Household Utility Savings
Household utility savings can be fairly simple to implement, and the cost savings can be rather significant.
Here are some suggestions from my personal life experiences.
1. Eliminate your home phone line.
With cell phones nowadays, people are using their home telephones less and less often. Oftentimes people carry their cell phones with them at all times, even throughout the house.
I have noticed that the majority of the calls we receive at home are from telemarketers, people I usually don't have any interest in talking to anyway.
The household utility savings from eliminating your home phone line could save you $25-$50 per month, or $300-$600 per year.
If you need a home phone, try using the "magicJack".
The magicJack is a device that plugs into the USB port on your computer, and your telephone plugs into the back of the magicJack.
Once plugged-in, assuming you have an Internet connection, you will be able to use your phone just like always.
The magicJack itself costs approximately $40, and you get your first full year of service free. In addition, they are currently running a promotion where you can try your magicJack for FREE for 30 days. I believe subsequent years cost you approximately $20 per year to keep the service.
The household utility savings from the use of a magicJack can be very significant compared to the costs of having your own telephone line through your local phone company. I currently have two magicJacks, one I use for business, and one I use for a home line.
At this point in time, I haven't totally eliminated my home telephone, as magicJack doesn't have the ability to port your current phone number over to their system yet. The company expects to have this feature available sometime during 2009. To learn more about the magicjack, as well as find answers to most of the frequently asked questions, please click here ===>> magicJack Information
2. "Bundle" your Cable, Internet, and Telephone Services.
By bundling your cable, Internet, and telephone services, you may be able to get all three services for less than $100 per month.
On the other hand, when purchased separately, these three services may total $150 or more every single month.
Shop around, as usually your local cable service provider as well as your local phone company offer bundled deals for its customers, resulting in significant monthly household utility savings.
3. Review your Cable or Satellite Bill for Unused Services or Features.
Simply by doing a little research on your current cable or satellite bill, you may discover that you are paying for various movie channels and/or extended packages that you never use.
By switching to a more basic cable or satellite package, you may be able to save another $10 or $20 per month.
If you are in dire financial straits, cable or satellite services should definitely be a monthly expenditure you can do without.
4. Adjust your Thermostat at Home Appropriately.
Simply setting your thermostat down a few degrees in the winter and up a few degrees in the summer can save you a tremendous amount on your gas electric costs.
Furthermore, you can purchase a new programmable digital thermostat very inexpensively from Lowes or Home Depot, and program it up or down a few degrees throughout the year when you are away from home or asleep at night.
There's no reason to keep your home exceptionally cool during the hot summer months, or exceptionally warm during the cold winter months while you are away at work each day.
Depending on your comfort levels, you may also make some of these similar adjustments at night while you sleep.
All of these can result in significant household utility savings.
5. Other Gas and Electric Cost Cutting Measures.
Most people know the benefits of ceiling fans, turning lights and appliances off in rooms that you're not occupying, as well as unplugging less frequently used appliances when they are not in use (coffeemaker, toaster, etc.).
Also, home improvements such as new Windows, new doors, added insulation, etc. can significantly reduce your monthly gas electric costs.
Furthermore, please check out your local gas electric company's website, as they usually have all kinds of cost-cutting measures.
6. Water Saving Measures.
Some of these are rather obvious, but many people still think don't think about them.
- Turn the water off while you're brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Install new economically and environmentally friendly toilets, which use less water per flush.
- High-efficiency washing machines can significantly reduce water usage.
- Do not wash your dishes in the sink, only to re-wash
- Finally, reduce the time you spend in the shower... we are constantly telling our daughter that she's been in the shower long enough, and it is time to get out.
By implementing some or all of the above mentioned suggestions, your overall household utility savings should be quite significant.
To Your Success...
David Jesse, Your Fellow Average Joe