I’m all about saving money wherever I can. Especially when it comes to saving money on utility bills and other recurring expenses that can get out of hand very quickly if you’re not paying attention.
So I thought I would share with you all the ways I’ve found to save money on your utility bills.
Saving Money on Utility Bills is Easy!
It’s really not that hard to save big bucks on utilities when you know what to do. Sometimes saving money simply comes down to changing one or two habits, and sometimes it entails making an investment now that will pay for itself over and over in utility bill savings over time.
Either way, putting these utility bill tips into practice can literally save you hundreds of dollars every month that you can put straight into your pocket!
18 Smart Ways to Save Money on Your Utility Bills
So without further delay, here are 18 smart ways to save money on your utility bills…
Do Your Chores at Night
Electrical utilities charge less for power at night. Because of that, running your dishwasher, clothes washer, and electric dryer are all cheaper to run at nighttime than they are during the day, helping you save money on your utility bill just by shifting the time of day you use those energy sucking appliances.
Use Dryer Balls
Dryer balls actually help your clothes dry faster. They fluff your clothes while they tumble and soak up some of the moisture, helping you save money on your utility bills by using your dryer less.
Another great benefit is that dryer balls can also extend the life of your dryer since your clothes will spend less time drying during every load.
Find out more about Dryer Balls here
Use BillCutterz to Lower Your Utility Bills
Another interesting option is to look at a service such as BillCutterz. Billcutterz is a unique service that negotiates lower rates on many of your utility bills for you. Once they get you a lower rate, you split the difference with them as their fee. That means they only get paid if they actually save you money!
Find out more about Billcutterz HERE.
Change Your HVAC Filters Frequently
When your HVAC filter gets clogged, your heating/cooling unit has to work harder and uses a lot more energy. Most professionals recommend you replace your filter once a month to save money on utility bills and keep your unit running as efficiently as it possibly can.
You can find bulk packs of HVAC filters on Amazon for a fraction of the cost you’d pay in a big box store.
Unplug Electronics and Appliances When Not in Use
Even when a lamp, TV, or other appliance is not in use, it’s still using small amounts of electricity. This electrical leakage can really add up over a month’s time, especially when you have a lot of devices that stay plugged in.
To save money on your utility bill, you should unplug your devices when they’re not being used or plug them into a smart power strip that will let you turn several devices on/off at the same time.
Browse Smart Power Strips here
Seal Your Home
If you have leaky windows and doors, you are seriously leaking money. A lot of small air leaks can add up to the equivalent of leaving a door or window open 24-7.
You can stop the leakage by sealing your windows with caulk or plastic sheeting and sealing your doors with weatherstripping. Wherever you find air leaks in your house, plug them up with the proper material and you can save serious money on your utility bill.
Use LED Bulbs
Switching out your incandescent bulbs to LED’s can bring a HUGE savings to your utility bill. LED’s use about 90% less energy than an incandescent. Also, an LED bulb can last upwards of a decade or more instead of an incandescent that only lasts a few months to a year or so.
The larger cost up front is definitely worth it, as the energy savings eventually pays for the bulb many times over.
You don’t even have to replace every bulb in your house. Just replace the ones you use most frequently and you will still see a significant savings on your utility bill !
Here’s a handy chart to compare the different types.
Install More Insulation
When Angie and I bought our house years ago, we never could figure out why the upstairs always stayed hot during the summer. Eventually we discovered there was less insulation in our attic than we actually needed.
We added another layer of insulation to the attic, and now the upstairs stays cool in the summer time, and the upstairs HVAC unit doesn’t have to work overtime to keep it cool! I estimate we saved 10% on our utility bill by making that one investment that paid for itself in just a few months!
Install a Nest Thermostat
This is one I’ve recommended several times before. I’m a huge fan of the Nest thermostat and have two Nests installed in my own home.
The Nest is a smart, internet connected thermostat that learns your routine and adjusts the temp automatically while you’re home and away.
You can also access the Nest on your desktop or mobile device to set up a heating/cooling schedule that works best for you and adjust other settings. This is one of the best things I’ve done to save money on my utility bill over the years. We save at least 10% a month on our utility bill just by using the Nest Thermostat. It’s a bit of an upfront investment, but it can pay for itself within a year
Learn about the Nest Thermostat Here
Install Low Flow Shower Heads
Using less water is a great way to save money! Using less hot water is even better! Installing a low flow shower head will still get you clean while using less hot (and cold) water in the process.
You could also spend a little more to get a shower head with ShowerStart technology. Either way, getting a low flow showerhead is an investment that will pay for itself quickly by shaving money off your utility bill .
Get a Tankless Water Heater
With a traditional water heater, a tank of water is kept hot and waiting for your next bath, load of laundry, or load of dishes. Keeping that water hot all day long adds a huge cost to your utility bill .
A tankless water heater heats up water immediately only when you need it, saving you a ton of money on your utility bill by eliminating the constant heat needed for a traditional water heater.
I don’t necessarily recommend you go out and spend a lot of money to buy a tankless water heater right now, but the next time you need to replace your water heater, a tankless version would definitely be a good choice.
Contact Your Utility Company
Most utility companies have programs available to help you save money on your utility bill. Contact your local utility to see what programs they have that might fit the bill for you. Some utilities will even do a free energy audit on your home to see where energy is being wasted and give you suggestions on how to correct those problems.
Hang Dry Your Clothes
Instead of using an energy hogging clothes dryer, hang up your clothes and let them air dry. If you’re not allowed to have a clothesline in your neighborhood or if it’s winter time, you can use a drying rack inside your home that will accomplish the same thing.
Install a Dual Flush Converter Kit on Your Toilet
Most toilets only flush one way, using the same amount of water with each flush. This is pretty inefficient because it takes less water to rid the bowl of “number 1” than it does to flush “number 2”.
A dual flush converter kit solves that problem.
Once installed, you have two push buttons to choose from to do either a full flush (for #2) or a flush that uses much less water (for #1). It’s not too difficult to install if you’re a little handy. Overall, you can save hundreds of gallons of water every month, lowering utility bills in the process.
I’ve installed a dual flush converter kit on one of our toilets at home and I’ll have to say I’ve been very happy with how well it works and the money it saves.
Buy Solar Panels for Your Home
How cool would it be to have the electric company paying YOU for electricity? Installing solar panels on your home can take you off the grid and in some cases even allow you to sell electricity to your local utility if you generate an excess.
Solar panels and battery storage have come way down in cost and are still going lower, making residential solar competitive with electricity generated from your local utility.
Companies like SolarCity and others have innovative programs that allow you to have panels installed on your home with no upfront cost, lowering your utility bill and generating enough savings to pay for the panels.
Find out more about SolarCity here
Turn Down Your Water Heater
Most people set their water heater too high. Setting your water heater to 120 degrees is a very simple way to save hundreds every year on electricity or gas (depending on what kind of water heater you have) just by making this simple adjustment. All you have to do is set it and forget it!
Wash Clothes in Cold Water
Washing your clothes in cold water only can save plenty of money on your utility bill every month. Not having to use hot water every time you wash keeps your gas or electric bill (depending on what type water heater you have) from going through the roof.
This works especially well if you have a large family and do a lot of laundry every month.
Keep Your Dryer Clean and Lint Free
Cleaning the lint trap every time you dry your clothes keeps your dryer working as efficiently as possible. Also, cleaning out the vent a couple of times a year can help as well. The less lint you have present in either of these spots, the less energy you will use when drying your clothes. Your utility bill with thank you!
Combine These Money Saving Tips and Save Big!
Any one of these tips on their own can help you save money on your utility bills. But when you combine several of them together, you will truly be amazed at the huge effect these tips will have on the bottom line!
Even though some of them require that you make an upfront investment, I still think it’s wise to make a one-time purchase that will pay for itself in a short period of time and save money for many years into the future.
Question: Do you have any ideas for saving money on your utility bills ? Leave a comment below or on our Facebook page with your best money saving ideas!
