What is the most cost-effective temperature for a thermostat in winter?

Thermostat Operation The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to around 68°F to 70°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home.

Does turning the heat off save money?

To save money on heating, the Department of Energy recommends turning your thermostat down to 68°F to 70°F while you're awake, and even lower when you're sleeping or away from home.

Does unplugging appliances save electricity?

Yes. Unplugging your appliances can reduce the amount of electricity you use each month and lower your carbon footprint. However, you might not notice much of a cost savings. It depends on how many appliances you unplug and your overall bills.

How to decrease electricity usage?

Tips to Reduce Energy Use Move any furniture blocking vents to be sure air is flowing efficiently . Charge your laptop and cell phone before 3 p.m. or after 9 p.m. Hang dry your clothes instead of using your dryer. Unplug energy vampires when not in use, such as televisions, game consoles, and standby coffee makers.

What is the 30 day rule?

The premise of the 30-day savings rule is straightforward: When faced with the temptation of an impulse purchase, wait 30 days before committing to the buy . During this time, take the opportunity to evaluate the necessity and impact of the purchase on your overall financial goals.

What is the quickest and easiest way to save money on energy bills?

This one is easy. To save money, set your thermostat down or up 7 to 10 degrees (depending on the season) when you're asleep or away from home . Doing so for eight hours can lower your annual heating and cooling costs by around 10%.

What is the 50/30/20 rule?

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings . The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What is the 7 rule for savings?

The seven percent savings rule provides a simple yet powerful guideline— save seven percent of your gross income before any taxes or other deductions come out of your paycheck . Saving at this level can help you make continuous progress towards your financial goals through the inevitable ups and downs of life.

What is the 80 20 rule in saving money?

YOUR BUDGET The 80/20 budget is a simpler version of it. Using the 80/20 budgeting method, 80% of your income goes toward monthly expenses and spending, while the other 20% goes toward savings and investments .

Why am I using so much electricity in the winter?

We Use More Electricity In Winter Air conditioners and ceiling fans transition to space heaters, electric blankets, and a higher demand for hot water . Trends also show that people spend more time in their homes in winter months, so more electricity is being used for more hours than the summer months.

Is 72 a good temperature for heat in the winter?

While there are occupants in the house, it is advised for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 and 72 degrees to promote maximum comfort . A pleasant temperature for everyone in the house, regardless of the apparel they are wearing, is between 68 and 72 degrees, which is neither too warm nor too cool.

Is it better to turn the furnace off at night?

While some homeowners have considered turning off their heat at night in an attempt to lower their heating bills, it generally is not recommended as a viable option .

9 Super Easy Ways to Save on your Electric Bill

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Hey guys! How have you been? I’m back with another frugal living post because being money-smart is one habit that everyone should practise! If you analyze each one of your monthly expenses, there’d most likely be several ways to reduce the cost. And who doesn’t like a few extra hundreds in their pocket? One of our highest bills was always our electricity bill. Of course, this was because we weren’t very energy efficient, to begin with. So I started researching and testing out different energy-saving methods. And lo and behold, we got a bill that was half our usual amount! The following tips are surefire ways to save on your electric bill!

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Table of Contents

9 Easy Ways to Save on your Electric Bill

1. Unplug

Even if an appliance is powered off, it is still using electricity once it is plugged in. You are throwing away dollars every day by leaving your TV plugged in (even when switched off), leaving your blow dryer plugged in and leavingyour phone chargers plugged into an electrical outlet, even when your phone is not being charged. In addition to this being a fire risk, chargers for phones, laptops etc. should always be removed from the electrical outlet when not in use to save on electricity. Of course appliances like your refrigerator and coffee machine will stay plugged in, but make a consciouseffort to unplug all other appliances, and see for yourself how much you’ll save!

2. Charge devices in your car

I’ll touch on this point since we just spoke about phone chargers. Why not charge your phone whilst driving?(FYI,This charger is amazeballs!) It will not save you a kazillion but every dollar counts, right? Especially when combined with all the other money saving tips in this post!

3. Line Dry Clothes

I love my dryer! I love the feel of soft, warm clothes that I never have to iron. But let’s face it. The dryer is one of the MOST expensive appliances in our homes. It’s sometimes even referred to as an energy hog! This is true by all means. Reducing the use of your dryer will save you tons of money every month. And your alternative is so easy! Get a drying rack or hang a line (this retractable stainless line is super easy to install… no drilling required) and get some clothespins. Easy peasy.

4. Be Dryer Smart

I know all about the tough days. You have a super important appointment the next day and at 11 pm (because the kids just wouldn’t close their eyes to sleep before), you’re fumbling around looking for something other than yoga pants to wear. You finally find an outfit but for some reason, you need to run it in the washer and dryer.

If you MUST use your dryer, be smart. Make sure your load is the optimum size. This is so that your dryer will not be on a strain to dry when your loads are oversized and you will not be wasting energy by drying JUST A FEW pieces of clothing.

To save money, you should also clean your dryer vent after each load, since a dirty vent (in addition to it being able to lead to a fire) causes the dryer to take longer to dry clothes. Also, note that it’s a much better practice to shake open each article of clothing before adding it to the dryer. Clothing that is ‘crumpled up’ will obviously take longer to dry. The dryer has to use more energy and work twice as hard to dry these. This translates to more money on your electric bill and so, more money out of your pockets.

Bonus Tip: Wash clothes in cold water whenever you can to save energy and money.

Pssst! Did you know you can save more money by meal planning? Meal Planning saves me thousands of dollars every year! Not sure how to get started? Grab a copy of my free Meal Planning e-guide below.

5. Use Energy Saving Light bulbs

Using LED light bulbs is an investment. They’re pricier than regular light bulbs but they save you SO MUCH in the long run! They use less energy so this means that you get a lower electric bill at the end of the month, and they also last for many, many months… way longer than regular light bulbs!

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6. Take Advantage of Natural Light

Open up those blinds, guys! God has given us free natural light. Turn off your light bulbs and turn off your lamps. Open up your windows and enjoy!

Related: How to Save Money Fast

7. Practice Kitchen Smarts

Many of our appliances are in the kitchen. We can’t actually unplug our refrigerator BUT we can be smart and save!

One of the most common tips is to let food cool to room temperature before packing it away into the refrigerator. I remember first learning this tip during a high school Physics class on the topic… you guessed it… Energy! The science behind it is that since the main job of a refrigerator is to keep foods cold, when you put hot food into it, the appliance has to work twice (or maybe more) as hard to get that particular food cold. Hot food requires using more energy tocool as opposed to cooling food that is at room temperature. Got it?

You should also check your manual for the suggested temperature and ensure that your refrigerator and freezer are both set to this standard. Usually these temperatures are the optimal temperatures to save energy and to save on your electric bill.

Another common energy-saving (aka money-saving) tip is to minimize the number of times that you open and shut your refrigerator door. The refrigerator is made to maintain a certain constant temperature (whatever you set it to) and every time you open the door and let room temperature air in, the refrigerator temperature increases. It now has to use more energy to get cool again.

The same goes for the opening and closing of electric oven doors. When you set your oven temperature, it tries to maintain that temperature during your entire baking process. Every time you open the door, the temperature drops and the oven has to use extra energy (aka money) to start heating at the set temperature again.

Finally, if you can spare some time, hand wash your dishes in your sink. It will save you so much each month!

8. Do not strain your A/C unit & Heater

Air conditioning is a lifesaver during hot summer days but it also drains energy and your pockets. Reduce A/C usage by opening up your windows and enjoying the crisp summer breeze, or by using an electrical fan (which is wayyy cheaper to use than the A/C).

Also, it’s smart to set the unit to a temperature that is neither too hot nor too cold. This way it doesn’t have to work too hard to cool or to heat the room.

You should also ensure that the unit is the right size for your room since a small unit in a large room will have to work harder to cool and will result in a higher electric bill.

Note: The same rules apply to your heater during winter.

9. Shower Smarts

There are the days when you had a hard day and the only thing that can make it better is a long, warm shower or bath. By all means, go ahead and enjoy! All the other days? Take short, cold showers instead… that is, if you want more money in your pocket. Combine this with all of the above tips and you’ll be cutting your electric bill in half in no time!

All these frugal tips work together to keep more money in YOUR pocket at the end of every month. This money can be used to add to your house downpayment, to get something special that you’ve been eyeballing for the longest while, as extra spending money on your upcoming vacay, or it can simply be added to your Rainy Dayssaving stash. Whatever you choose to do, let it be a constant reminder to be energy-efficient and a smart-saver.

Are there any other ways that you save on your electric bill? I’d love to hear about it.

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OHH, and I’m on Pinterest! 🙂

***Before you go, are you looking tomanage your moneybetter this year? Sign up for myfree5-Days Money Management Course!***

Until next time,

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