Yay me! Lowered electric bill

Comment

Comment by honeys(puddin) on October 12, 2012 at 7:41am

The only drawback to shutting the computer down each night is that I have to reset the date and time each morning but hey what else am I doing right?  I think the mancave fridge was one of the biggest wastes.  Little by little I moved things to the kitchen fridge/freezer and eventually it was empty.  Saved on buying foods also because I forgot about some stuff in there.  I think if it was just me here I would keep it pretty dark in the evenings but I have three doggies so I don't want them living in the dark:)

Comment by Marsha on October 11, 2012 at 10:25pm

Good for you honeyspuddin! I have also used a lot of your suggestions to lower my electric bill. Put in night lights throughout the house since I only usually am in the den. Most come on automatically so don't have to think about them. Only have a light on in the den when on the computer usually. Actually like not having the bright lights on. Of course with it getting darker earlier now I will use the lights more. Has been kind of a game to see where I could save. Don't watch TV anymore and cut the cable. TV and DVD player turned on by power switch when want to watch something. Amazing how much you can save. Now if I can just empty out the freezer in the garage and get rid of it. Baby steps.

Comment by honeys(puddin) on October 11, 2012 at 8:51pm

Anything w/ a red light on will suck electricty.  It's all part of my nightly and morning routines now.  Not a big deal.  I have proof that it works so I will continue.  I can't even find the breaker for the stove so it'll stay on even though I rarely cook on it.  Good luck:)

Comment by janet on October 11, 2012 at 8:33pm

Good for you honeyspuddin.  Thank you for giving me some ideas as to how to help cut down on my electricity usage.  I have a fireplace so I use it a lot during the winter to keep the downstairs warm, especially at night when it is really cold.

I do the ceiling fan on in the living room even if I am not in there but will consider turning it off.  I keep the central heat/air in the on position but might switch to the auto to see if that helps.  I turn off the computer at night but never thought abut turning on the power strips that are being used in the bedroom that the computer, monitor, printer desktop, cell phone chargers and light are all pluged into.  I will do that tonight as I charge the cell phone during the day.  I can turn the other one off as it is never used.

Peace and Hope.

 

Comment by honeys(puddin) on October 11, 2012 at 12:49pm

Figured out I need to leave the DVR/cable box plugged in because then it won't record my shows (DUH!) but that's ok.  I'm going to find my breaker for the stove (it has a digital clock that stays lit all the time and it's never set anyway) and shut it off at night too.  My son gave me one of those big jug water dispensers but really it was never being used (it has digital settings also) so I unplugged it and only plug it in if I know people (mostly my granddaughter) will be here to use it, when they leave it gets unplugged as well.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not sitting here in the dark and not using anything, I'm just making myself more aware of what is actually being used.  If I leave the house I leave lights and TVs on for the doggies but I don't consider that a waste:)

Comment by Suz on October 11, 2012 at 12:33pm

Oh my gosh, I am so impressed. I have raised mine, if you can believe that. I even got a shame note that mine was one of the highest in the neighborhood and hints to lower it. When I get my act a little more together, I am going to go for this, too! Thanks, honeyspuddin!

Hugs,

Suz

Comment by honeys(puddin) on October 11, 2012 at 12:00pm

I was so excited to see the drop in the bill.  Ceiling fans need to only be on if you're in the room.  We always had all the ceiling fans on in the house 24-7, yikes!  Honey didn't like the CFL bulbs so he had regular ones in.  Little by little I will go back to the CFLs and that should lower the bills as well.  Sigh.  Of course winter is coming and I HATE being cold so it'll go up again but I'll try and keep more clothes on and set the thermostat a little lower than normal.  Not only did I lose his income but I've almost lost all of my income because my daycare numbers have dropped dramatically so literally every penny counts:(

Comment by bj628(Bonnie) on October 11, 2012 at 11:54am

Way to Go. Hoping my bill goes down also. Put in some of the energy effecent light bulbs, this month's bill may be a bit higher, as we had fans going when it was hot out. Hoping though it will go down.

Comment by honeys(puddin) on October 11, 2012 at 11:04am

I'm quite tickled with myself:)  I'm getting back to basics on the food thing as well.  Trying the "No crap in the house" thing.  Most times it is tolerable:)

Comment by suebru (Sue) on October 11, 2012 at 10:58am

Way to go! Proud of you :-)