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1. Turn Off Lights When You’re Not Using Them
I used to think my apartment had a personal grudge against me because my light bill was insane.
Turns out, I was just too lazy to hit the switch when I left a room.
Leaving lights on is like leaving dollar bills burning on the table.
LEDs or not, the costs add up over the month.
And no, the cat doesn’t need mood lighting while you’re at work.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Start flipping the switch every time you leave a room or grab a smart plug on Amazon that shuts lights off for you.
2. Wash Clothes in Cold Water to Save Energy
Hot water feels nice, but your clothes don’t care.
Using cold water instead of hot cuts down the energy your washer wastes heating it.
And honestly, cold water is gentler on fabrics.
So you’ll save money and stretch the life of your favorite hoodie.
That’s a win-win, right?
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Change your washer setting to “cold” and use a detergent designed for cold washes like Tide Coldwater.
3. Seal Drafts to Keep Warm Air Inside
Ever walk past a window and feel a tiny breeze?
That’s not “fresh air,” that’s your money flying out the cracks.
Leaky doors and windows are the sneaky villains of high utility bills.
Grab some weatherstripping or draft stoppers, and you’ll see the difference fast.
Even tape works if you’re broke this month.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Buy cheap weatherstripping from Amazon and seal around windows or doors where you feel a draft.
4. Unplug Devices That Drain Power on Standby
Ever heard of “vampire power”?
No, it’s not a Miami nightclub thing.
It’s your TV, game console, or laptop charger sucking energy even when you’re not using them.
These little energy vampires bleed your wallet slowly.
Unplug them or use a power strip and kill them all at once.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Plug your electronics into one surge protector and switch it off when you leave the house.
5. Use Energy-Efficient LED Bulbs at Home
I know, I know. LEDs again.
But listen, they last years longer than those old-school bulbs and cost a fraction to run.
I swapped out every bulb in my place, and my bill dropped enough for an extra cafecito every week. 🙂
Besides, who doesn’t like that bright, clean light vibe?
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Replace every bulb with LEDs (grab a bulk pack from Costco or Amazon for cheap).
6. Take Shorter Showers to Cut Water Bills
I get it, showers are therapy.
But standing there for 20 minutes doesn’t solve your problems. It just makes your water bill cry.
Cut it down to 5–7 minutes and you’ll save water, heat, and money.
Plus, you won’t come out looking like a lobster.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set a playlist or timer on your phone and finish your shower by the second song.
7. Set Your Thermostat a Few Degrees Lower
Your thermostat is basically the bouncer of your utility bill.
Every degree up or down can cost you big over the month.
Do you really need Arctic-level AC in summer?
Or a sauna in the winter?
Nah, your body adjusts.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Drop your thermostat 2–3 degrees and use a smart thermostat like Nest to schedule temps automatically.
8. Run Appliances During Off-Peak Hours
Utility companies love charging more when everyone uses power at the same time.
That means your dishwasher at 6 PM costs more than at 10 PM.
Sounds shady, but that’s the system.
So, run your appliances late at night or early morning.
It’s like getting a discount without a coupon.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check your utility company’s website for off-peak hours and run laundry or dishwashers then.
9. Maintain Your HVAC System for Maximum Efficiency
Your AC and heater are the MVPs of comfort in your home.
But if you don’t clean or service them, they start working harder, which means higher bills.
A clogged filter is like making your AC breathe through a straw.
Replace filters regularly and get a yearly tune-up.
Trust me, it’s cheaper than a repair bill.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Replace filters every 3 months (Amazon delivers them on subscription) and schedule an annual HVAC check-up.
Hi! I’m the founder of Money Vice and a passionate personal finance enthusiast. I started this site to help people across America save more with the least difficulty, get rid of debt, and to start putting their money to work (in the easiest way possible).
