As a continuation to Saving Money Part I, here are some more tips for our I’ve Tried That visitors to save money in this ever-concerning economy of ours.
If you have made the transition from working in the office to working from your home, you may be well aware of your rising electric bill. While you’re saving money by not commuting (no crying at the pump for you!), the electric usage in your home likely has gone up since you’ve been working from there during the work week. At least, this is the case for me and my husband.
With that being said, take heed of these energy- and money-saving tips you can use in your household:
1.) If you don’t have one already, purchase and use a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats can save you between 10 and 20% on your heating and cooling bills.
2.) Use ceiling fans. With the summer approaching, using a fan to supplement air conditioning will save money in that you can set your air conditioner to a higher thermostat setting. Air movement from the fan works to evaporate moisture on the skin and makes the person(s) in the room feel cooler. Note, there are no energy savings if you use a ceiling fan and fail to raise the air conditioning temperature. So, make sure to do both!
3.) Install compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs use about a quarter of the electricity of normal incandescent bulbs, and last up to ten times longer than a regular incandescent bulb. And shut lights off whenever you don’t need them.
4.) When you do have to drive, drive sensibly to save gas. Accelerate smoothly and at a reasonable rate. Coast to a stop as often as you can. While on the highway, use cruise control.
5.) Plan and research any major home office and other purchases. Shop around for the best price, taking your time before you make any impulse buys.
