Money Tips: How to Save Money on Utilities and Other Household Costs

Whether someone rents a place or owns a home, they are sure to feel the burn from the rising cost of energy, utilities and other household services. In this article, tips on cutting expenses will be shared.

You'd be surprised how big of a change these simple ideas can make in the household budget.

Eliminate extra phone services:
In today's 24/7 and always-connected society, we often feel we need to always be available. Getting rid of services such as call-waiting can slim down the phone bill, plus allow someone to focus on the conversation at hand. If the phone service includes voice mail, then the other party can leave a message.

Eliminate extra cable channels or go to a lower satellite package:
How often do you really watch the premium channels? A basic cable package is cheaper and still may have a lot to offer.

Eliminate movie channels:
This goes along with the above tip; however, as an extension of that a suggestion is to enlist the service of Netflix or In-Demand movies. Netflix is a GREAT service, and plans start at around $10 per month. Also, on the surface ordering a pay-per-view movie sounds expensive, but $4.99 for one movie is a lot cheaper than paying for month's worth of premium movie channels that you may only watch once in a while.

Get a bundle TV/Phone/Internet package:
This can save money in the long run. And like the above few tips say, go with a lower package. So, instead of having a phone bill with one company, an internet bill and a cable/satelite bill, get them all through one provider and save.

Laundry Tips:
It can cost a lot to run a washer and dryer. Thinks of the bills that may be involved here-- gas, electric, water or maybe all three. Take these ideas into consideration:

--If clothes are clean, hang them up and wear them again. Save on energy!
--Spot clean clothes. If there is just one dirty spot, take a washrag and wash it off. Then wear it again.
--Let each family member use one towel per week. This will not only save energy, but also keep the bathroom cleaner!
--Hang dry laundry when you can.

Leseen the Dish Load:
Encourage family members to use one cup per day, and rinse if they change drinks. This will eliminate pile up in the sink, and save on water. Also, use paper plates or cups for small meals, lunches and snacks. Or, make one-dish meals.

Don't clean if it doesn't need it!
That's music to everyone's ears. Who says you have to vacuum everything every week? For a seldom-used room s, why vacuum it every week?

Heating Tips:
There are many, many things one can do to save money on a heating bill. Here are two basic tips.

--Caulk or cover windows in plastic to prevent heat from escaping and save on heating costs.
--Invest in a programmable thermostat, which will save on the heating bill, too.