Ways | Cheaper Gas & Electricity Bills

February 17, 2010

Ways To Reduce Your Electric Bill – Important News !

Filed under: Changing energy supplier — Tags: Bill, Electric, Important, News, Reduce, Ways — admin @ 4:42 pm

If you are tired of electric bills and you are interested in finding out about ways to reduce your electric bill then you should keep on reading – you are sure to be intrigued. What if you were to learn that you can generate all the electricity your family could ever need, without outside assistance, and without spending a fortune – does this sound unbelievable? Keep reading the following report and get the full story.

The majority of people purchase the electricity they use from the power company; they then pay their monthly bills and at the same time watch their bank account decreasing for this essential need. But actually, there are many people who have said no to the status quo; they discovered they didn’t have to waste all that money – what they wanted is absolutely free and unlimited power supply that would supply all their power requirements.

As you proceed with your research in the area of ways to reduce your electric bill you have to realize that you too can take advantage of this money-saving system; actually you can enjoy this $0 cost power supply in just few days from now – you just have to take that first step. So you’re probably eager to get in on all the details as to what is involved here; it’s really a very easy process of taking existing natural sources of energy and creating limitless free electricity from them. No matter who it is, would you believe that they can make a windmill and/or solar energy system to create their own electricity in several days in their own backyard?

Even if you are only interested about ways to reduce your electric bill you should understand that you can quite easily build a system to harness the power of the sun and wind that can actually decrease your electric bills by as much as 100%! This might sound like a very difficult and very costly process; well, it used to be that way, but not anymore – happily for us, a respected professional who is on the cutting edge of the green technology movement ‘cracked the code’ that enables anyone to do that.

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February 4, 2010

3 Surefire Ways To Combat Rising Gas Prices

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: Combat, Prices, Rising, Surefire, Ways — admin @ 5:55 am

I have heard the rumblings of many of you in Readerland about the recent spike in gasoline prices. In fact it’s all I seem to hear about lately. But at least it keeps you from rumbling about the infrequency of my columns and articles. Nonetheless, I have decided to try to help you get through this crisis by generously providing: 3 Ways to Combat Rising Gas Prices!

1. Don’t Drive Your Car

This is, of course, the most obvious solution. If you never take the old Plymouth out the driveway, then it won’t matter that at current gas prices it takes $125 to fill up the 30 gallon gas tank, or that you only get about 2.51 miles to the gallon. If you never drive, you could care less.

Of course, I know what you’re going to say. “But Tim, I have places I need to go-like work. And the kids have school and soccer practice. And then there’s grocery shopping and yoga lesssons and dinner at the Richardsons and blah blah blah and….” Ok, I get the point. Not everyone can sit around the house writing not-so-funny articles and searching the Internet for Drew Barrymore

photos like me. I fully understand that some of you have a life. But just because you don’t drive your own car doesn’t mean you can’t get around. The answer?

2. Carpool

It’s seems so simple now doesn’t it. Instead of using your gas-Use Someone Elses! Have someone else pay $5.50 a gallon for gas to take your kids to school. Make someone else dip into their retirement fund just so they can cover the gas bill needed to get you to the office and back everyday. Make someone else get a second job so that they can have a full tank of gas in their SUV when your daughter needs to cruise the mall. It’s so simple.

Of course, the concept behind carpooling is that everyone takes turns driving. So in a normal carpool situation you would eventually be required to use your car and spend your money driving others around. But this is not a Normal Carpool Situation, this is a Tim Ward Carpool Situation (TWCPS). In a TWCPS you avoid using your own car by making it so that the other carpool participants would rather walk barefoot on 120 degree asphalt than ride with you. You achieve this by:

(a) never washing or cleaning your car. Leave it looking and smelling like the county landfill.

(b) Have the worst behaved child in your family sitting in the front seat at all times. Feed the child lots of candy so he/she is always superhyper.

(c) Refuse to discuss anything in your car except your spouses bad bathing habits, bodily fluids, hang nails, chest hair, etc.

(d) Only play reggae music on the radio. Loud!

You shouldn’t have to worry about anyone wanting to ride with you ever again.

3. Ride the Bus/Subway

Many cities have a mass transit system that is an alternative to driving your own vehicle. If you live in a city that doesn’t have one don’t worry-you can

always move. Of course, riding public transportation does have a few drawbacks, but these can be easily overcome if you follow these simple guidelines:

1. No matter what happens never, ever make eye contact with anyone. Making eye contact is an invitation for someone to mug you.

2. No matter what happens never, ever give up your seat to anyone. This is seen as weakness, and will be taken as an invitation to mug you.

3. No matter how tempted you are never, ever strike up a conversation with the person sitting next or across from you. This is very annoying and can be taken as an invitation for someone to mug you. Or worse, for someone to talk back.

4. Always make sure you are alert to get on and off at the right stop. Getting off at the wrong stop can lead to immediate mugging.

5. Never, ever take children with you on public transportation. Fellow passengers hate children. Children make you definite mug victim material.

Well, there you have it. 3 ways to deal with rising gas prices. Hopefully, you will be able to use these methods to keep from spending twice your car’s Blue Book value just going to Walmart. Hopefully, next time your friends are grumbling and ranting about the mounting gas prices you will be able to

just sit back and smile, content because the issue no longer concerns you. Hopefully, I’ve once more helped my loyal readers in a time of crisis. And all I ask in return as a simplethank you next time you see me. Just make sure we’re not on the bus. I’d hate to have to mug you…

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January 24, 2010

Simple Ways to Save on Your Gas Bills

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: Bills, Save, Simple, Ways — admin @ 8:33 am

With the economy still dwindling, countless households across the UK are still searching for ways to cut down on expenditures – one being utility bills. Consumers are particularly starting to worry about their upcoming gas bills, as winter is on its way and gas usage is likely to jump. However, even with the colder months on the horizon, there are various ways to save on gas bills – from insulating your loft and installing a new boiler, to turning down your thermostat by even one degree.

Cutting down on your monthly gas bills isn’t difficult, nor does it require you to make any major lifestyle changes. With just a few minor measures, you could end up saving more on your gas bills than ever before – even during the winter months. To begin, try insulating your loft to minimise heat loss through your roof. It’s a simple and easily obtainable procedure, and it can save you around £100 a year on heating. Remember that heat also escapes through floors, windows, and wall cavities – so it’s a good idea to insulate where you can. Floor insulation alone is estimated to be able to save you around £20 per year.

Next, get a jacket to wrap around your hot water tank. Standard water tank jackets cost about £10, but they’ll save you around £15 to £20 a year on your gas bills. Another minor step that can make a big difference is turning your thermostat down by one degree – a measure that can save you up to 10 per cent on your gas bills. And if you haven’t already done so, you should install a new, A-rated boiler in your home. Newer models are more efficient with regard to gas flow, and they’re less likely to break down than older versions – saving you money in various ways.

Of course, it also pays to shop around for the lowest priced gas supplier. Compare everything from costs to special deals and discounts – but don’t underestimate customer service and consumer reviews, as these are important points to consider. Once you’ve found a competitive deal with a gas company, it’s worth setting up payment on direct debit, as there’s usually a discount involved with such an arrangement. Direct debit discounts are estimated to amount to about 10 per cent in annual savings.

In following just a few simple steps in your home, you can significantly cut down on gas use and monthly gas bills. It’s never been simpler to help the environment and save money on utility bills – so why not make a change in your home today?

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January 17, 2010

Seven Simple Ways To Save Money On Gas

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: Money, Save, Seven, Simple, Ways — admin @ 4:24 pm

Looking for ways to save money on gas that won’t require you to go out and spend more money just so you can save a few bucks at the pump.

If you have a perfectly good vehicle, then spending $25k on a new hybrid car just so you can save $10 when you fill up at the pump might not be such a good deal.

Also, if you’re not the type that wants to install any of those “gas saving” devices in your car, then this list is for you.

Whether or not you have any mechanical skills, you can use these no brainier methods to start saving money on gas right now – even if you don’t know how to change a tire.

1 – Get A Gas Card

Want a tip that will save you money every single time you fill up at the pump no matter what vehicle you drive? It’s a gas card. Just about every major gas station offers their own brand of gas credit card that will allow you to save 3-5% on all your gas purchases at their gas stations. Forget about the branded gas cards and get one that will save you 5% on gas no matter where you fill up, like the Discover Open Road Card. Just remember, pay it off every month or it won’t save you any money.

Saving 5% off every gallon of gas means that $3/gallon gas now costs only $2.85 and $4/gallon becomes $3.80. If you have a 25 gallon tank, you’d save $3.75 every time you filled up ($3/gallon gas).

A lot of people use a credit card when filling up at the pump anyway since it’s easy and convenient. You may as well get a gas card so it’s easy, convenient, and saving you money.

2 – Avoid Aggressive Driving

Hitting the gas hard when the light turns green and braking hard will make your car drink gas faster than a drunk at an open bar at a wedding. If you were to drive away from a stop at a more moderate pace, accelerate in traffic more slowly, and anticipate when you’re going to need to brake ahead of time so you can do so slowly, you’re going to save a lot of gas – up to 37% – about the same buying a hybrid car but this tip won’t cost you anything. (oh yeah, it’s safer too)

3 – Use Your Cruise Control

Personally, I won’t buy a car if it doesn’t have cruise control, since it means I don’t have to worry so much about keeping my speed constant. However, cruise control also had the added benefit of saving you gas too. On average, you’ll save about 7% more gas than if you don’t use cruise control.

4 – Slow Down

Sure, going fast can be fun. It can also get you a nice collection of speeding tickets, but more importantly, the faster you drive the more gas you use. I’m not saying that you need to drive like your grandmother, but slowing down from 75 to 65 can you 12% on you gas bill, and unless you’re driving across the country, the time difference in getting where you’re going will be minimal.

5 – Stop Idling

Having the car running when it’s not moving wastes gas.

I remember being taught when I was first learning to drive that you should let your car warm up for a few minutes before driving it anywhere when it’s cold outside. While that may be true for older cars, modern cars don’t need warm up time before being ready to drive. Don’t drive like a maniac (see #2) before you car is completely warmed up and you’ll be fine.

If you going to be sitting and waiting some place without moving for more than about a minute, turn off the engine. It probably goes without saying that if you can avoid rush hour traffic, you should.

Also, one great place to sit and waste gas is your local fast food drive-thru. Get off your lazy butt, get out of your car and go inside to get your food.

6 – Plan Ahead

Instead of driving to the gym, going home, driving to work, driving home, driving to the store, and then home again, start combining trips whenever possible. This is really easy to do if you just think ahead. Avoid just spontaneously hopping in the car and driving to the store to pick up some milk and eggs. Think about what else you can do if you’re going to be out running errands anyway so that you can avoid another trip later.

5 You got legs – use’em

Really want to save money on gas? Then use your legs. A lot of trips aren’t really that far, and while it takes a little longer to walk somewhere than to drive there, it’s a good chance to get outside, get some fresh air and get some exercise in the process. It’s really not necessary to drive absolutely everywhere unless you happen to live in the middle of nowhere. So get yourself a comfortable pair of tennis shoes and start walking instead of driving when you can.

Also, a bicycle is a nice compromise between the two, and can actually be faster to get some places than a car. I remember when I was in college and moved off campus – although we lived almost 2 miles from campus, it was a lot faster for me to take my bicycle to go to class than to take my car.

Want even more ways to save money on gas? Then go to the FuelSavingZone.com homepage and download my free report, 61 ways to save money on gas.

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January 13, 2010

Top Ten Ways to Improve Gas Mileage. Simple Tips to Get More Mpg for Your Car

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: Improve, Mileage, More, Simple, Tips, Ways — admin @ 3:27 pm

Lets face it the price of gas is still rising and there is very little chance that it will ever fall back down to what it was. In fact the experts are predicting that it is going to get a lot worse, and this is sending many drivers into a frenzy trying to find ways to improve gas mileage and squeeze every last drop of gas out of their cars to get more MPG.

So just what can we do to get more MPG from our cars? Just a quick look on the internet will turn up hundreds of so called “gas mileage devices” that promise to get more MPG from your engine. Now I’m not saying that all these gas mileage devices are scams, but a lot of them sound pretty far fetched. With this in mind I have done some research and come up with ten ways to improve gas mileage using tips that most experts agree actually work.

1) This one is so obvious that it often gets overlooked. Make sure that your gas cap is in good condition and that the seal is not worn or broken. A loose or poor fitting gas cap will allow gas vapour to leak out, wasting precious fuel. As much as 17 gallons of gas a year can be lost due to a faulty gas cap. Also if and when you do replace it make sure you get a locking one as the rise in gas prices increases the rise in gas theft.
2) Stick with the right type of gas for your particular vehicle by using the correct octane rating that is recommended for it. A higher octane rated fuel such as premium will have little benefit for an engine designed to run on regular gas.
3) Don’t let your engine idle for long periods. An engine that idles for 15 minutes can waste up to a gallon of gas.
4) Drive at a reasonable speed. The faster you drive the less fuel efficient your engine is, keeping your speed down is one of the best ways to improve gas mileage.
5) Make sure that your air filter is cleaned regularly. A clogged air filter will drastically reduce your fuel efficiency, so check it on a regular basis, especially if you drive on dirt roads where it will clog up quicker.
6) Don’t forget your other filters. Routinely check your fuel filter and the PCU valve and breather filter. Replacing these can improve gas mileage by up to 15%
7) Get a mechanic to check your oxygen sensors. A faulty oxygen sensor can send more gas to the engine than it really needs to run efficiently.
8) Don’t be a jack-rabbit driver. Always accelerate and break slowly (except in an emergency obviously). Fast accelerating and aggressive breaking will also reduce your fuel economy.
9) Keep your tires in good condition and check pressures regularly. A flat tire is a drag and will cost you gas.
10) Try to keep your weight down. All that junk you carry around in your trunk (the stuff you never use) is just adding to your gas bill.

These are just 10 simple ways to improve gas mileage and get more MPG for your car. There are many more and most of them are just common sense, so even if you don’t invest in one of the new gas mileage devices on sale you can still make some savings and get more MPG for your car.

Discover for yourself even more ways to make real gas mileage improvements and cut your gasoline consumption in half with simple Step-By-Step guides to show you how.

CLICK HERE NOW http://www.MoreGasMPG.com/saveongas.html

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January 12, 2010

Top Ten Ways to Improve Gas Mileage – Simple Tips to Get More Mpg for Your Car

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: Improve, Mileage, More, Simple, Tips, Ways — admin @ 7:35 pm

2) Stick with the right type of gas for your particular vehicle by using the correct octane rating that is recommended for it. A higher octane rated fuel such as premium will have little benefit for an engine designed to run on regular gas.

3) Don’t let your engine idle for long periods. An engine that idles for 15 minutes can waste up to a gallon of gas.

4) Drive at a reasonable speed. The faster you drive the less fuel efficient your engine is, keeping your speed down is one of the best ways to improve gas mileage.

5) Make sure that your air filter is cleaned regularly. A clogged air filter will drastically reduce your fuel efficiency, so check it on a regular basis, especially if you drive on dirt roads where it will clog up quicker.

6) Don’t forget your other filters. Routinely check your fuel filter and the PCU valve and breather filter. Replacing these can improve gas mileage by up to 15%

7) Get a mechanic to check your oxygen sensors. A faulty oxygen sensor can send more gas to the engine than it really needs to run efficiently.

Don’t be a jack-rabbit driver. Always accelerate and break slowly (except in an emergency obviously). Fast accelerating and aggressive breaking will also reduce your fuel economy.

9) Keep your tires in good condition and check pressures regularly. A flat tire is a drag and will cost you gas.

10) Try to keep your weight down. All that junk you carry around in your trunk (the stuff you never use) is just adding to your gas bill.

Discover for yourself more ways to make real gas mileage improvements and cut your gasoline consumption in half with simple Step-By-Step guides to show you how.
http://www.MoreGasMPG.com/

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January 9, 2010

Best ways to Save your Money on your Electricity Bills

Filed under: Changing energy supplier — Tags: Best, Bills, Electricity, Money, Save, Ways — admin @ 4:30 am

Do you have a question like this: I don’t use electrical appliances very often, why do I have to pay so much for electricity? The answer is that you don’t understand how much power your electrical appliances consume.This is very surprising that a toaster would use 1000watts per hour while a laptop would use only 75 watts for the same period of time. Other appliances that consume a lot of power includes cookers, electric showers and electric kettle (which is more than 2000watts per hour).Although sometimes you have to use these appliances, there is still way to low down the electricity consumption.

Heating

* Turn the heating thermostat down by just one degree can save up to 10 % of your electricity bill.

* Buy heavy curtains to keep the heat inside and close them at night.This can prevent the 25% heat that escaped when not glazed.

* Do not boil water hotter than 60 degrees C or 140 degrees F.You will need to blend with cold water to drink it.This is a big waste of energy.

* Insulate hot water tanks and pipes. Up to 75 % of heat in tank will lose due to lack of insulation.

Cooling

* Freezers and fridges account for up to 33% of the electricity bill. Ensure that the metal grids and coils at the back have enough space for air to circulate so as to keep them efficient. Also they should be kept dust-free.

* Defrost freezers when the thickness of ice reaches 5mm.

* Promptly replace door seals when they are damaged .

* In USA, air-conditioning accounts for 14 percent of the electricity bill. You can take off your jacket and raise the degree of air-conditioning. This could save a lot of electricity.

Light

* Use energy-saving light bulbs.(11 watts an hour) Traditional light bulbs use 80% of the energy making heat, not light.

* Do not use up-lighters because they use high wattage bulbs.

* Turn off the light when you are out of the area. This does not shorten the life of a light bulb. Strip lighting can also safely be turned off and on.

Cooking

* Ovens with fan use less electricity.

* Slow Cookers use very little energy.

* Only boil the amount of water that you need in the kettle. By filling the kettle with 1 cup of white vinegar and 2 cups of water, the kettle would not have lime scale. The lime scale affects the heat conduction when boiling water. This would use more energy if there is lime scale. Leave to stand overnight. Rinse carefully and throw away the first lot of boiled water.

Washing

* Wash your clothes with the washing machine until you have a full load.

* Cold wash anything if it is not marked with grease or heavily soiled.

* Clean lime scale in your washing machine regularly if you live in a hard water area. First put 200ml of white vinegar in the detergent tray. Then run the machine on wash cycle. The lime scale will be cleaned up. Do this every two or three months to keep the efficiency of the washing machine.

* Do not use tumble dryers too often. This is because 40% of the power is used on stand-by. Turn them down when you are not using them.

Another solution – make power at home

Instead of worrying about the big number in your electricity bills, you can do something very aggressive. That is making power at home. This is no longer expensive to setup solar power system and wind generators at home because you can do it yourself. This would just cost you $200 to $400.If you are interested, go to the following site to learn more.

Click here to see how to make electricity at home

If you are interested in using wind power to produced electricity, or you want to produced electricity from wind, click here to learn more.

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January 7, 2010

Ways To Improve My Gas Mileage

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: Improve, Mileage, Ways — admin @ 3:19 am

As gas prices continue to rise I find myself looking for tips on how to improve my gas mileage. I have found that there are actually plenty of easy ways to save hundreds of dollars per year on your gas bill simply by keeping your car in the best possible condition and changing a few driving habits. Below you will find some good tips to improve your gas mileage.

When it comes to routine maintenance, the first thing you’ll have to do is to make sure that your tires are well inflated. Low tires pressure increases drag and will reduce your car’s fuel efficiency. Properly inflated tires help to save money and will also prevent premature wear and tear. To determine the appropriate tire pressure, you should consult the owner’s manual and inspect the tire’s sidewalls and tread depth. Wheel alignment is also important, as improper alignment causes unnecessary tire wear. Check the alignment about every 10,000 miles. Rotating and balancing will also extend the life of the tire. A regular tune up also improves gas mileage. Replace your air filter; a new air filter can reduce fuel consumption by 10 %. Other factors that will lead to lower fuel efficiency are; misaligned wheels, worn wheel bearings and brakes, dirty fuel filters, damaged spark plugs, and missed oil changes. By following basic maintenance guidelines on your car, you will cut back on the amount of fuel your car needs to run.

In addition to regular maintenance you can get better gas mileage by altering a few of driving habits. First, plan your route in advance to avoid the stop and go traffic of a backed up road or highway. Tune in traffic reports for news of delays. Second, try to utilize your cruise control and maintain a constant speed. Third, Sudden or unnecessary braking consumes more gas. At traffic lights, avoid the temptation to rev up your engine, instead, slowly accelerate as you leave an intersection. Fourth, roll up your windows, and turn on the air conditioner. Rolling up your windows and using the air conditioner can boost gas mileage! This holds true especially on freeways, where the drag from open windows can be a drag on your car’s fuel efficiency. Then again, you can save gas by parking your vehicle in the shade. Once you get in the car, open the windows for a couple of minutes to allow any trapped hot air to escape. Finally, filling your car and trunk with unnecessary items makes the vehicle heavier, meaning you will burn more gas.

If the high price of gas is still getting you down you might consider a conversion kit to burn water and gas. Can water really power a car? The answer is yes, it can! You are able to use electricity from your car’s battery to separate water into a gas called HHO also called Brown’s Gas or Hydroxy, which, burns smoothly and provides significant energy. HHO provides the atomic power of Hydrogen, while maintaining the stability of water. Water can be used to fuel a car when used as a supplement to gasoline. As a matter of fact, very little water is needed. Only one quart of water provides over 1800 gallons of HHO gas, which can literally last for months and significantly increase your vehicle’s fuel efficiently, improve emissions quality, and save you money.

These are just some of the ways to improve gas mileage. Gas prices are rising day by day and there are a lot of people that are buying cars that use less gas. If you’re not one of them, and you don’t want a hybrid car, then you should know that there are many ways to improve the gas the mileage on any car. Even the slightest improvement could help you spend a lot less money on gas each year.

For more ways to improve your gas mileage please visit my Squidoo lens.

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January 6, 2010

Ways to Save Big Bucks on Your Phone Bill

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: Bill, Bucks, Phone, Save, Ways — admin @ 10:38 am

When it comes to saving money on your monthly telephone bill, there is really no wrong or right way. Though, there is obviously an emphasis on making it happen. And unless you go all-out with your attack and strategy, it’s not going to happen at all. The ultimate goal is to maximize your savings without having to cut back on phone calls. You don’t want to limit your phone time and cut yourself off from family and friends, but you do want to get free usage from your phone and milk it for all it’s worth.

The first step in accomplishing this feat is to locate the best possible phone plan for your needs. You’re going to want a reliable plan that gives you a competitive rate, and still allows you make all the phone calls you need. Unfortunately, it isn’t likely that you’re going to find the Holy Grail of phone services. In reality, you’ll be altering your existing phone plan and tweaking the service to work its best for you. In order to limit your expenses every month, you can start by asking others to use calling cards and maybe anytime minutes when dealing with you. Free nights and weekends are often available on some phone plans, and they should be used. Slightly rerouting your calling schedule can save you big buck monthly. Also, a lot of plans offer free Instant Messaging or Texting services.

Most phone companies have various payment plans that will allow you to make staggered payments. This enables you to create your own custom phone plan, and capitalizes on places you call most frequently. The company will offer competitive rates and create fairness between places you call often, and places you call less frequently. This type of structure is referred to as “call leveling.” It is one of the most popular plans available, especially for users with long distance families and relationships.

Unfortunately, even the best phone planning can go awry and leave you with an enormous bill. When this happens, you need to pay the phone bill. Unlike a credit card bill which may compile some interest, or a utility bill which may give you a little leeway for a month, a phone company will shut off your service almost instantly. Because of this, it needs to be paid. So if you do find yourself having trouble scraping the money together, there are options out there to get you quick cash. Payday loans or instant cash loans, are an ideal fix to tide you over when you hit a sticky situation like this just short of your payday. These payday cash advances should only be loans of $100- $600 and it’s best to find a company that doesn’t roll over your debt into another payday loan or you may never be able to pay it off!

You need to keep your eyes and your ears open when making decisions involving your finances. Ask around, shop around and do your research. There are options out there that can be tailor made to suit your needs!

Johan Kriegbaum, online marketing manager of
Payday Cash Loan,Australia?s preferred short term lender, shares his insights on money matters. Founded in 2005 Payday Cash Loan has helped thousands of Australians with their fast
cash loans but that?s just the short term solution. Payday Cash Loans also helps people in the long run by providing budgeting tools, e-books and individually researched
articles on money matters and financial tips. The aim is to assist people in achieving instant and long term financial freedom.

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December 29, 2009

Money Saving Advice – Sixteen Ways to Save Money on Your Gas and Electricity Bills

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: Advice, Bills, Electricity, Money, Save, saving, Sixteen, Ways — admin @ 5:13 am

We have just had the worst snow in twenty years last month which brought some parts of the UK to its knees. The Bank of England is trying to control deflation by reducing interest rate to one percent and still the prices for certain imported foods and energy costs are rising. Everybody is now feeling the fallout of the credit crunch and the recession is starting to take victims. Last month I noticed the biggest jump in my gas and electricity costs so I called my provider. They informed me that the costs were about right for the size of house although my gas was a bit high. My Gas and Electricity bill had jumped to £282 per month. (Ouch!)

Am I being mugged by my utility provider?

It certainly feels as if I am being mugged by my utility provider and the gas and electricity that is being supplied to my home is providing free gas and electricity to the rest of the homes on our development. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask when he was robbing the public. So faced with increasing utility costs I put on my money saving expert hat and started to investigate how I could reduce my gas and electricity costs.

Government Grants website

You could use the Government Grants website which provides a source of information for UK grants for gas central heating, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation. Government grants from 40% to 70% are available to homeowners and tenants for loft and cavity wall insulation. These grants are funded by the utility companies and are non-refundable. These grants will not be around forever and once the funding that has been allocated is exhausted they will finish. They also offer a solar heating grant of £400 towards the cost of installation of solar panels which cost around £4,000 depending on the size of your home. If you do not meet their eligibility criteria for free insulation, then grants from around 50% are available for loft insulation and cavity wall insulation, so you can still achieve a massive saving on the normal cost.

The Governments’ Energy Saving Trust Website

I also discovered that there were grants available to help us implement energy saving measures and help reduce our carbon foot print. The Governments’ Energy Saving Trust website provides grants and they have a wonderful search tool to help you find grants or offers that are available for you in your area. All you need do is complete the questions asked on their search for grants and offers page. You will then be presented with a list of providers offering discounted prices or grants in your area. This is a brilliant site and is packed with great advice and help for saving energy, saving money and reducing your carbon dioxide emissions from your home.

What Savings can I expect from loft and cavity wall insulation

Our homes lose 35% of their heating through the walls and 25% through the roof. At the Governments Energy Saving Trust website they have an Energy Saving House where they show you a full range of energy saving measures. For example by insulating the loft and having cavity wall insulation with a grant you could reduce you’re heating bills by around £365 a year and reduce your home’s carbon dioxide emissions by up to 1.5 tonnes.

You can complete their online Energy Savers report which allows you to understand your homes energy efficiency performance to reduce your energy use and how to save money. The average cost seems to be between £225 to £249 for either cavity wall insulation or loft insulation depending on the size of your home. Although I did find that B&Q the DIY store was charging £199 for either cavity wall insulation or loft insulation depending on the size of your home. If you are over 70 years old you can receive loft insulation and cavity wall insulation for free from the Energy Saving Trust or the Government Grants website.

Old central heating boilers are inefficient

Changing you’re a central heating boiler that is over ten years old will reduce your gas bill as it is thought that these older central heating unit are only 70% efficient. This means that for every £1 of gas that you buy your old unit wastes 30pence of the money you pay for your gas. Add some heating controls taps to your central heating radiators and they could help save you a further 17% of your heating bill when fitted with a condensing boiler along with an upgraded heating control and you could be looking at a total saving of as much as 40% of your heating bill providing a saving of £275 a year depending on the size of your home.

Sixteen ways to save money on your monthly utility bill

To summarize here is a list solutions and other money saving tips that are available to help you reduce your gas and electricity bill. The grants and discounts available will vary according to the size of your home, your location, your annual income and your age.

1. Grants for gas central heating depends on age and benefits being claimed
2. Grants and discounts for loft insulation from £199
3. Grants and discounts for cavity wall insulation from £199
4. Grant of £400 towards the installation of Solar panels
5. Replace existing light bulbs with Energy Saving Lightbulbs, they cost around £2 per bulb and you could expect to save around £45 before it needs replacing. These bulbs use 80% less electricity and will last ten times longer than a standard light bulb. Count the number of bulbs you need and see the savings.
6. Update your Central heating unit if older then 10 years. Consider either a condensing boiler along with an upgraded heating control unit or replace it with a Combi Boiler as this will do away with a conventional hot-water storage cylinder and water tanks in the loft. Costs from £2,000
7. Add heating controls tap to all your radiators, they cost from £7.99 each
8. Switch Utility providers for a better deal.
9. Switch your gas and electricity providers to a duel fuel provider if you have not already done this for further savings, save around £115
10. Pay your utility bills monthly by direct debit for a further discount from your provider.
11. Switch to an online account with your utility provider. You can now read your gas and electricity meters monthly and update the information for an accurate bill. This will prevent over billing from estimated assessments of your usage.
12. If you are on a coin operated meter for your gas and electricity then consider switching as you are paying a premium for this facility.
13. Switch off all light switches and plugs when the appliances are not in use.
14. An estimated £910 million is wasted in the UK every year by people leaving televisions, computers, TV set-top boxes and radios on standby.
15. Use a timer to turn your central heating on and off as required.
16. Consider switching to Energy Saving Recommended household appliances as they could cut your energy consumption by up to a third compared to your old appliance. Obviously only do this as you replace broken or old appliances.

For further ways of reducing your gas and utility bill then you should visit the Energy Saving Trust website where you will find a mountain of further money saving ideas and help.

Anyone can reduce their Gas and Electricity bills

Anyone can reduce their Gas and Electricity bills by at least 20% following the sixteen ways to save money listed above. Unfortunately, like most things you need to spend some money to save money; but the rewards will return each month. By implementing a few of these money saving tips at home you will certain reduce your gas and electricity bills in the future and save money. You’re thinking I cannot afford to make all these changes. Start with the changes that cost the least and then work your way through the list above. Remember by making these changes you will not only save money each month but you will be helping our planet HOME by reducing your carbon dioxide emissions.

Contributing author Mark Aucamp has been providing Talk Money Blog with regular Money Saving Advice advice and comments. Mark has extensive experience in providing Debt Management, Quick Mortgage Advice and solutions. He is recognised as an authority in the field of debt management and mortgage advice. Find out how to clear your credit card debts legally!

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