Save power, save money: 6 easy tips to reduce your electricity usage and bills

for great saving tips on your bills visit www.telecomplus.org.uk/aurelie or call 0808 108 1502. I save approximately £800 myself over the year (Ho! sorry but it's only for UK resident)

we use the energy saving light bulbs (not as much light but....) we unplug most things when not in use. we also have an electric hot water tank. I let it run to get the water hot (about one hour) and then turn the breaker off to the hot water tank. we have hot water all day long in the winter and for two days in the summer. We have been doing this for about 12 years now and I still have not needed to buy a new breaker. talk about energy saving, by just turning the hot water breaker off we save a good $35.00 or more each month.

I think most people would agree that saving money is something “easier said than done”. Personally, I believe it’s a mind-set that needs to be developed by creating good money-saving habits.

Here are some things I’ve done to help change my spending habits:

- Cook more at home ( Eating out is very expensive especially
if you do it a couple times a week
- Try shopping online ( You can find better deals than in the
store and you save on gas (I recommend HYPERLINK
"http://www.shoptivity.com" http://www.shoptivity.com)
- Pay the full balance on credit cards each month ( Interest
charge is like giving away free money
- Don’t forget to pay yourself ( Set up an online savings
account (they pay higher interest than a normal savings
account)
- Set a budget and goals ( It’s good to have your goals
written down so you see them everyday and don’t lose focus
on your ultimate objectives

Again, saving money requires a lot of patience and hard work. However, you’ll thank yourself later on in life. Good luck everyone!! =)

wow sounds like good acivice!

I know how to save on electrcity, go live in the woods.

turn off the lights when uou leave the room

I don't know why the manufacturers think we have to have a light on everything - - like the microwave, dvd, etc. That would save a lot as I don't need to see where that appliance is in the dark.

Concerning tip #2..leave the heat cycle on your dishwasher...no amount of money can save you from the germs left on a dish or piece of silverware that still has food or particles on it from skipping the heated cycle. I found out the hard way....if your dishes are wet when you open the door they are NOT clean....PERIOD!!!

I have recently timed how long something takes to heat in the microwave. I can eliminate 10 or 15 seconds from otherwise pressing a number key that will select from 1 to 6 minutes. Pressing the number 3 for three minutes is a nice feature but one that in a more frugal economy may be too costly. I also use the oven cook time function and let the residual heat finish the cooking process or just keep the dinner warm until it's time to serve it.

As for the cable/satellite boxes and tv...
Cable/satellite boxes will always need the power for updates, etc, but they do not use hardly any electricity. TV's however can pull more electricity all depending on what type of TV you have... those new fangled HD / Plasma etc suck energy and continue to do so when not turned on. Hook all up to power strips, just put the ones that need to stay plugged in, into one strip and the others on another, then turn off the one that doesn't need to be left on.

Big fan of unplugging electronics that we don't use... toaster, coffee pot... not sure how much it really saves me but it helps me feel like I'm doing something about it!!

I live in an old apartment that the windows are drafty, so I put plastic on them each year. I also took duct tape and taped around the gap that the in-wall a/c units have. I can't adjust the water heater. I don't have a washer or dryer. Are there any other tips that apartment dwellers can utilize?

hibernation for computers is a lot better. it almost completely shuts down your computer but keeps your files there. i find it a lot better than putting it to sleep.

Sometimes I think I've mastered the art of "urban survival"....or how to live as cheap as possible.
I wash all my own dishes by hand....usually in luke warm water
Hang all my cloths out to dry....don't even own a dryer.
I cook fresh everyday....NEVER even turn the fridge on....well....maybe to chill some wine or beer for a special party!!
All pilot lights are turned OFF when I leave for any significant period of time.
All electrical sockets are unplugged when I leave.
Every room has energy saving lightbulbs.
All showers under 5 minutes.
Washing cloths in only cold water....full loads only.
Never use electric heating devices....only natural gas or small wood stove.
Redefine your comfort zone....put on an extra sweater....pair of long johns.
Never use a microwave in the house.
Haven't had a TV for the last 10 years.
Use an IMAC with low energy use.
Flush the toilet once a day.....but don't forget...."If it's yellow....let it mellow....if it's brown...flush it down. Sorry....that's a big gross....but every drop of water matters also!!
If I read this...it sounds kinda like the urban caveman existence....but actually I live very comfortably and my energy bill has been below the 20 euro's per month for as long as I can remember (I live in europe).

Actually if you have a fairly new (less than 10-12 yo) chest freezer it takes next to no electricity to run if it is fairly full. When I remarried 6 years ago the kids and I moved from my house into my husbands house. There was no room for my large chest freezer at his house so I just left it running at my house until I decided whether to sell my house or not. There was no one living at my house so I was paying a rather small electric bill, about $15 a month. After about a year we decided to sell both our houses and buy one together. I moved the freezer to the new house about 6 months before I sold my house. Guess what, there was NO change in my electric bill. The bill went up by about $1 a month for the month or so that we were cleaning out the house to sell, just for lights, a small radio and the vacuum cleaner. I think a lot of these electric saving ideas are just pure hype, feel good things that don't really save much if anything at all. Your fridge and freezer need to be at a certain temp or your food will spoil. Sheets and towels need to be washed in hot water or you will leave bacteria on them. Turning your thermostat down 5 degrees at night and while you're at work during the heating season will save you more than all these ideas put together.

Push that switch on the wall to the down position. How hard is that?

All most of you people are going to do is ware out the plugs. We bought a coffee pot that is on 24/7 so we can get a fresh pot of coffee in 2 minutes. Unplugging the cable or satellite box will then require it to take longer to start up resetting all the features and using more juice. The manufacturers of entertainment systems put stand by in them for a reason. Unplugging them and plugging them in can cause a spike which will damage the components. As far as the heat and air, I'll set mine where I'm comfortable not where some pointy head says will save me money. That’s why I have a thermostat. I do keep a clean filter in the unit. When I take a drink out of the refrigerator I want it cold not luke warm and when I take a shower I want it hot with lots of steam to cloud up the mirror. If you want to save electricity go out in the woods and live in a tent and leave your cell phone back in civilization. Unplugging the toaster is a dumb idea, it doesn't draw power until you use as is the case with a lot of appliances. Some people carry this saving thing from practical to ridiculous.

I got rid of the alarm clock altogether I use my cell phones alarm to wake me up every morning. I also got rid of the television and cable because I found I can use my computer to do the same thing. I only watched TV in the past for back ground noise. Now I want background noise I put my languages cds in my cd player. I also started buying rechargable batteries another great cost cutting idea. I know I like to live in hot climates I love it 70 to 90 degrees all the time so rather then stay in Massachusetts I now
live in Texas. I also started using my bathtub to wash my clothes and then hang them to dry. I no longer buy paper towels as I use newpapers and advertisements to wash my windows. I also use vinegar and baking soda as cleaners. I also got rid of soap and started using vinegar to bathe with. I now walk to work. I live 7 miles away from my job. not only do I save money but I find money on the ground. I found 70USD two weeks ago.
I want to increase my income and cut my expenses.

You know I don't read about dimmer switches almost all of our lights are on dimmer switches the light in our hallway is approxmately six (6) years old our lights in our bedroom are older yet the lights in our family room I have no idea how long they have been burning either but all of them are on dimmer.

My computer is never on full bore unless I am on it other than that it is not on full bore because it is not necessary.

Another thing make sure your windows are secure and doors don't have leaks.

My power company raises rates when it is the hottest and coldest. And, in NC, it can get pretty hot. They also raised the rates by 13%. My average bill, for just my husband and I is about $150 now; compared to last year when it was about $90. We turn everything off when we're not using it (our a/c or heat is usually not on at all), use our clothes line outside, have all new appliances, have storm windows, etc and our bill is still huge! We are actually about $100 less than what is average for other customers. CRAZY! If it is this high when it is only 70 degrees outside now, I'm dreading when I see the temp. get to 100+ outside. It is really hard to save money on power when the power company keeps raising the rates! The power company told me I have to have an electrician come to our house before they check to see if something has to do with their meter. I talked to one, he said, if you have any questions, turn off the main power switch to the whole house, and if the meter changes at all, then you know its the meter. That might have something to do with how high the bills are. Check it sometime.