electric bills

[vagabond2]

As we're all looking for ways to save I was wondering what you are doing to lower your bills.......especially the electric bill which seems to be creeping up a bit every month?

On some website I remember reading about someone unplugging all electrical appliances that weren't being used at that moment. They said that even if the item is not turned on that as long as its plugged in, its drawing electricity. They said they kept their bill down to about $30 a month by pulling the plug. Has anyone tried this?? I just remembered about it and looked in my kitchen I had 6 items plugged in that definitely could be unplugged.

[squirt]

i have just started "pulling the plug" on some items lately like the coffee maker for example. i never set that clock anyway, so why does it need to be plugged in all day. i figure i will go thru a recycling bin for .25 qs i can unplug something to save the same. i would imagine 6 appliances unplugged say 8 hours a day has got to make a positive impact whether it's a dollar or 10, it's money not spent!

we just replaced our thermostats with digital ones, so i hoping that helps and i am a huge light turner offer. my dh likes the house to be lit like we're landing a plane or something, i prefer "mood" lighting.

[vagabond2]

Originally Posted by squirt

i have just started "pulling the plug" on some items lately l go thru a recycling bin for .25 qs i can unplug something to save the same. i would imagine 6 appliances unplugged say 8 hours a day has got to make a positive impact whether it's a dollar or 10, it's money not spent!

that's what I'm thinking too. I just can't figure out how to turn off all in the computer room but do you know someone who has done this and seen a difference??

[vagabond2]

oh boy my mail just came and Bright House is going to "adjust" my bill I'm sure it won't be to my advantage Too bad my household is addicted to tv/unlimited talking (not that we really use it)/and surfing (which we do use) all for $136.94 + taxes and service fees My daughter did tell me to get rid of the HD pkg because she did not notice a difference.......every $5 helps

[Kristinemomof3]

Not sure, but our bill has been terrible and all last winter, I hung the clothes to dry, dh insists to use an adapter to blow the air back into the house and ad humidity. We just started this this winter and our bill has gone up, so I'm hanging clothes to dry again. I think the dryer sucks tons of electricity, but he doesn't believe it's that much. I told him I'd go read the meter before and after the dryer ran if he wanted me to.

[squirt]

Originally Posted by vagabond2

that's what I'm thinking too. I just can't figure out how to turn off all in the computer room but do you know someone who has done this and seen a difference??

sorry, i don't know anyone who's recently did the "unplugging"

[vagabond2]

Originally Posted by Kristinemomof3

Not sure, but our bill has been terrible and all last winter, I hung the clothes to dry, dh insists to use an adapter to blow the air back into the house and ad humidity. We just started this this winter and our bill has gone up, so I'm hanging clothes to dry again. I think the dryer sucks tons of electricity, but he doesn't believe it's that much. I told him I'd go read the meter before and after the dryer ran if he wanted me to.

oh yea the dryer is bad......make sure your vents are cleaned and I've been using some of those dryer balls.......another thing you probably know to do is don't cram the dryer full clothes need to fluff to dry hence the dryer balls.....and of course I always take shirts, pants etc out a little itsy bit damp because I always felt a full dry sets in wrinkles and I do not like to iron!! (my husband swears it makes his clothes last longer...)

[sscrgi-6]

We do the unplugging....coffeemaker, cell phone chargers, toaster, curling irons, etc. We have NOT seen a difference. In fact, our bill has went up in recent months. BUT that is probably due to the blower on the furnace, etc. I'm still doing it though...hopefully I'll see a difference once spring gets here and our electric bill starts to go down some. It can't hurt to try, right??

[vagabond2]

Originally Posted by sscrgi-6

We do the unplugging....coffeemaker, cell phone chargers, toaster, curling irons, etc. We have NOT seen a difference. In fact, our bill has went up in recent months. BUT that is probably due to the blower on the furnace, etc. I'm still doing it though...hopefully I'll see a difference once spring gets here and our electric bill starts to go down some. It can't hurt to try, right??

Are your rates the same? Perhaps you have made a change. Or have they slowly inched up like mine yes the faulty blower can kill the budget....grrr

[Mieluv]

Some companies you can enroll in a "budget billing plan" (Gulf Power in my area). They will evaluate your usage over a year (hopefully you have been with your electric company for that long) and will average your bill and you could pay that flat rate every month regardless if you use more or less. At least you can predict your bill every month.