How to Save Money on Utilities in the Summer

Have you gotten hit with a hefty utility bill? If you’re like most American households, you’re likely spending well over $100 per month on utilities. Being energy efficient means staying cool and comfortable while keeping more money in your wallet. 

Who doesn’t want to stop spending so much money every month and reach their financial goals faster? Check out our tips to see how much you can save on your next utility bills!

Use a digital thermostat 

With a digital thermostat, you can create a schedule for your AC unit or heating system so you won’t have to worry about constantly changing the temperature in your home. You could be saving up to 10% annually by creating a schedule and adjusting the temperature by seven to ten degrees when you aren’t home. 

If you don’t have a digital thermostat, set alarms on your phone and make sure you adjust the output before you leave the house.

Change your air filters

Changing air filters every month will purify the air and help your heating and air conditioning units run more efficiently. Clogged air filters increase the expenses of HVAC systems. 

You can save an average of 15% on your energy bills when your air filters are clean. Home air filters can cost between $6 to $10 per piece, or even less when you buy them in bulk.

Call your provider

Call your provider and ask if there are any initiatives or promotions you can enroll in at the moment. For example, a simple way to save is to set up automatic payments with a checking account, which is an option offered by most providers. 

Are you a long-time customer? You might have a deposit sitting in your account that you have forgotten about. If you have established consistent on-time payments, you may be able to put your deposit towards your bill this summer. 

Switch to window units

Are you cooling or heating an entire house when you really only use a few rooms? Reduce the overall costs of your utility bills by only paying for what you use.  

Look for sales on small window AC units, borrow units from a friend who isn’t using theirs, or even hop on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist to purchase second-hand units. 

Window units typically use far less energy than central air, especially if your central air unit is outdated. In the winter, consider throwing on a sweatshirt or using a blanket instead of cranking the heat in the entire house! 

Close doors and blinds

This is one of the easiest energy-saving tips. Your air conditioner works harder to cool large spaces. As a result, keeping rooms closed off will equalize the temperature in your home. 

During the hottest times of the day, close your blinds to keep your house cooler. You can also get blackout curtains to trap heat in during the winter while also keeping light and heat out during the summer. Remember: you lose around 25% of thermal energy through windows.

Use high energy appliances at night 

Did you know you pay more for energy during peak hours? By doing laundry or running the dishwasher in the early morning or late evening you can save money on energy bills at all times of the year.  

Unplug appliances

This is another easy energy hack. When you aren’t using appliances, unplug them. Unplug things like hair dryers, coffee makers, phone chargers, and lights. You can save anywhere between $100 to $200 a year by unplugging devices when they are not in use. 

For plugs tucked behind furniture or in hard-to-reach places, you can connect them to a power strip. Power strips make it easy to turn things on and off with the simple flick of a switch. Get a power strip with a built-in timer so you won’t have to worry about forgetting to turn it off!

Energy-efficient items

In need of new appliances? Almost every appliance in your home can be switched out for a more energy-efficient one. Refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and ceiling fans can be updated to save money every month. 

If you aren’t ready to switch out appliances, an easy cost-effective option that’ll save you money is to change the lightbulbs in your home to energy-efficient bulbs, like LED lights. Although it can initially cost you more than traditional incandescent bulbs, you’ll save money over the lifetime of the bulb because they use less energy and last longer.

Get the whole family involved

While saving money is always the goal, think about what your family can do to reduce your carbon footprint. Get the family involved and log into your energy provider’s website together. 

You can typically see graphs of your energy usage. Make it fun by trying to beat last month’s energy usage. You and your family can reduce your bill by turning off lights, letting your hair air dry, and drying your clothes outside!

Get outside

Turn the air to the highest comfortable setting—between 70º to 75º is recommended—and head outside. Summer only comes once a year, and there is nothing wrong with embracing the heat or loading up on vitamin D from the sun. 

Head to a local pool if you don’t have your own, or create a little oasis in your backyard. Grab items like a small pool, sidewalk chalk, jump ropes, and balls to bring the fun to your family. 

Don’t forget your sunscreen and bug repellent!  

Energy savings made easy

Create a budget for your utility bills and challenge yourself to make adjustments to stick to your budget, you can use a budgeting app to help keep you on track! 

Need help with utility bills in between paydays? Open a RoarMoney℠ account and you’ll have access to your payday two days early, so you can get the cash you need when you need it. 

If money is still tight and you’re struggling to pay your energy bill, start a side hustle to help you cover the costs. That way, you can bring in extra cash when you need it! With these tips on how to save money on utilities, you’ll become more energy-aware and save money in the process!