Utility bills can be a drag, but trying to save on bills by using less electricity, water, or gas can be inconvenient and discouraging—it takes a lot of willpower to consistently keep your home ten degrees colder than you like it all winter long when you know sweet warmth is just a dial’s turn away. Here are some steps you can take now that will help you save on bills in the long run without sacrificing comfort.
One of the most important things you can do to save on bills is to weatherize your home—that is, make its inside temperature more constant even when the outside temperature is extreme or changes a lot. There are a few ways you can do this: caulk the edges of the windows in your home and install weather strips on doors that lead to the outside. This way, it will take a lot less energy to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. You can also install thermal curtains on your windows for another layer of insulation.
You can also save a lot of money on electricity by making a few energy-smart purchases. Replacing your lightbulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs will save money in the long run; they last longer and use less energy than standard light bulbs. You can also purchase a programmable thermostat—one that can be set to automatically turn off at certain times of the day—so that you don’t waste energy running your heater or air conditioning when nobody’s home, or when everyone is sleeping.
It’s true that these projects aren’t inexpensive, but they have consistently shown to save households significant amounts of money in the long run. Saving up for a bit to take just one of these steps can prove to go a long way towards lowering your monthly bills.
If you’re looking to save even more, there are some other things to consider as well. Ask your employer if you can get a discount on your cell phone bill, or consider downgrading your cable package (or eliminating it altogether) and relying more on NetFlix or other activities entirely. You can even save some money on gas by filling up on Wednesdays, when prices tend to be lowest. Be creative, and don’t be afraid to spend some money now if it will help you save on bills later—your home is an investment, and you should treat it that way.
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