Many of us look forward to making the most of our homes without breaking the bank. This is why finding ways to cut down on your monthly expenses is so important, as it can free up some extra cash, allowing you to enjoy more of the activities you love. This guide offers practical tips to help you reduce your bills and keep more money in your pocket this year.
Manage Water Heating Costs
If you lower your water heater temperature to under 50°C, you’ll soon notice savings in your bills. You could also look to insulate your water so it doesn’t lose heat as quickly, as well as any plumbing. Another way to save on your bills is to opt for showers over baths.
Install LED Lighting
Switching to LED bulbs can save you money on your bills each month, as you’ll be using far less energy. These bulbs last longer than normal ones and use a much smaller amount of energy compared to normal light bulbs. During the summer, you can also take advantage of all the natural light.
Use Fans and Natural Ventilation
It can get hot in the summer, but instead of automatically turning on the AC, you may want to try using fans or natural ventilation. If you open windows during the cooler parts of the day, then you’ll reduce how often you need to use air conditioning. You can also strategically place fans so that they’ll circulate the air correctly.
Adjust Your Fridge and Freezer Temperatures
Energuide.be advises us to “set the temperature of your fridge to between 4 and 5°C, and [our] freezer to -18°C.” You may also want to avoid overcrowding these appliances, as that can limit circulation and increase the amount of energy they use.
Unplug Phantom Loads
Always unplug items such as chargers, appliances, and electrical items when you aren’t using them. They use unnecessary energy that isn’t going anywhere and is costing you more money. To make this easier to manage, you can use power strips and then just unplug them when they’re not required.
Optimize Laundry Practices
Try to wash your clothes in colder water to save money. Most detergents have now been formulated to ensure your clothes can be cleaned on cooler washes. There are also nicer days in the summer, which is perfect for hanging laundry out, meaning you don’t need to use your dryer.
Cook Smartly
You should try to think wisely when it comes to which appliances you cook with. This is supported by Treehugger, which writes, “Essentially, when using a countertop device rather than a conventional oven, which uses an average of 3,000 watts, a toaster oven will use approximately half the energy, while a microwave uses about one-third of the energy.”
Smart Landscaping
Your garden can have a huge impact on how much energy you use in your home. Think about planting trees and shrubs around your home to provide shade and cool the air around it. With the warmer months coming, now’s the perfect time to think about giving your garden a revamp.
Reduce and Recycle
A minimalist lifestyle is a great way to reduce the amount of energy you use in your home and minimize bills. This could even be something as small as picking up a book to read instead of watching TV. Along with reducing energy, you could also sell unwanted clothes to declutter your home and earn some extra cash.
Renegotiate Service Contracts
If you give your service providers a call, you may be able to renegotiate costs with them, especially if they’ve put their prices up. Otherwise, you can ask about any special promotions that are running to try and save some money. If you’re reducing your energy consumption, then a low-tier plan may be a better option for you.
Use Window Treatments
An easy way to save money on your bills is by investing in heat-blocking curtains. For example, Southern Living writes, “Opting for a set of thermal curtains can help you keep out the cold and heat—all without adding more money to your electric bill.” You can also install reflective window films to try and keep the heat out.
Educate Your Household
If you’re looking to reduce bills, you need your whole household to be on board with your energy-saving methods. Make sure you tell your family what they need to do, because if it’s just you making efforts, then it’s harder to notice any savings.
Conduct an Energy Audit
Home energy audits are a great way to get a whole picture of how much energy you’re using in your home. For example, Energy.gov writes, “An assessment can help you determine how much energy your home uses, where your home is inefficient, and which problem areas and fixes you should prioritize to save energy and improve the comfort of your home.”
Upgrade to Smart Thermostats
A smart thermostat will allow you to automatically adjust temperatures in your home to fit in with your schedule. For example, it’ll stop any heating from coming on when you’re at work, or you can schedule it to come on when you wake up. You could save up to 10% on your heating and cooling this way.
Seal and Insulate Your Home
Sealing any leaks around your outside doors and windows will help to insulate your home and save you money on heating. It means cold air will struggle to get into your household, creating less of a need for heating. It’s a great way to maintain the temperature.
Use Energy-Efficient Appliances
If you’re still using old appliances, you may want to replace them with products with highly rated energy efficiency stickers, which are usually marked green. If your appliances are using less energy, then it’s going to reduce the amount you’re spending on bills. This can include appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, and AC machines.