One of the more expensive things to deal with and worry about when you own or rent a home or apartment is without a doubt the utilities. Things like electricity, water and more don’t come cheap, but there are definite ways to save when it comes to your utilities. Here are three things that will help you save some cash.
1. Have a Programmable Thermostat
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When you were a child, you probably had parents that instructed you to not set the thermostat too high or low. As a child, this probably annoyed you, but as an adult, you likely now see where they are coming from. And if you don’t still live with that frugal parent or relative, a programmable thermostat is the next best thing. These bad boys let you set the temperature throughout the day and can be customized to your liking and can even work around your families schedule. By picking and choosing how low and high to have the temperature throughout the day, you can save a fair amount of money while also having the thermostat do the temperature changing for you. And all this can be had for about $25 at your local hardware store.
2. Upgrade Appliances
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While this may seem counter intuitive as you are obviously going to have to pay for the new appliances, hear me out. Not only do most governments offer hefty rebates to customers for upgrading their old appliances for newer energy efficient models, but these new models will also save you money in the long haul due to their increased efficiency. So while it is an investment so to say, it is definitely one that is worth making. Not only will you be saving money in the long run and getting rebates, but you are also doing your part to conserve energy and save the planet.
3. Use Cold Water When Doing Laundry
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This is one that could begin to save almost everyone money instantly. Did you know that around 90% of the energy that a washing machine uses is actually used to heat the water? That’s right, so by switching to cold water instead of the standard hot, you will be using a boatload less energy with each and every load of laundry. While this is starting to catch on and a lot more people are utilizing cold water in their washing machines than in previous years, more people should join the club as both their home’s efficiency and their own wallets will thank them!
