I saved a few bucks on my electric bill

[Thumper18]

Yep I started doing the samething when I no longer had a source of income. I figured if im not gonna bring in any money I figured I'd cut down on the cost that I was creating lol So now when I need my microwave i plug it in then when im done I unplug it. At night as well i make sure all the fans are unpluged , phone chargers, etc. Every little bit helps 

[glenda1bruce]

My husband has rental where all the electic in on one main meter and than so we can tel who used what we have meeters on each house that is the way they were when we bought it so if one person doesnt pay there electric bill and we don't have enough to cover it we all get shut off.  These renters waste electric big time they leave everything on and summer time windows are open air is on or winter heaters on and windows open. They think we have money because we have rentals but we have a huge morgage and we don't have money I already lost my home and had to move into one of the rentals if they keep this up we will loose that too than they will all have to move.  After all the bills are paid we may have 3 to 4 hundred for our living exspenses which isnt much.  I get so agrivated these people put everything else before there rent, electric, water, and trash.  When the morgage is late the late fees are horriable, I told my husband sell the places and we will move in to the house on the other side it cheep payments and its almost paid off and let someone else deal with these people.  We need to eat and live without worring weather or not they are going to pay. I do everything to save on electric and I have people who are very wasteful.

[lannl]

Hmmm, I did not know you could save money by using those multiple plug things. That's great that you are able to save money on your utility bill.

[azrolator]

I had heard of this trick before, but I didn't realize the savings were so much! Going to start doing this with my computer stuff in one room and my tv,dvd, etc in another. Savings here I come! Thanks.

[lvstephanie]

.... I always turn my computer off when I'm not using it. My neighbor usually leaves his computer on all day which doesn't make any sense to me. You just gotta look around and see what you can do to save a few bucks on your electric bill. I just started by leaving my microwave unplugged and then, I plugged in most of my stuff in the living room to one power strip bar thing. Then, I just push the on/off button when I go to work or to bed.

Believe it or not, it actually depends on the computer and how often you use it. Some computers are very energy efficient, esp. when they go into standby mode, and actually use less energy with 10 hours in standby mode than it does to do a cold-boot every day. So if you use your computer everyday and it is a modern, energy efficient computer, you will actually save energy by just keeping it on (albeit in standby mode when you're not using it) than turning it off and on each day. Monitors and printers are a different story; those you can turn off each night and only turn them on when you are using them.

@lannl: I think it wasn't the use of the power strips themselves that saved money, but rather the ability to turn off several electronics all at once when not in use that saves the money esp. if the electronics are all used in conjunction with each other. So you may want to turn off your TV, cable box, stereo, and DVD player all at the same time, since they get used together. Or plug in your computer, printer, monitor, and modems & switches into a single power strip and use that to turn off all of those items when not using your computer.

[diala84]

 I use "one of those bars that can handle multiple outlets/plug-ins" aka a surge protector  =) to plug many of my electronics into and turn it off at night as well. I leave my laptop on all day but it is rather energy efficient and I tend to leave projects up for later. When I lived in an apartment my bill was between 20 and 30 year round but living in a house has increased the cost even though we are living the same way as before. I'm sure having a washer and dryer in the place is part of the reason and the bill now includes water which was paid by the apartment managers at my apartment. So it probably isn't that big of a change for the most part. I also use an electric blanket in winter rather than turning up the heat and I find it saves on the bill.   

[heartofphila]

Wow, let us know how much it went down next month. Good work!!!!

[Hinotoriai]

I definitely want to try some of these tips. I'm always looking for ways to save a few bucks.

[smy0850]

Wow! $20/month? I guess it depends on where you live, I was happy to go down to $150/month.

[jaymz462]

Nice tip!  Think I'll turn off a surge protector I barely use right now...

[MollyAlice1]

Wow! $20/month? I guess it depends on where you live, I was happy to go down to $150/month.

   wOW!!! I hope I be able to save money... and make money... I live in Miss :notworthy:issippi, and the cost of living is pretty cheap... 

[chloe2009]

wow that is crazy my electric bill is huge....am going to try those tips ...we have chargers all over the house plugged in with not ipods phones attached ...maybe I should hide the phones lol

[Boise40]

I also recommend removing any air fresheners that you may have plugged in as well. I quit using them a few months ago and just use a spray can of air fresheners instead. We seem to always talk about making money in this forums. So, its nice to talk about saving a few bucks instead

[CharmedPhoenix]

Great topic!

I started years ago with CFL's.  I was pleasantly surprised to find a noticeable reduction in my bill after installing the first three bulbs in my three most used lights.  I've since replaced all regularly used bulbs and seen quite a difference.

I installed power strips when I moved in here because the place is old, small and not wired for modern electronics.  I have an old PC that runs my scanner and printer all hooked up to one strip which stays off when not in use.  The phone equipment and desk lamp are attached to the second so it stays on.  I plug my laptop into that one.  The third is for my TV, VCR and DVD player.  I use the timer on the VCR so I leave it on.  I leave the microwave plugged in because it's my kitchen clock and the plug is out off reach.  I do unplug my small kitchen appliances and my living room lamp though.

Here in NM we have swamp coolers.  I try to run the pump as little as possible and use a table fans instead.

I also use minimal lights.  If I'm working on the computer I don't need to light the whole room, just my desk and one bulb in the kitchen.

I find the gas bill worse so I cook with my microwave and use space heaters to keep the gas bill down.  I hate when I have to light the furnace pilot because the gas bill almost doubles.  I'll keep the thermostat real low, 62, all winter, unless I'm sick or we have a severe freeze.  I'd much rather wear sweats, use afghans and drink hot drinks than pay higher gas bills.

All these efforts pay off.  I have $16 gas and electric bills in the summer, which double (or a little more) in winter.  I'm thankful for short, mild winters.