Saving Money On Utilities
May 7th, 2009 Budgeting
Many people tend to view their utilities as a fixed cost of living. However, there are way you can shave small amounts off your bills that will add up to a big savings over time. These suggestions will help your reduce your costs and allow you to contribute more your personal savings account each month.
Some utility companies have reduced cost programs that they do not advertise. This is usually true of public utilities, so try there first. You must have a certain income to qualify, but for a few phone calls you can make a big impact on your budget. Companies will also try to beat a lower offer from a competitor in order to keep you as a customer. If you can find a better price on a service, call your current provider and offer them the opportunity to keep you as an account. The person you talk to will likely have to get clearance from a manager in order to offer you the lower rate, but this works more times than not, especially since people are trying to trim the extra services they consume in these hard times. Additionally, you should try and bundle your telephone, cable, and Internet into one package since these tend to be a few dollars cheaper, and every little bit counts.
There are also a few simple things you can do in your home to reduce your electricity costs. Purchasing compact fluorescent lights for your home can save a lot of energy. These bulbs last longer, work at a lower temperature, and consume less electricity than normal incandescent bulbs. This energy savings turns into cash savings every month on your bill. You can also buy energy efficient appliances that have power saving modes or are designed to use less electricity. Make sure the lights, TV, radio, and computer are turned off when not in use.
One thing you can do to reduce your heating costs is to invest in thermally backed curtains. These have a layer of extra plastic on the black that is made to reduce the amount heat from leaking through the windows of your home. Another simple thing you can do is to adjust the thermostat for when you are away during the day, since you won’t be using it at those times anyway.
