Frugal Living Today

Summer is in full swing, and the temperatures are going nowhere but up from here.  Even though energy usage is highest during these hot months, there are still ways that you can save quite a bit on your energy bill.

Check Your Thermostat
For every degree that you raise your thermostat, you can save as much as 2 to 3 percent on your energy bill.  Do you really need it to be 70 degrees inside?

In the evenings when the temperatures are cooler and there is a nice breeze, why not turn the air conditioner off entirely and open the windows?  The breeze blowing through your home will make it feel much cooler and it won’t cost you a thing.

Also, don’t ever go to bed without raising the temperature on the thermostat a few degrees.  Nights are most often cooler and there is no need to keep your house that cool when everyone is asleep.

One more seemingly obvious tip here – if you aren’t using rooms during the day, close them off (and don’t forget to close the vents) to avoid paying to cool what you don’t need to.

In the Kitchen
Avoid using your oven whenever possible, and then only at night.  Instead, look for ways to use your microwave.  A toaster oven can make quick work of smaller cooking jobs, use a lot less energy and not heat up the kitchen nearly as much.

When you do use the oven, you should try to cook several things at the same time to make the most of the time that you have.  Doubling recipes is a great time and money saver, and by cooking two lasagnas at once you are saving energy as well.

If you run the dishwasher (not very frugal – tisk tisk!), don’t use the dry cycle.  Open the door and let your dishes air dry and you’ll save money every time.

Get Out!
During the hottest part of the day, instead of lowering the thermostat, why not go spend a couple of hours at the local public library?  The kids can work on homework and you can read all the free magazines you want.  Many libraries have activities for children on the weekends, so be sure to check it out (sorry for the bad pun).