Carleton University
unplug
Utility bills make up a large portion of expenditures for most households monthly. Here are some ways to reduce your bills to save money:
- Power Bill: To reduce your power bill, the most simple thing to do is make sure to turn off electronics when they are not in use. Also, unplug electronics that are not being used. Electricity is being used anytime something is plugged in even if it is not turned on. Progress Energy also recommends turning off your hot water heater if you plan to leave home for more than 3 days.
- Water Bill: To cut back on your water usage make sure you are only running the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full. Watering grass and plants in the yard can use a lot of water. If you are able to, dig a well for irrigation and use rain barrels to collect water for plants.
- Cable/Satellite Bill: One great way to lower your cable or satellite bill is to keep track of all the television stations you watch in one week and compare it with the package of channels that you are paying for. For example, if you have movie channels and find that you only watched one movie during the week, it may be something you can eliminate to reduce your bill.
- Phones/Internet: Visit your service provider's local office and discuss how you can reduce your monthly bill. If you aren't satisfied with the answers you get at one office, you may want to try another. My experience has been that different people within the same company can give you different information so don't settle for the representative telling you that there is no way they can reduce your payment.
If you have any other great tips on how to reduce utility bills, please share them below!
