Get a home energy audit. Many utility companies provide home energy audits for free or a nominal fee. These audits can identify the areas in your home with the greatest heating/cooling loss, analyze past utilities bills and estimate how long it would take you to recoup the cost of upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances, for example.
Air-dry dishes. Instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle, set it to “clean only” and open the door when the dishwasher is done.
Run your ceiling fans in the winter. By changing the blade direction on your ceiling fan to create an updraft, you can help recycle heat throughout a drafty room. Most fan models have a switch on the base of the unit that allows you to change direction.
Use a heated mattress pad or blanket. The electricity it takes to heat the mattress pad or blanket is miniscule compared to the cost of heating your entire house in the winter a few extra degrees.
Seal duct and plumbing gaps. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates 15% of a home’s air loss comes from ducts and 13% from plumbing that leads to the outside. Sealing these areas with weather stripping, heat-safe tape and caulk is inexpensive and quick.
Get a programmable thermostat and use it. If programmed as directed, you can save up to 33% on your annual energy costs. They cost as little as $25 and are easy to install.
Turn down your water heater. If you lower the temperature of your water heater by 10 degrees, you can count on an estimated 5% reduction on your energy bill.
Maintain/clean your appliances. Keep critical appliances like your furnace, water heater and air conditioner running at peak efficiency by cleaning vents, draining sediment and replacing filters as often as your user manuals suggest.
Check toilets for leaks. A leaky toilet can waste as much as 500 gallons of water each day. Place a dye tablet (free at home improvement stores) in the toilet tank and watch to see if the dye seeps into the bowl. If it does, you have a leak that needs to be addressed.
Replace toilet flappers annually. Worn out flappers are responsible for many toilet leaks. A replacement flapper only costs a few dollars and can be installed in a few minutes.
Switch to a low-flow showerhead. Low-flow showerheads use less water at 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm); older models use as much as 5.5 gpm. Making the switch can help reduce your water bill by 25-60%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Be water smart. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Wash fruits and vegetables in a sink or bowl filled with water. Keep a container of water in the refrigerator rather than running tap water for a cool drink. Water plants less frequently but more deeply.
Use rain barrels. Rain barrels are a time-tested way to save water for re-use. If you use water from your rain barrel to take care of your outdoor plants and gardens, you'll likely cut your water bill since your consumption will be down. Plus some municipalities offer barrels for free or for a minimal charge.
Reduce the amount of waste you create. Since most trash disposal bills are based on volume, start by reducing your amount of waste. Buy in bulk, shop for durable products and avoid excess packaging when possible. Then look for ways to recycle and re-use even more things than what you may already be separating from your household waste.
Sort it. Maximize your trash containers by separating household waste as best as possible. Compost food waste (coffee grounds, banana peels, etc.), put yard waste in the appropriate container and use local recycling centers and thrift stores to unload large or bulky items.
Avoid the dump. Instead of going to the dump and paying to dispose of large items (such as appliances, furniture and mattresses), wait for your disposal company’s bulky item pickup day. (Days and frequency vary.)
Downsize your trash container. Most disposal companies offer different size trash containers. And generally, the smaller the container, the smaller your bill. Strive to work your way down to the smallest container.
Cut down on paper. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, paper products make up the largest portion of the municipal solid waste in the U.S. So do things to reduce the amount of paper you use. Consider the “80/20” rule—reach for reusable cloths at least 80% of the time.
Consider bundling your service. You’ll get a bundled service discount when you move your services (home phone, cable and Internet) to one provider. But be sure to do the math to ensure it’s really a deal for you in the long-term, and check your existing service agreements to be sure you avoid early termination fees.
Drop pricey phone services. Stop using services like directory information and automatic redialing. Go back to basics (using the redial button on your phone, pulling out a phonebook, etc.) and save up to $25 a month or more, depending on your region.
Think about dropping your home phone. More people are deciding that traditional home phone service is no longer worth the expense. While going “cell-only” could save you money, make sure it fits your lifestyle and phone usage. Bear in mind that 911 calls from cell phones don’t provide the same location information as a traditional landline call, which can delay help in reaching you. While the Federal Communication Commission now requires all wireless carriers to be able to pinpoint your location when making a 911 call from a cell phone, this rule is still being phased in and there are exceptions.
Switch to Internet phone service (VOIP). Using VOIP can save you $50 to $100 per month versus a traditional “hard-wired” landline. You can conduct an Internet search to find providers in your area.
Downgrade from flat rate local service. Unless you make a lot of local phone calls, paying the traditional flat rate for your local service may be more costly than you need. Check with your phone company to see if they offer a non-flat rate calling plan or something similar that will give you a monthly calling allowance for local calls.
Use calling cards. Consider using calling cards to make long-distance calls, rather than going through your home phone service provider. Some cards have rates as low as 3¢ a minute.
Avoid calling 411. Directory assistance can be expensive and it's unnecessary. Try looking up the phone number online instead.
Use prepaid cell phone service. If you rarely use a cellphone or just want an "emergency phone", skip the usual monthly cell phone plan and use a prepaid option instead. As the name suggests, you pay for a certain amount of minutes and there's no contract to sign.
Examine your bill. There are online services that will examine your cell phone bill and suggest ways you can cut it, including Validas, BillShrink, and ReviewMybill.com.
Get the right amount of minutes. If you're ending the month with unused minutes, switch to a plan with fewer minutes and save. If you find you run over occasionally, consider plans with rollover minutes. However, think twice about unlimited plans, which can be costly-especially if you don't need unlimited minutes.
Consider Friends, Family and Network plans. Many wireless service providers let you designate the people you call the most for discounts. And some of these providers will allow you to pay a little more for unlimited calling in the network. Or you may choose to combine plans. The price goes down as you add new lines to the same plan, often by as much as 40%.
Skip costly ringtones. Instead of spending $2 or more for 15 seconds of a song, look for ringtones you can download for free.
Re-negotiate your contract. When your existing contract expires, always renegotiate for a better deal. The prices of cell phone contracts tend to go down over time for the same service.
Drop pricey cable packages. Going back to basic cable could save you up to $20 every month, depending on your cable company and your current cable plan. And rather than pay for premium channels, sign up for an online movie rental club and watch unlimited movies and TV shows via your home’s Internet connection.
Consider bundling your service. You’ll get a bundled service discount when you move your services (cable, home phone and Internet) to one provider. But be sure to do the math to ensure it’s really a deal for you in the long-term, and check your existing service agreements to be sure you avoid early termination fees.
Rent box sets of your favorite TV shows. Instead of subscribing to a costly premium cable channel to watch one series (which can cost over $180 annually), wait for the entire season to come out on DVD and rent it for significantly less.
Watch TV on your PC. Many broadcast networks have their own online sites where you can watch many of their popular TV shows for free. These sites, and their corresponding networks, include ABC, CBS, Discovery Channel, NBC, and PBS.
Consider bundling your service. You’ll get a bundled service discount when you move your services (Internet, cable and home phone) to one provider. But be sure to do the math to ensure it’s really a deal for you in the long-term, and check your existing service agreements to be sure you avoid early termination fees.
Protect your files with free online storage space. Use free online digital storage space to protect files from computer crashes, theft and natural disaster, while you enjoy "anywhere access" and avoid the expense of buying an external hard drive. Some common online providers include Box, Windows Live SkyDrive, Dropbox and Google Docs.
Shop around. Unless you agreed to an extended contract, you should be able to change Internet service providers at any time. Compare rates to find the best option.
Speak up. If you’re thinking of switching providers, be sure to speak with your current provider first. Most don’t want to lose business and may offer you a discount to stay.
Reduce your Internet speed. First consider what you use the Internet for, then find the speed that best fits your usage. In most cases you’ll find you can downgrade without noticing a significant difference.
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