For those of you who have taken the summer to venture off-campus and away from home you may find the independence exciting. However, once you settle in the responsibilities can be a little overwhelming. Aside from rent there are always going to be variable expenses such as food and transportation. If you are a regular to Savvy Student, then you have hopefully learned how to manage a budget and monitor your spending habits, so those types of expenses should already be covered. Yet, there are some bills that are hard to plan for especially if you have never had to pay for them before, i.e. your utility bills. And, different seasons can impact the amount of your bill depending on usage. But, do not fret! Savvy Student knows a few simple steps on how to decrease those high summer (and all year round) utility bills.
WATER
1. Check to make sure none of the faucets in your household are leaking/dripping. A slow dripping faucet can accumulate over two gallons per hour!
2. Take shorter showers. I know it sounds obvious, but did you know that a shower uses approximately 6-10 gallons of water per minute? Think of how much money you could save if you shaved a few minutes off of your shower.
3. Contact your utility company to see if they offer reduced rates at certain times of the day and either timer-delay your washer/dishwasher or wait until that time to do your loads.
4. Recycle your water from fish tanks and use it to water your plants. Fish emulsion is a good and inexpensive fertilizer. It is high in nitrogen and phosphorous- just think that you will save on fertilizer AND water.
GAS
5. Close off the rooms that aren’t in use in your home. This will help keep the rooms you do use warmer or colder.
6.Invest in a water heater timer if you have an electric water heater. By turning the heat off during the time it is not in use you will save money on your bill without even making a sacrifice.
7. Turn your thermostat down just three degrees. By doing so you will save approximately three percent on your heating bills.
ELECTRICITY
8. When purchasing new appliances it's best to consider energy efficient models. You may have to shell out a little more money for the switch, but you can save hundreds of dollars a year, making it worth the investment.
9. Get into the habit of turning off ALL lights and appliances that are not currently in use . You'll be surprised at how quickly the energy savings will add up.
10. The dryer will use less energy if you dry several loads of clothing, one after another because the dryer will already be hot. What an easy way to save money and get your laundry done faster!
11. You can call your utility company to find out if they have off-peak hours and when they are. Many companies charge less for your electricity at night and more during the day. By doing your laundry and dishes during off-peak hours you could easily save money off of your utility bill.
12. Its best to use low-wattage light bulbs or energy efficient fluorescent lighting. Compact fluorescent typically last ten times longer and they use 75% less electricity.
With time, these simple acts will prove beneficial--financially and environmentally. So, stop spending 40 minutes in the shower and save enough $$ to pay for that parking permit next semester :) .
Smart Living,
Savvy Student
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WATER
1. Check to make sure none of the faucets in your household are leaking/dripping. A slow dripping faucet can accumulate over two gallons per hour!
2. Take shorter showers. I know it sounds obvious, but did you know that a shower uses approximately 6-10 gallons of water per minute? Think of how much money you could save if you shaved a few minutes off of your shower.
3. Contact your utility company to see if they offer reduced rates at certain times of the day and either timer-delay your washer/dishwasher or wait until that time to do your loads.
4. Recycle your water from fish tanks and use it to water your plants. Fish emulsion is a good and inexpensive fertilizer. It is high in nitrogen and phosphorous- just think that you will save on fertilizer AND water.
GAS
5. Close off the rooms that aren’t in use in your home. This will help keep the rooms you do use warmer or colder.
6.Invest in a water heater timer if you have an electric water heater. By turning the heat off during the time it is not in use you will save money on your bill without even making a sacrifice.
7. Turn your thermostat down just three degrees. By doing so you will save approximately three percent on your heating bills.
ELECTRICITY
8. When purchasing new appliances it's best to consider energy efficient models. You may have to shell out a little more money for the switch, but you can save hundreds of dollars a year, making it worth the investment.
9. Get into the habit of turning off ALL lights and appliances that are not currently in use . You'll be surprised at how quickly the energy savings will add up.
10. The dryer will use less energy if you dry several loads of clothing, one after another because the dryer will already be hot. What an easy way to save money and get your laundry done faster!
11. You can call your utility company to find out if they have off-peak hours and when they are. Many companies charge less for your electricity at night and more during the day. By doing your laundry and dishes during off-peak hours you could easily save money off of your utility bill.
12. Its best to use low-wattage light bulbs or energy efficient fluorescent lighting. Compact fluorescent typically last ten times longer and they use 75% less electricity.
With time, these simple acts will prove beneficial--financially and environmentally. So, stop spending 40 minutes in the shower and save enough $$ to pay for that parking permit next semester :) .
Smart Living,
Savvy Student
