How To Save Money on Your Utilities

Simple ways to save money on your utilities bill!

Electric bills can double in cost from one month to the other depending on what season you are in. For us in Florida our most expensive months of the year are the hot summer months. But for my northern friends it is the winter months when the temperatures are FAR below freezing! 

I have a very strict morning routine where as soon as I wake up and walk into my bedroom I turn up my thermostat so that I don’t forget while I’m getting ready and cooling my home for just my cats. There have been many times that I have forgotten and then wondered how much money I cost myself by leaving the AC on all day. A Nest thermostat is a game changer because it learns your patterns and you can control your thermostat right from your smart phone! On average the Nest thermostat saved US customers about 10-12% on their heating bills and about 15% on their cooling bills. We’ve estimated average savings of $131 to $145 a year, which means the Nest Thermostat can pay for itself in under two years.

Power strips are surprising a great way to save money on your electric bill. By simply unplugging the items in your home when they are not in use or when you are on vacation can save you on average $100 a year! 

LED light bulbs use much less electricity to run therefore lowering your monthly electric bill. Our favorite LED bulbs are Philips Hue LED Smart Bulbs that we can control through our phones! 

Did you know that your dryer is the second biggest energy hog in your house, right after your refrigerator? I have been using an indoor drying rack for YEARS. It not only prevents wear and tear on your clothes but it also saves a ton of money by not using the dryer as much. But when I do have to use the dryer I always use dryer balls! They not only cut down drying time which saves money but they also beat out wrinkles and take the place of dryer sheets! I use both wool and plastic steamer dryer balls in every load of laundry I do!

An easy way to save on your electric bill and makeover a room is blackout curtains! Blackout curtains reduce the amount of heat that is coming in through your windows by up to 24 percent! They help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter!

I grew up in Massachusetts and was ALWAYS COLD in the winter! It was a constant battle to not turn the heat up too much and I was always hearing from my mom to put on more layers which reminds me of the scene from FRIENDS where Joey puts on all of Chandler’s clothes! “Look at me, I’m Chandler! Could I be wearing any more clothes?” We finally came up with a compromise to use both an electric blanket and space heater in my room. I would put on the electric blanket 15 minutes before bedtime and it would be all cozy as I climbed into bed and then auto shut off after 3 hours so I wouldn’t wake up sweating.

This last one may be a little different but trust me, if you live in a cold climate they are a game changer! A door draft guard goes underneath any door that has a draft like a cellar door. You would be surprised how much cold air comes up through the crack in the door and is costing you money! 

I hope that you are able to use some of these amazing products and save some money! Let me know in the comments if you use any of them or if you have some tips for me to start using!