these essentials to help you stretch your dollar and maximize your budget.

1. Turn off the lights when not in use. This is one of the easiest ways to minimize electric consumption.

2. Unplug devices and chargers when not in use. According the US Department of Energy, approximately 10% of household electric bills consist of phantom energy consumed from appliances that are plugged in but not in use. Chargers continue to use energy from the outlet when plugged in even if the device is fully charged.

3. Use a smart power strip. These strips can cut off the power by detecting when a device is in standby mode and save energy.

4. Replace air filters regularly. Clogged filters make the HVAC system work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. The US Department of Energy says that replacing a dirty filter can reduce energy consumption by 5-15%.

5. Reduce the temperature on hot water heater. For every 10° it is lowered, you should save 3-5% on your water heating costs. Setting the temperature to 120° is considered a good standard.

6. Use energy efficient appliances. These appliances use the minimum amount of energy needed to complete the task at hand saving money on energy bills.

7. Switch to energy-saving lightbulbs. These can reduce energy consumption by 25-80% lowering your electric bills.

8. Adjust the thermostat. By decreasing the heating setpoint or increasing the cooling setpoint by 1° you can save 3-5% on your HVAC energy spending.

9. Use a smart thermostat. Compared to traditional thermostats, these can use approximately 10% less energy consumption by allowing you the create automatic and programmable temperature settings.

10. Air dry clothing. According to the Department of Energy, it costs approximately 45 cents to dry a load of laundry in a typical 5,600-watt dryer for 40 minutes with a rate of 12 cents per kWh.

11. Use Wool Dryer balls. These help separate clothing in the dryer reducing drying time and absorbing moisture.

12. Wash clothing with cold water. Using cold water instead of hot water can reduce energy use by more than half.

13. Cut the Cable and Stream. Cable usually has a bigger base price than streaming. There is a wide variety of streaming services out there including free ones. In most cases, you have more control over what you choose allowing you to pay for only what you want.

14. Seal drafts through windows and doors. This is an inexpensive way to lower energy costs and can save approximately 15% on heating and cooling costs.

15. Check for plumbing leaks. Addressing any leaks can save money on your water bill and prevent any expensive repairs.

16. Check the temperature in your refrigerator and freezer. Set your refrigerator temperature to 35°-38° and your freezer to 0° to save money on your energy bill.

17. Replace air filters regularly. By replacing dirty, clogged filters you can save approximately 5-15% of energy consumption according to the Department of Energy.

18. Shop around for phone and internet to get the best rate. Check for sign-up discounts and best pricing for contracts and services. Ask about any additional discounts such as family discounts, employee discounts, promotions, and pricing matching.

These are just a few of the many ways to cut costs on everyday essentials. Incorporating these tips into your household management can have a big impact on your budget. I’d love to hear about any money-saving tips that you may have in the comments below!