Reducing Phone and Cable Bills
I take home $620 per month after taxes. My two biggest bills are home phone and cable how can I downsize them without getting rid of them. The phone service includes the internet which is dial up, and equals $110 per month. The cable equals $80 per month and no movie channels.
Link: Free Low Income Cell Phone
You can get a cell phone for absolutely nothing. It is for low income people, every month you get 80 free minutes.There is no catch, no hidden charges. If you lose the phone, they will send you another one for free. I just got my replacement phone.
Borrow A "Kill A Watt" Monitor From Your Library
Our local library offers, to members, free usage of Kill A Watt monitor for three days. There is a waiting list but it is well worth the wait. Check your local library to see if they offer it. It was donated by the local power company.
Check for Energy Draining Devices at Night
Cutting back on your electrical usage can be easy IF you know where to look. This exercise must be done after dark, with the lights off, if possible.
Looking At Everyday Household Energy Usage
I am such a creature of habit that I often do not think of the things I do that use expensive energy and climate changing fuels.
If possible, do not use garbage pick up. Check with your employer to see if you can put your garbage in their dumpster. You may even ask your church or a local business that does not fill up their dumpster to use theirs.
Utilities: What's Mine and What's Theirs?
At the moment when the phone line to your home stops working, you don't expect a large bill for repairs. After all, isn't the phone company's responsibility? My company offers a repair plan with a monthly fee; is it worth it?
Advice for saving money on heating costs from the ThriftyFun community. If you have a wood burning stove, this helps run that during the day throughout your home and shut off the oil heat and only use the oil heat at night when you are sleeping.
"Time Of Use" Electricity Plan
We are on a "Time-of-Use" plan for the electricity we use in our home. Our provider is Wisconsin Public Service. From 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. and 24 hours/day on Saturdays,Sundays, and holidays, we are charged $.0549/KWH.
Think you've mastered electrical savings? Take another look around your home and find even more places to pull the plug and keep the meter from spinning.
There are more than a few ways to keep the electric meter from spinning at an alarming rate. Some require a little electrical inventory, such as turning off unused appliances or switching to Energy Star appliances. However, others take a bit more creativity and planning.
Link: Get The Best Electrical Rate In Texas
Here in the Dallas, TX, area we have www.powertochoose.org (The Official Electric Choice Web site of the Public Utility Commission of Texas). You input your zip code and it shows a list of electricity providers for your area and their rates. There are a lot more providers than you might imagine, all using the exact same electric delivery company.
Get Minimum Service on Your Home Phone
I just wanted to share what I recently did to cut phone and internet costs. I signed up with ATT but I chose only the minimum phone line with no extras for $14.95+ tax. I don't need caller ID, call waiting, etc. It was costing me $43.00+ a month just for the phone. I use my cell phone mostly anyway but wanted a land line, too.
Check With Your Utilities for Cheaper Rate Times
Some utility companies, such as water and electric offer 2 or more rate times through out the day. Check and see if yours does, and then act accordingly. Try and run your appliances, during the times when the rate is the cheapest.
How Has the Cost of Gasoline and Oil Affected Your Life?
With gas at record high prices and due to go up more with the price per barrel at an all time high, how much more are you spending on gasoline now than you were at this time last year? How much more is your heating oil costing you if you use it? How has this affected your overall budget.
My phone company charges hefty fees for directory assistance. When you need to use the 411/information option, simply dial 1-800-Free-411 or 1-800-373-3411 without incurring a charge.
Check For Discounts On Cellphone Bills
I receive 19% off my cellphone bill, each month, for being an educator. My husband and I also switched to the family plan. Contact your provider and they will give any information you need.
Keep Your Home Phone For Emergencies
I have a niece that her and her husband only have cell phones. Yet when they're both out (not together) and have their children being babysat, now what?
Tips for saving money on calling long distance. I dropped my land line and only use a cell phone. It's great because I can walk around the city and feel safe, plus, anyone can get a hold of me in an emergency.
Cheap Long Distance Calls From Mexico
I need advice for making long distance calls cheaply while vacationing in Mexico.
My Frugal Life: Focus On What's Important (Part 4)
If you live in an all electric house it can get very expensive, even with new energy efficient appliances. So think a timer for your water heater. It will save you as much or more than a expensive solar panel on the roof.
Every month I open the electric bill and accept it with quiet discontent. However, this month the bill was too high to ignore. I stepped away from my desk and took a 360 degree look around my home. What did I see? A giant electric sucking vortex of wasted energy.
I remember when cellphones came out. My dad had one in his car but most people didn't have one. I would walk down the street in the city I lived in at the time and saw these business people with them, they were the size of a walkie-talkie and very ugly-looking.
Seal Your Home Against Money Leaks
Many have heard that the typical homeowner throws money out the home's windows and doors. This saying refers to improper sealing in the home, allowing expensive heat and air conditioning to escape the house.
