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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: Boise40 on August 13, 2011, 08:19:38 am
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I usually been paying $20 or more each month for my electric bill. Its still not too bad if you ask me but, I wanna save a few more bucks. So, I decided to unplug my microwave. Then, I hooked up my lamp, tv and blu ray player to one of those bars that can handle multiple outlets/plug-ins. So, when I go to bed or go to work I just push the on/off button on the bar thing. My electric bill went down to $18.41 for this month but, I just got started. So, I'm thinking my electric bill may go down $15 or more next month :)
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It's amazing what simple things can do....even when you're power is off....if you're still plugged in, you're using electricity....
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Well this was a big tip for me... believe it or not i just plugged out the plugs that im not currently using...thanks!!!
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Well this was a big tip for me... believe it or not i just plugged out the plugs that im not currently using...thanks!!!
Yeah, I got this tip from watching GMA which is Good Morning America. They usually offer pretty good tips and sometimes they even show you how to make a few bucks too :)
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Thank's for the tip I will be doing this tonight before I go to bed.
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Great idea. Thanks very much.
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I usually been paying $20 or more each month for my electric bill. Its still not too bad if you ask me but, I wanna save a few more bucks. So, I decided to unplug my microwave. Then, I hooked up my lamp, tv and blu ray player to one of those bars that can handle multiple outlets/plug-ins. So, when I go to bed or go to work I just push the on/off button on the bar thing. My electric bill went down to $18.41 for this month but, I just got started. So, I'm thinking my electric bill may go down $15 or more next month :)
Interesting
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dang i'd love a $20 electric bill, how'd you get it that low.
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I save quite a bit on my electric bill by not using the lights that often. I keep the curtains pulled back to the sides and the blinds open during the day so I never need to turn the lights on during the day and at night I have a few candles that I light in certain rooms that I or my family go to often. It's not that I'm poor or struggling, just frugal. It's not an inconvenience to me and the candles smell really nice at night so it's not something that I mind doing. To be truthful this wasn't my idea, but my wife's. If we do need a light then we use it and no big deal, but we make sure we turn it off when we leave. I am really surprised at how many people leave lights on in rooms that are already well lit or in rooms that they are not even using.
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I unplug appliances when not in use but my husband draws the line at the microwave. He doesn't the display blinking at him when he has to plug it back in to use it. He is programming illiterate even on the simplest things.
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nice idea
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Good way to save a few bucks, and it's good for the environment and demand on the power grid as well.
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what a great idea! thank you for sharing!
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Well, I live in a apartment building and I don't use much power. I don't have any lights on during the day since I get most of the light from outside. I decided to unplug the microwave because I only use it to heat up some burritos or leftovers. So, it doesn't make any sense to leave it plugged in all day. My mom and her boyfriend usually get a electric bill over a $100 a month. I personally think they use too much power in the 1st place. Then again, they have 3 people who use the power there. Its just me and my puppy who lives here in my apartment. So, I don't have any reason to waste anymore power than I need to. 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.
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That's a really great idea. I used to do the same thing with my t.v. and dvd player. I'd turn the power off on the surge protector. I think I'll start doing it again because we're living with my husband's grandma and she keeps her t.v. on all day and night. Since we agreed to pay the electric bill I need to start getting it lower. :star:
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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 :wave:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.... 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.
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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.
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Wow, let us know how much it went down next month. Good work!!!!
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I definitely want to try some of these tips. I'm always looking for ways to save a few bucks.
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Wow! $20/month? I guess it depends on where you live, I was happy to go down to $150/month.
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Nice tip! Think I'll turn off a surge protector I barely use right now...
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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... :notworthy: :notworthy:
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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 :peace:
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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 :)
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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. :thumbsup: :wave: