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There are tons of little tips on how to spend less on utilities, but they often only save a few dollars over the course of a year. Here are 4 big tips that will help you lower those bills significantly without sacrificing comfort.

1. Add Up Your Watts

In order to really cut down your utility bills you need to consider what’s using power, how much power it uses, how often it uses it, and if it’s worth the cost.

Tracking each appliance can sound daunting, but it's worth the effort and you can use the estimates in this article to start. Start by adding up your watts over the course of a year (you'll need to do a little math to get a general idea of how much energy each appliance uses).

Devices that are always in use cost about one dollar per watt per year. A 300 watt fridge and freezer costs about $300 each year.

The average cost per hour is 13 cents for every 1000 watts (or kilowatt). So a 1000 watt washing machine costs 13 cents to run for an hour. These prices will vary depending on the year and your location, so check your electricity bill to see how much you spend per kilowatt hour.

Here are some common items and how much power they generally use.

Dryer 3000 watts

Dishwasher 1600 watts

Microwave 1000 watts

Refrigerator with freezer 300 watts

HD TV in use 234 watts

LED Light bulb 70 watts

Washing Machine 1000 watts

2. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

You’ll save money whenever you use less power, but you’ll have to ask yourself if it’s worth it.

If you have a smart tv and an extra mini fridge that are always plugged in, which one will draw the most electricity while sitting idle for a day?

The answer is the mini fridge by far.

A 75 watt minifridge will cost about $75 per year while a turned off television will cost about $5. If plugging and unplugging the TV each time you use it is worth the $5 per year saving then go for it, but giving up the mini fridge might be less of an inconvenience and could save you a lot more.

3. Find Your Comfort Level

Try out different temperatures to find the perfect balance of savings and comfort.

Adjust your thermostat to find the limit you and your household are comfortable with. A lot of people have a default setting—72° in the winter, 68° in the summer—but try to be adventurous. Each degree you push the thermostat can save you 3% on your energy bill.

4. Only Pay for the internet you need, not the internet you think you need.

Faster isn’t always better. Evaluate how you use the internet in your household and find a speed that matches your needs.

The internet is usually a fixed cost meaning you pay the same amount every month (there are often data caps but those tend to only make a difference in extreme use cases). You are charged for the full service whether you are making the most of your internet or not. You might think having the fastest speed available is a necessity, but you might not actually notice the difference while using it.

By following these tips you can lower your utility bill, increasing your budget for other categories like your emergency fund or your food budget.

Reference:

https://fairmontfcu.banzai.org/wellness/resources/tips-to-lower-your-utility-bill