6 Monthly Bills Homeowners Can Save On

Written by Posted On Wednesday, 30 January 2019 06:43

Saving money might come naturally to some, but it can be a much more challenging task for others. One easy way to save at home is to look at all of your monthly bills and see how you could be lowering them or cutting them altogether. Here are six monthly bills you could be saving on.

1. Electricity

Cooling and heating costs are two of the biggest contributors to your electricity bill. Whether you upgrade to a programmable thermostat or keep your current one, be sure to bump the temperature up a few degrees in the summer and down a few in the winter. In general, it’s recommended that you keep the temperature at 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re home. Some other ways you can save on your energy bill include turning off your desktop computer instead of leaving it on sleep mode, ensuring your attic is well-insulated and using natural sunlight for heating.

2. Water

For those that pay a water bill and want to save as much money as possible, consider these simple strategies to keep your money from going down the drain:

Install a low-flow showerhead—If you don’t mind sacrificing high water pressure, a low-flow showerhead can save both water and money.

Fix leaks—One of the most common causes of a high water bill is a constantly running toilet. Address toilet leaks (and any other leaks, for that matter) as soon as possible.

Reduce shower time—By lowering your shower time by just four minutes, you can save almost 4,000 gallons of water per year.

Use your dishwasher—Instead of pre-rinsing dishes, stick dirty plates in the dishwasher and let the system go to work. Because you’ll be using the same amount of water whether you run a full load or partial load, only run the dishwasher when it’s full. 

3. Cell phone

Since many wireless carriers have introduced data caps, your phone bill might be a lot more than it was a few years ago. You can save on your phone bill by reassessing your current plan and determining if you’re paying more than what you actually need. If your plan allows for 10GB of data per month and you’re only using 1.5GB, scale back to a more affordable plan. You can also check with your wireless carrier to see if there are new data plans that meet your needs or are equal to the one you have for less money.

4. Product insurance

If you bought separate product insurance plans for all of your major appliances after you purchased your house, your bills may have been adding up. Instead of paying for individual plans, invest in a comprehensive warranty that covers multiple appliances and systems. Not only can this type of plan be renewed year after year, but it also covers things that your homeowners insurance or renter’s insurance doesn’t cover.

5. Cable

Cable bills can be expensive, ranging between $85 and $100 a month. Determine if you really need all of the premium channels that your cable plan offers. If you find that you only watch a few channels each month—or hardly watch TV at all—change your cable plan to a lower tier or opt for an a la carte service like Sling TV that allows you to pick and choose what channels you want for a low cost each month. You could also consider signing up for streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. These services cost around $10 a month and can be streamed from your computer or smartphone.

6. Other monthly memberships

If you have multiple subscriptions to different gyms, magazines, and other services, it’s a good idea to take a look at these expenses and determine which ones can be cut out entirely. If you have a monthly membership to a fitness studio, but only go once or twice a month, consider canceling the membership and prioritizing working out at home instead. The same goes for magazine or newspaper subscriptions. If you notice that your reading material just sits in a pile after you’re done with them (or go completely unread), it may be best to cancel the subscription.

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Kealia Reynolds

Kealia is a writer for House Method, a home and garden site, and covers a variety of topics including real estate, interior design, and home wellness.

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