I have been adding up what I spent last year, and it is eye opening to examine the totals. I spent $252.00 on electricity, which comes out so $21.00 a month. My gas total was $402.00, or $33.50 per month. I work hard to keep these bills down, and was pleased when I saw what I had spent for the year.
I use a toaster oven to bake potatoes, make croutons, and melt cheese on bread or tortillas. It's cheaper than turning on the oven. I also try not to flick on the lights unless I am in the room. My antique lamps have a low setting that provides a gentle glow to the room. I have LED light bulbs, and they do seem to use less electricity.
I think it really helps to have a small home. It's easy and efficient to heat and to cool. The mature trees provide a lot of shade, and the landscaping keeps the front porch cool. How are your gas and electric bills? Do you know your totals? I was afraid to look, but was pleased with the results.
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You have very low bills, Stephenie. That's so great. I should add up mine and see what my monthly average is. I don't have gas, only electricity. I too use LED bulbs throughout the house. They are really energy efficient.
ReplyDeleteHi Nil, Thanks. I was very pleased when I looked at the whole year on paper. I agree with you about the LED bulbs. They last a long time, too.
DeleteOur power bill that just arrived (1month) is more than your year! I'm rather envious. We do have 3 freezers though. I consolidate and unplug them as we eat down the contents which helps. Also, we now have everything electric. It's sure different than up the mountain where we had few things that relied on electricity. When we build (someday) we will definitely be doing what we can to avoid that bill.
ReplyDeleteHi Lady Locust, I have a very small cottage, and I unplug everything. My stove and heater are gas. Our water is very expensive. I pay $900. a year. Each household in my neighborhood is charged the same amount. We are getting a grant, and once they redo the system and install meters, my bill should be much less per month. It's wise that you are thinking about the future.
DeleteLike you I'm always looking at ways of keeping energy bills down. We had a new higher efficiency boiler fitted when we moved. I'm hoping to keep gas and electricity usage to £80 a month.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Tania. I bet you will do it. I find having the wooly hand knits helps a lot. I pile them on the bed, and wear layers of sweaters when it's cold.
DeleteOh, my goodness! Your electricity and gas bills are amazingly low! Yes, I know, you said you worked hard to keep them low, but, even so, that's wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI get one bill, every other month, for electricity, water, sewage, and solid waste removal. The sewage fees are determined by the amount of water used in the winter months, and the rate stays more or less for the rest of the year. The solid waste removal (trash, yard waste, and recycling pick up), seems to be set, too, and doesn't depend on the amount of waste generated. My electricity consumption is well below my tier 1 allowance (there are 3 tiers, with tier 1 being the lowest rate per kiloWatthour). The water portion of my bill is where I run into trouble! I do try to keep it to the amount I am allocated at tier 1 rates, but, occasionally, go over (especially in the summer!) and end up paying a lot! On average, I budget $200 per month for the combined water/electricity/sewage/solid waste bill.
Gas bills fluctuate depending on the season. In the summer, when it is hot, I will have gas bills that are $20 or under. In the winter, when I use gas for heating, my gas bill can be as high as $300, per month! For one thing, my house isn't very well insulated. For another, I feel cold all the time. Right now, the heater is on, I am seated right in front of the heater (it is a wall heater), not more than 4 feet away from the heater, and I am wearing socks, jeans, a knitted blouse, a sweater, and a cardigan, and I have a scarf wrapped around my neck! So, it's not like I am not wearing layers; it's just that, I feel cold very easily. I think, more so after my chemo, but, that might just be my imagination.
I know what you mean, Bless. I do the same thing. I wonder if it is our age and the fact that we have low body fat? It sounds like you are very disciplined with your usage. I pay about $166.00 for those things combined, but we don't pay for sewage with the septic tank. You spend far less than I do on groceries, though.
DeleteHa, ha, NO low body fat, at this end! :D I'm considered overweight for my height! But, it seems I feel the cold more since my chemo treatments.
DeleteI love your little home...…….. one day I will have a smaller house too. So long as it has a garden I won't mind how small it is.
ReplyDeleteHi Cherie, Yes, a little house with a plot of land is quite wonderful. The garden does make all the difference, and you have such a green thumb.
DeleteWell done on keeping your totals low, we are always mindful about our consumption, well you have to be on a low income don't you.
ReplyDeleteYes, you do, Living Simply. It's good practice, though. It's a good feeling to reach your goals with energy usage.
DeleteI am always proud of my electric and gas bill. They are combined here. No need to figure out the average because our company includes it with our bill. They also tell the date and time of the most usage during the billing cycle. The monthly bill rarely varies except during the holidays when I do a lot of cooking. We do not use the furnace or the air conditioner at all. I run the high energy use appliances (dishwasher, washer, drier) early in the morning when the rates are at the lowest point. Our usual electric charge is $45-$60 a month and the gas is $25 to $35. Not bad for a ridiculously large 2 story house.
ReplyDeleteYou should be, Anita. That's very impressive! I'm amazed that you don't use the furnace or air conditioner. That says a lot about your location. The climate where you live is perfect.
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