Depending on your household, you might notice that your expenses tend to go up in the summer, between higher electricity bills and kids being home from school with nothing to do. This can put extra financial strain on you. Fortunately, we have some tips on ways to save money at home in the summer that will hopefully help you make it through this coming season.
Turn Off the Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is the biggest culprit of increased electrical bills during the summer, so try to leave it turned off as much as possible, especially if everyone is leaving the house. Sure, your home will be hot when you return, but it will be a small price to pay for the money you’ll save.
Paying close attention to the weather is another great way to save on air conditioning costs. If it’s a nice day or there’s a strong breeze outside, turning off the AC and opening some windows will give you quite a few hours of savings. However, if it’s the dog days of summer and you absolutely need to run the AC, make sure you frequently replace the filters. Dirty filters make the system run longer in order to cool down the house, leading to increased costs.
Make the Switch to Gas
If you already have a gas system installed, find ways to use it over electricity. Gas bills are way cheaper overall. If you don’t have a gas system, the initial cost of installation and replacing appliances may be a lot, but the savings you’ll obtain will make up for it in the long run. If your electric appliances are still new, you should be able to make a good amount of money back by selling them. Plus, most propane companies have very flexible pricing plans that will work for your budget. Another thing that will ease your mind about the upfront cost is saving even more money in the winter once you start using gas for heating.
If you simply can’t afford an entirely new system right now, there are still other much cheaper gas options out there, such as an outdoor grill. This will save you on electricity bills in two ways; the first is that you won’t have to use electricity for cooking. The second is that you won’t have to cool down a house that your stove has heated up. Find reasons to cook outside whenever you can this summer!
Utilize the Nice Weather
When the weather is beautiful, you and your family should go out and experience it. Stop sitting inside and watching TV—freeze your monthly subscriptions and enjoy nature. So much of what the outdoors have to offer can bring everyone tons of enjoyment, and the best part: it’s free. Plus, the more time you spend outside, the less air conditioning you’ll have to use. If we haven’t made it abundantly clear yet, not using as much air conditioning is definitely the best way to save money at home in the summer.
