In this article each week I try my best to bring you money saving tips and techniques that you can really use. I try all my ideas first so I KNOW they work. But this past week I noticed that while "I" am implementing tons of money saving ideas into my day, my family is not on the same page.
For instance my husband does not see the need to turn of lights or unplug appliances that he is not using. It drives me and him nuts that I have to go behind him and turn things off.
Turning off surge protectors that I have through out the house drives my husband nuts too. An example would be our TV in the living room. We have a large TV, VCR, DVD player, Tivo/satellite box connected to one surge protector. For the past 3 weeks or so I have started turning the surge protector off at night and turning it back on in the morning.
My husband did not notice this at all until one day when he came home while I was out and tried to turn the TV on.(I forgot to flip the switch that day) He thought a fuse had blown and was checking every one when I got home. I waited a few more minutes to tell him the surge protector was off *snicker*
My husband thought I had gone to far with the penny pinching at that point. But I told him to give me until the next electric bill came. Then I would prove that turning off the TV and computer at night would save more than a few pennies.
Well the bill came a few days ago and was even better than I had hoped it would be! Our bill went from $57 last month to $46 this month! (reminder: our bill as over a $100 a month a few years ago before I unplugged an old fridge, and switched to fluorescent bulbs)AND I unplug everything that is not being used: toaster, chargers, extension cords, water cooler etc.
$46 for a 2000 square foot, 2 story and basement, house! Can you imagine how low you can get YOUR electric bill in a smaller house or apartment?
BY the way my husband says he is no longer going to argue about my conservation methods!
So the moral of my story is talk to you family about helping YOU to conserve energy in your home. Explain why you are doing it...to save money, help the planet, etc. Be prepared for some resistance from the kids...they think everything grows on trees and will always be there. But with gentle reminders and maybe a few rewards for helping to conserve energy(ice cream run with the extra 20 bucks saved off your bill?) everyone will get on the conservation train!
Mandi G. money correspondent for gather.com
Mandi Lives in Alaska(formerly northern IL. Someone moved the state when she wasn't looking)
Mandi's husband and daughter also live in the tundra with her.
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TELL YOUR FAMILY THERE WILL BE FLOGGINGS ALL AROUND IF THEY DO NOT SUBMIT TO YOUR WILL!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!!!!
She trained my father and brother too.
God knows what my bill would be otherwise. I am on budget electric in the bargain, so it's never above $55, even in the coldest part of winter.
thanks all!
Another tip Mandi: I had been using a single 15 watt undercabinet fluorescent for a night/kitchen light for years. In Home depot the other day I found SIX WATT 2 foot ROPE LIGHTS, and am using on on the stairwell at night, and one in the kitchen. Never had a night light on the stairs before! waiting for the bill.
BUT it's almost A/C time again.. this year I have a 6400 BTU that is going in the bedroom window instead of the three ton central unit.
When I was in Arizona for five months I paid a lot less electricity. When I go home I got an idea.
I spend most of my life at The Second Cup anyway, so:
-I disconnected the net at home (save $50 a month)
-I disconnected the cable at home (save another $50)
-I don't use lights and electriity and stuff when I'm not home except for the fridge and stuff like that, and I have a little clock radio on at night (save yet ANOTHER $50)
-Use wireless internet at the hotspot here (pay $25 a month)
You know how much COFFEE I can drink for $125? haha
Heck, I drank that much even BEFORE I turned off all that crap at home, so for all intents and purposes, I really DO save $125 a monh.
I am going to try that. I already turn them off. Good article. :-)
Turn all the lights in your house on, and everything else but the heat, A/C and refrig, and go look at how fast your meter is spinning.
Then turn everything off in the house but turn on one burner on the stove, assuming you have electric, and go check the meter again.
Your article is great, Mandi, and it's important to note that anything which produces heat or cold (like your old refrig) chews up money like a cookie monster.
Your conservation efforts have been amazingly effective and you're to be commended. Glad you got hubby on board...
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Smart-Strip/
thanks!
He is going to introduce the idea of saving on electric bills by having the kids take it on as a project with a reward at the end of summer. They are going to apply the savings each month to a fund to take them to Portland at the end of summer for a visit to the city's zoo.
We are hoping that 3 months of trying will get them into a habit of saving electricity. I will keep you posted since this is all on you Mandi! Thank you.
OH and my son is the one who reminds ME to save our planet.
I use a programmed T -stat, I switched to CFL bulbs, ( although, I have to use larger watts than they SAY is the conversion to have the same brightness )
I drive less and use windows to help heat and cool.
The ONE thing I have found beneficial that NO ONE has on their " tip lists " is this .
I installed wind turbines ( those round vents that you see on barns and livestock buildings ) in my roof. One for each compartmental attic. This has lowered our A/C cost by around 30% ! ! ! The ONLY drawbacks are that they have to be covered and stuffed with fiberglass over our winters here to hold the heat INSIDE, and they need oiled to prevent any noise bothering the neighbors. OTHER than that they operate without power, and won't allow animals or most bugs back in ( I have the holes under them screened over. )
BUT my problem is that I cant afford the start up costs to switch to new appliances, a hybrid pickup, solar panels, a wind turbine power generator, or any of the other new techologies that are UNavailable to the poor among us.
( THOSE people who could MOST use a savings for their money )
LAUNDRY
CLEANING
KIDS
VET
CHAUFER
COOK
SHOPPING
ETC. THEN FIGURE OUT HOW MANY HOURS A WEEK YOU DO THESE THINGS.
THEN GIVE YOUR HUSBAND A BILL. SINCE HE IS MAKING THE MONEY HE CAN AFFORD TO PAY YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
Good stuff.
My husband is always complaining about the electric bill. I'll have to see if we can do some of these things. We have 3 computers that are always on and always connected to the internet. Sometimes I need to get into my home computer while I'm at work, though. We'll have to think about this.
thanks all!
I just wanted to say I am finally going through what is now under 5,600 pieces of gather new mail that is in my inbox on here. So with that in mind I have finally come to a piece of mail that was addressed to me in regards this article submission you have created to share with the gather community. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your piece with us here at gather. :o)
And I hope you have a Happy New Year... in 2009 :o)