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My light bill was $200.......

In the past our bills have been $250 to $300 a month during summer months. This summer they've been $150 to $200.

The three main changes have been:

#1 - My ex is GONE!! He was a electricity using hog. Had to have the AC at 70. I was always freezing my **** off.

#2 I've kept the AC off except for the one week and 1/2 it was really hot. That was the month my bill was $195.

#3 I've also buckled down on unplugging everything when not in use.
 
Our electric bill for July was $167.00. not on budget plan. 2000 sq. ft. 130+ yr. old house. Not super insulated and mostly original windows. Central air set @ 77 with 2 extra window units, one in bedrm, one in Dh office. DH and I home all day with lots of electronics.:dunce:
We must be doing something right!
 
Our bill is usually $50ish. I dont usually run AC more than a day or two all summer.

Ran it a few days since July was so hot. Then we had the flood and had the industrial dehumidifier and big fans running....for a week.


Sooo not looking forward to the bill. ugh.
 
Kathy are you sure we don's share husbands. :lol:

Our bill was $205 this month.

I was JUST saying I am going to buy the surge protectors from WAGS before the sale ends today. We have one for the computer, but I was thinking of putting everything on them and you just convinced me.

Now are you saying that you also have to unplug the surge protector, i was thinking when you cut it off, it then pulls no electricitiy, but you need to unplug too?

And my husbands big thing is that the air is set for 79 all the time...he complains too much and I say ok, 78 then. But since it is not 78 quick enough for him, he will cut it down to 75 as if turning it lower makes it get to 78 easier.



Mary, I have that stuff hooked on power strips which I have trained the kids to unplug when not in use.

Like in the family room, the TV, dish box, Xbox and WII are all hooked up to the same power strip. When the kids aren't using it, they turn it off & unplug it. If I find it plugged in and/or on, I take it away from them for a couple of days. They are really very good about it now.

I noticed a large savings of electric when I started unplugging things.

We are on a payment plan.. It's $72 a month that way we don't get hit with high bills during the summer months. We do the same thing for the gas bill. It's $63 a month. It's a lot easier for us to manage our monthly bills. There are no suprises.

We actually use to have the budget bill until I got upset because we were really low one year and had a $200 plus credit and it was like March and our budget is "evened" out in May. I didn't pay our $125ish bill because we had a $200 credit in the budget and they tried to shut us off. Sicne then, we call each year and ask what our budget will be and then actually budget for that amount, but if the bill is less than that amount we transfer the extra $$ into our interest bearing account and then pull out the extra money when the bill needs it. We actually can at least make a few dollars off the money and not have the light and gas bill make money off holding our money. Just a thought.

Glad to know I am NOT the only one whose DH wears boxers ALL year long! :lol:

This is my son...then he complains we got him sick because we wouldn't cut the heat on.
 
I try and try to tell them unplug things--and of course I get--it doesn't matter that much
I go around and unplug and unplug--and I get yelled at when it is convenient for them to replug it in (DH is the worse) I yell about lights all the time--and again--to no avail
I show the electric bill and said I am going to start charging for every light that is on that is not necessary (should also do it for the things that should be unplugged) We have so many computers and tv;s---
since all 5 kids are home--and 5 are older and use the computers NON STOP---for school at all different hours--and hubby needs his going 24-7 for the weather programs--I can't undo that-0
I do unplug my computer---all the time--and of course get yelled at-since it is the back up computer--but just trying to save money
The only thing good about school starting is at least then I can unplug while they are at school and while dh is at work! I hope that helps!!
I too was in shock at the last bill---and I am conservative with how much I have the ac set at--and things!
At least the gas bill is low FOR NOW AT LEAST
 
I am usually the culprit that leaves the lights and fans on. :hides:

However, I don't turn on the air condition when I am home alone. Don't kill me, the humidity here is nothing compare to 99% humidity 365 days a year where I come from. Ironically, the change of temperatures (from freezing air conditioned office to 90+ F outside ) used to cause serious sinus problem for me. I have not have the same problem here in the last three years, touch wood!
 
$90 for ComEd in July. We're currently using about 30 percent less this year than last year. I keep thermostat at 77 in the summer and keep most things unplugged. Next step is to put the ps3 on a power strip. Gas is running about $35 from the dryer.
 
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