Running a household on a budget is a challenge. Unless you’re super organized, it can be difficult to get your monthly expenses to fall within budget every month, especially with the odd unforeseen maintenance issue cropping up, like a fridge that needs repairing, or a leak in the plumbing. It’s also great to have a little extra cash on hand when it comes time for a little interior decorating.
One of the best ways to get your budget under control is to target regular expenses, like utility bills. Reducing your overall usage means you can reliably reduce your expenditures month after month. That way, when the unexpected happens, you’ll have a little wiggle room in your budget.
Once you’ve decided to start being more conscious about how much money you’re spending on your monthly utility bills, conserving water and energy becomes more sensible than ever before. These tips will help you lower those utility bills and keep them low throughout the warm and cold seasons.
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Control Your Water Heating
The average household has to shell out between fifteen and twenty dollars per month just on heating water alone. Whether it’s for a shower or a load of laundry, your boiler or washing machine takes a lot of energy to get the water to the required temperature. Taking control of your water heating system is a great way to save money month by month. The best boiler if you’re trying to avoid heating water unnecessarily is one that heats your water instantly, so you’re only heating the water required, rather than heating a large amount of water and keeping it hot.
Lower Your Water Thermostat in the Summer
In the summer, many people leave their water temperature set to the same as it was in winter, simply because they don’t think to turn it down. But in the summer, when your body temperature is probably warmer, do you really want to have a scalding shower? If not, it doesn’t really make sense to let your water temperature reach higher values. Lower your boiler thermostat by as little as ten degrees, and you could save up to five percent on your energy bill.
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Recycle Your Water
Do you stand beside the shower, letting the water gush while it heats up? If so, consider collecting that water in a basin. You can then put it to use in other ways, like using it for washing dishes or even flushing the toilet. It could also come in handy if your car is in need of a wash, or the garden could do with some watering. If your home has a bath and no shower, it can be tricky to save water—and the energy required to heat it—since a bath uses more water than showering does. One way to deal with this is to ensure that at least a couple of family members use the same bathwater, rather than running a fresh bath every time.
Whether you’re trying to save money or would like your home to be a little more eco-friendly, saving energy and water is a great place to start. These tips will help you reduce your usage and save money on your utility bills.
