When you think about winter, you probably picture a cozy day inside and finding easy soup recipes, wrapped up in a nice blanket and drinking a hot beverage. And, while we do spend more time indoors in the colder months, we’re even more likely to be inside this winter, in particular. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on our consumption and habits when it comes to using water, electricity and gas.
Unfortunately, if you’re not paying attention, utilities can get expensive and can easily mess up your monthly budget. For this reason, we thought it might be time for a helpful reminder on how you can become more aware of your habits, control your consumption and reduce the cost of utilities — especially during this upcoming winter. When trying to save on utilities, the first thing to do is to find the most affordable service provider in your area. In terms of electricity supply, you can check the Texas electricity rates and compare the options based on quality and affordability.
One good thing to consider is comparing and switching all of the utilities that you can. For example, broadband is one of the easiest to save money on as switching takes no time at all. Save on broadband deals by using comparison websites to see what the best price in your area is.
Keep the Space Warm
One of the highest costs during cold winter days is gas consumption, especially in the northern parts of the U.S. And, although the renter lifestyle is great for downsizing into smaller spaces, apartments can still take a lot of gas to heat, too.
For instance, apartments in Minneapolis will require more heat than those in Phoenix or Los Angeles, but that doesn’t mean that gas is your only option to keep warm. Rather, if you lower the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees, you’ll notice the savings on your bill. You can also find alternatives to keep warm, such as wearing sweaters and thick socks, as well as having blankets and throw pillows readily available around your living space. In addition, you should consider remodeling your interior to minimize heat loss. There are several ways to accomplish this, and it all depends on your budget. For instance, you could do a total repainting of various rooms or invest in heat-saving window curtains.
Change Your Habits
Even if you can’t lower the gas bill that much, you can still control other factors to lower the overall cost of your utilities. Specifically, try to use less water by making small adjustments, like turning the faucet off when brushing your teeth, taking shorter showers or using shorter cycles when doing the laundry.
Taking shorter showers can also significantly help you out in this regard. In fact, by doing so, you’ll be killing two birds with one stone because it saves on electricity as well.Talking of electricity, your power consumption is another area you should consider adjusting.
Similarly, be mindful of your electrical consumption. Switch out any older light bulbs with LED bulbs, which consume less energy and last longer. Likewise, unplug appliances that you’re not using and remember to turn off the lights when leaving a room. Individually, these might seem like they’re too minor to matter, but these changes do add up, and at the end of the month, you’ll notice a decrease in the cost of your utilities.
Tips & Tricks for Apartment Living
Living in an apartment can be much easier during the winter months. Less space means fewer resources are needed to heat up the place. Rentals also typically come with less maintenance and cleaning. Even so, there are some additional tips and tricks to save a bit more on apartment utilities this winter:
Change the HVAC filter
In order for your HVAC system to work efficiently, it needs to have a clean filter. So, change the HVAC filter or ask your landlord to help to make sure you’re preventing build-up and unnecessary damage to the system.
Lower the hot water temperature
You can set a cap on the temperature of your hot water, and lowering it a few degrees will save a lot of money. Plus, you won’t even really be able to tell the difference. Just don’t go so low that it’s uncomfortable.
Open the shades and let the sun in
With fewer hours of daylight, letting the sunshine into your home is essential in the winter. So, open the shades and let it warm up your rooms. Doing so will help you be more active and productive, as well.
Reverse the rotation of your ceiling fan
Hot air rises, so if you have a ceiling fan, reverse the rotation so that it pushes air downward to spread the heat evenly throughout the room.
Promote airflow in your refrigerator and freezer
Your fridge and freezer should be full (but not overloaded) to work efficiently. So, distribute your food evenly throughout the space so your fridge doesn’t have to over-pump cool air to fill the empty space.
Don’t leave your computer on all day or overnight
Now that people are working from home more, your laptop or PC may be on for a long time. Instead, make it a habit at the end of your workday to save all of your work and close all of your tabs and documents so you can turn off the device. This will also help you start every day fresh and not feel overwhelmed by all the tasks that pop up on your screen at once.
We hope these tips will help you better manage the cost of utilities this winter. Remember, all of these add up, so incorporating even a few of these habits into your routine will surely make a noticeable difference. v
