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How to Save Money on Utilities

Expenses on utilities contribute to most of your household bills. Did you know that you could save a lot of money through your utilities? Here are some pointers to help you do this:

1.    Identify which appliances consume the most electricity and contribute the most in making the electric bill cost more. You can save hundreds of dollars annually by enrolling in a home management load program. This will help you lower your electric payments and will teach you about home energy conservation.  Check with your electricity company to see if they offer this or can point you in the right direction.

2.    Make sure to check your major appliances regularly to ensure their efficiency. A well-maintained appliance will sustain its performance and will give you it’s accurate use of electricity.  Make sure coils, fans, filters, and the input/output areas are all clean.  I suggested putting it on your calendar to clean these areas each season.  The major contributors are:  fridge, a/c units, freezer, computers, heaters, and any other items that are pretty much always on if not always running.

3.    Always remember to give your furnace a tune up at least twice a year. You may also set a timer for the heater to have regular flow of electricity whenever it is in use. You may call your utility service to check if there is a low rate offered during any specific time of the day.

4.    You may set your thermostat down three degrees to make you save 3 percent on your bills. You may even save more by not using it while you are at work or you can even turn it lower during nighttime when you are asleep. This can help you conserve electricity and save more money. But, do not turn it off as it takes longer to heat or cool your house back to the desired temperature than to regularly.  In fact, your power company will tell you to pick a temperature and stick with it to cut your costs.

5.    Lessen your long distance telephone calls to lower your telephone bills. If it is a need to call a very important person, you may call during weekends and night hours. Telephone companies offer a lower rate for long distance calls during those times of the day. The best alternative to save money is by using the Internet to communicate with your friends and relatives instead of the telephone.

6.    Check your pipes, toilets, faucets, and hoses to save money on your water bill.  Check if there are leaks so that you may fix them immediately. You may put a water saving showerhead to lessen the use of water when taking a shower.  Remember, as much as you might love sinking in bubble up to your nose each night, switching to a 10 minute shower uses half the water as well as less heating from the water heater!

Kelli gives you hints at tips on how you can save money homeschooling and homemaking! At Deals_3BD she posts coupon/ad matchups, the best homeschooling deals, printable coupons, and kid friendly recipes.