Cut Your Electric Bill by 10% or More

Sick of watching your electric bill climb through the roof? With all the electronic goods that we bring into our homes these days, is it any wonder we are seeing a rise in our electricity consumption? You don't have to put up with it, though. There are ways to cut back your bills and you can start implementing them today.

You probably grew up with your mom yelling at you to turn the light out when you left a room. She was right! If you are leaving the lights on in unoccupied rooms, you are spending money that just isn't necessary! So, make a point of turning off any unused lights.

Save even more money (up to a hundred a year) by simply switching the type of bulb you use. Instead of a regular tungsten bulb, opt for the newer fluorescent ones that screw into regular light sockets. Before you start complaining that fluorescent lights bother your eyes, there are brand-new styles on the market. They come in a variety of color variations, from the cold white light of traditional fluorescents to daylight bulbs and right up to the warm yellow light that you would expect from a traditional light bulb. So there is no room for excuses. These special lights last longer and use a fraction of the power that a regular bulb does.

How many electronic gadgets do you have that need to be charged frequently? Count all the cell phones, Blackberries, Palm Pilots, laptops, rechargeable battery units, etc. in your home. Now, what do you do with the chargers when you finish charging one of these handy gadgets? You probably leave it in the wall socket where you can find it again, right? Not a good idea. Just having a charger plugged in, even without the unit means you are drawing electricity! Unplug everything that you aren't using, or plug them into power bars that can be turned off with the flick of a switch.

Do you make coffee in the morning and let the pot simmer all day? Instead of wasting electricity like that, why not brew your coffee once and then heat it in the microwave for 30-60 seconds when you need a fresh cup. It tastes just as good and will be piping hot with far less power consumption.

Make sure you turn computers and other electronics off when you aren't using them. That includes the stereo and television. Many people will leave their DVD player on 24 hours a day, which means it is sucking power and costing you money all day and night! Turn everything off when you go to bed at night. You might even consider unplugging the power bars for these items to keep them from absorbing more electricity at night.

When ironing, do several things at once. For example, avoid heating the iron just to iron out a shirt. Do all the ironing at once for a more economical approach. Every time you heat up the iron, you are using electricity, and if you do it once for every clothing item that you need to press, it adds up! So, heat your iron once and do everything! The same goes for your electric oven, don't heat it just to bake one batch of cookies for 12 minutes, do a casserole to freeze or several batches of cookies or biscuits at once to save on electricity.

Old, worn cables or electrical wires that are too thin can also be a power drain. If you have dozens of extension cords running all over the place, consider reducing the number you use, even if it means installing a couple of new wall sockets. This will also help save you money on your monthly electricity bill.

By taking action today, you can ensure that your next electricity bill is drastically lower. Prevent it from going back up again by following the steps above and you should have some extra money to spend on something else . . . like the water bill!