Country Style Way Of Life

         Save on Utility Bills

Whenever I bake, I try to plan to bake two or more things at the same time. So this morning I baked corn bread and a peach cobbler in the oven at the same time to save time and money.

 

Saving tip for the electric bill. How many times a day, without thinking and only for a moment, do you or a family member turns on the hot water faucet? It would surprise you if you counted how many times. Now in that moment hot water leaves your tank and fills up the water line. Then you turn it off even before you really felt the hot water. Now cold water fills into your tank and the heater has to reheat the tank. As a visual reminder not to use it. I wrap a rubber band around the hot water knob and stick a pop cycle in the rubber band.

 

We keep the thermostat at 68 degrees in the winter and 85 degrees in the summer.

 

Add a extra blanket to the bed and turn the temp down to 65 at night.

 

To check if your weather-stripping around your doors and windows need replaced, light a candle and carefully move it around the seal. If the candle flickers then air is coming in or heat is going out. Replace seal to save money on heating bill.

 

In the summer shut blinds during the heat of the day that has direct sunlight. This will save on your cooling bill.

 

Shut doors and blinds and heavy curtains to the unused rooms in your home, to save on utility bills. Shutting off vents could cause harm to your A/C and Heating unit.

 

Save your change in a jar, it adds up faster then you think when kept in one place. Also start a dollar jar, it adds up even faster.

Keep extra candles in your refrigerator, cold candles burn slower and last longer.

       Save On Household Items

 Buy items at your Dollar stores. Check the prices for Laundry soap, Shampoo, hand soap, cleaning stuff, paper supplies school supplies, food products, so many bargains can be found. 

 
Have a Garbage sale or sell it on E-bay- Check with your family members to see if there are items they no longer want. Check the closets, garage, attic est., for items that have lost there appeal to you. Then sell those items. 

 
Re-gift. If you have received a gift from someone, but know you will never use? Consider keeping it to give as a gift to someone else. Just be careful not to give it as a gift to the person that gave it to you.

 
Save on not replacing items. Instead of buying a new bedroom set, paint it. Or just buy a new bedspread and curtains. Cover a couch with a new slipcover instead of buying a new couch. Consider replacing old lampshade with new ones, instead of buying new lamps. A new tablecloth, place mats and seat covers can give an old table a new look.

 
If it just has to be replaced. Think about instead of buying it new, think about looking for good quality used merchandise for less money. Try consignment shops for those deals you can’t beat! Or shop at a Factory Outlet store. Or try the Internet for on line bargains with free shipping. But do the price checking first, so you will know if you are really getting a bargain or not.