The following is an article “Money Hacks: Best Ways to Save on Household Costs” by Marc Primo.
For many of us, utility bills take the largest slice from our monthly income. Of course, that would be fine as long as it gives us power, water, gas, and heat when we need it. But if you have ever wondered how you can save on household costs without compromising your needs, there are a few hacks that can help you trim down your expenses.
Saving on household expenses are not just limited to curbing your use of home utilities. You can also save up by learning how to negotiate, select products that are energy-efficient, and doing some specific tasks that can lower your bills.
Below are six of the best hacks you can try out at home so you can spare some of your income for savings without doing too much.
Review your bills. Take some time to understand all the letters and figures that make up your utility bills. If you chance upon some charges that you are not too sure of, call your service provider and clarify with them. If you don’t really need too much add-on services for your home, you may request your service provider to remove it, going forward.
Pick appliances that consume less energy. Today’s consumers can certainly benefit from buying energy-efficient appliances on the market if only they take the time to review the pros and cons that come with it. Most brands conspicuously display their power-saving features on their labels; just make sure that these appliances don’t fall short in terms of functionality. Read reviews before buying appliances and be meticulous when picking out the best ones that can save you money while doing what it needs to do at home.
Keep your water heater in check. Saving on household costs can be as simple as adjusting your water heater or turning it off during the summer season. Try keeping the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit as the more you heat water in different temperatures, the more energy it will consume. This particular temperature is also considered as the safest hot water you can shower in. However, if you are someone who has a heart condition or have sensitive skin, you may want to set your water heater to just between 98 to 100 degrees.
Use cold water for laundry. When washing your clothes, opt for cold water and detergent. This is found to be best for slightly dirty laundry. Using cold water can save you as much as 50 cents for a normal load with average power consumption. Try to use hot water only when you have soiled clothes.
Get an efficient shower head. Some people might think that this would be ridiculous but some shower heads can waste more water daily than you’d want to. If you use a water heater, using a shower head that limits water consumption can also reduce power consumption. Choose a unit that does not dispense water until it is heated so that no water is wasted as you wait for it to warm up, or something that can momentarily stop water from flowing when you shower to minimize the heated water it produces.
Dry your clothes naturally. Did you know that hanging your clothes on a clothesline and letting it dry out under sunshine gives your garments a fresher smell? Simply letting your clothes air-dry as opposed to using tumble dryers cuts your energy costs significantly. If you don’t have enough space for a clothesline outside, you may simply run a line across a room where you can hang your clothes. It may not enhance the aesthetics you want indoors, but if you are determined to cut down on costs, then you might consider this a practical idea.
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