You look at your electricity and water bill and are wondering why it has gone up. You haven’t really done anything major at home, and you don’t feel like you have used much more than usual.
Usually there will be a couple of little habits that you are doing every day that are causing the price to rise.
Leaving a light on in a room, leaving a charger plugged in, showering for 5 minutes longer than needed, and starting the washing machine with only half a load. Whilst these don’t seem like much, they can add up.
Let’s take a look at some habits we may be doing which could be causing our utility bills to rise and how we can help.
- Using Electricity When We Don’t Think We Are
We usually turn off our TV or laptop, but there are many things that are still using electricity.
TVs, microwaves, chargers, and Gaming consoles can all still be using electricity whilst in standby mode. This is often referred to as ‘phantom energy’. Whilst this doesn’t seem like much for one device, having them throughout the house can cause the cost to rise over the course of a month.
Tips to help:
Turn devices off when finished.
Unplug chargers once your phone is fully charged.
Replace old bulbs with LED bulbs.
Open your curtains to utilise natural light.
- AC Could Be Overworking
During the months we use our AC, it is very important to ensure we aren’t overworking it.
Although putting it to the lowest temperature won’t help make your room cool quicker, it will cause the machine to work harder and longer. If the filters are dirty, the room is insulated, or the door is left open, this can cause it to become even less efficient.
Tips to help: Try setting it to a temperature rather than the lowest. Clean the filters regularly. Ensure doors and windows are closed whilst it is working. Close the curtains during peak sunlight.
- Geyser and Fridge
Whilst they aren’t blamed much, these two use a lot of energy.
If you leave your geyser on for long after the water is hot, it will be using unnecessary electricity. By turning it on just before you need it, you can make a real difference.
The Fridge works similarly. Putting food in immediately causes it to work harder. If the door does not shut properly, cold air will escape. Having too much in your fridge will also make it struggle to keep everything cool. Ensure you check the seal on the door occasionally. Let your leftovers cool down before putting them in.
- Wasting Water
Whilst we focus on our electricity bills, we often forget to look at our water usage.
Having a dripping tap, toilet, or leaving the tap on whilst brushing your teeth can cause you to waste more than you think. Usually this isn’t a large amount of water coming out. It is more of a drip from little moments throughout the day.
Tips to help:
Turn the tap off whilst brushing.
Fix leaking taps and pipes as soon as possible.
Use a bucket for your shower if possible.
Don’t run the washing machine for small loads.
Not only will saving water help with your bill, but it is a resource we all rely on.
- Check Your Internet/Mobile Plans
Many households will pay for their broadband/mobile plan without ever checking if they need it.
You could be paying for more internet than you need, having extra data you never use or have forgotten you have subscribed to. A quick look through your bills can show you extra charges.
Tips to help: Have a look at how much data you actually use and see if there are better plans available. Cancel any subscriptions you no longer use. Ensure the new plans you switch to still cover everyone’s needs at home.
- Compare This Month to Last Month’s
This can often be overlooked but can be the most useful tip. Compare your bill to the previous months. If it keeps rising, you will at least know to look into something new, such as a new appliance, change in season, leak, or new habit.
Often, cutting down on your bills can be achieved by being aware of how you use things. Turning off lights you don’t need, using appliances wisely, and fixing leaks.
Final Thoughts
Utility bills are something we have to pay, but we shouldn’t just accept the price going up.
Our daily habits can affect how much we pay more than we realise. Whilst we can’t control the tariffs for electricity, water and what our internet company charges, we can control how wisely we use them.
We aren’t trying to take away our comfort or make us count every unit we use. We are simply trying to stop us wasting what we don’t need to and paying for things we aren’t using.
Sometimes saving money can be achieved by being aware of what we use every day.
