Save Money on Utilities

What with the recession and the high rate of unemployment, many people are struggling in any way they can to keep costs down in order to save money. One of the best ways to cut down on costs is simply to change a few things around the house in order to save money on utilities, such as water, heat and electricity. Read on to find out about things you can implement around your house or actions you can take in order to reduce your utilities bill.

When it comes to the cost of your water bill, there are many things you can do to cut costs and lower it considerably. Updating your bathroom with a low-flow or low-pressure shower-head can slice off as much as one hundred dollars a year on your water bill. One can also install aerators on all of one's kitchen and bathroom faucets. Lowering water pressure (without losing any of the power) by combining water and air, aerators are an inexpensive way save money.

Get used to taking shorter showers. Instead of spending 20 to 30 minutes in the shower, try to cut down to about 5-10 minutes. Ideally, 3-5 is best, although not always possible for everyone. To save even more money on your utilities, lower your water heater to 120 degrees. You can save up to or over $300 a year just by lowering your water temperature. Another good idea is to insulate your water heater as well. This can cut as much as 10% from your bill.

Change out your incandescent light with flourescents. While flourescent lights may be more expensive, it lasts up to 10 times as long as incandescents, making the difference in cost negligible.

Adjust the heat on your thermostat. You can save money on utilities by as much as 2-3% by lowering your heat by even 1 degree. Your heating system is what contributes to the high cost of your energy bills more than any other utility, so you want to make changes there first. A good idea is to purchase a programmable thermostat, which will turn down the heat when you're asleep or even turn it off while you're out of the house.

Insulate your attic doors and windows. An attic that is not properly insulated can alter the way heat or cold is dispersed throughout the house, especially in houses with more than one floor. Other household maintenance you can do to save money on utilities includes weather-stripping your doors and windows.