Expert: Tina Clarke - 9/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I have a question about utilities: I want to save the most money from it:

I live in an apartment of four rooms with 6 people: I pay the following for utilities:

1. Electricity $110
2. Cable, Internet, Phone bill: $67
3. Water $290
4. Food $500
5. Car $300

It look a little over:

How do I save the most money from all of this? eg. can I used less gas by getting free gas mileage.  Can I used better electricity wire.  Can I spend less on food by using coupon.  How do I save the most money from these utilities?  

Note: can you answer each one with specific answers.


ANSWER: Hi Henry,

Luckily I am somewhat of an environmentalist so I have many suggestions for you.

1.  Electricity--replace all incandescent bulbs with florescent bulbs.  Florescent bulbs cost more at first but it will save you money in the long run.

Ask everyone to please shut off all the lights when that room is not being used or if no one is home.

For AC, set your thermostat to 78 degrees.  If you don't have a programmable thermostat, shut off the AC when no one is home.

2.  Is it necessary to have a landline phone?  It may not be if everyone has their own cell phone. Make sure you have basic cable, which is the least expensive.  If you do need a home phone, Vonage is a good choice.  I think it's $25/month for unlimited calling in the US and 60 countries. Vonage is an internet phone service. See www.vonage.com

3.  You can conserve water by taking short showers.  If you have a dishwashing machine, use it because it conserves water.  If you wash dishes by hand, don't run the water.  Fill up the sink with soapy water and wash that way. If you have a lawn, don't water it!  This uses a lot of water and it's very expensive to water the lawn.  When brushing your teeth never let the water run. Brush your teeth and then rinse with water or use a cup of water to rinse with.

4.  Are you paying to feed all of these people?  

If you have a large enough fridge/freezer, I suggest you buy in bulk.  You can join a warehouse like Costco or Sam's Club.  If that's not an option, buy in the largest sizes you can at the local grocery store.  Be aware of the pricing in different groceries where you live, some tend to be cheaper than others.  You can use coupons if you prefer certain brands, but I think the generic brands still end up cheaper.

Also, eat at home as much as you can.  Eating out is really expensive.  Maybe you can rotate who is in charge of making dinner throughout the week?

5.  With the car, try to run multiple errands in one trip.  For example, go to the bank, the grocery store, then library etc.  As for driving, don't speed, this burns up gas. Drive your car gently, don't accelerate quickly or brake fast.  Make sure your tires are correctly inflated and keep up the maintenance on the car (get your oil changed).

Hope these suggestions help.  Let me know if you have any other questions.

Tina

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 1. My water bill is $290 of six people.  How do I make it on $90 a month.  Toilet and shower cost the most.  How do minimize that dramatically.

2.  For electricity, I have a battery that lasted for 10,000 hours and it produce light only for one dollar.  That is 10 years of used.  How do I find such a battery and battery the whole electricity, ain't that going to save my electricity bill by a lots?

3. For food, I have a question, would making food at home you would not be able to taste good food?  Can you tell me of six people, how many should we spend on food a month?  I was thinking $400.

4.  These types of saving process or methods:  What is it downside? Does it help save money for being smart because something we are buying things to save money but they are not good because they are cheap over more great things such as for example an excellent lamp with great light bulbs.

5. I have a yard in the back and I grow the yard with all source of plants.  I need to water them everyday and it uses a lots of water.  What is the answer to that?

Answer
1.  I am not sure by what you mean "make it $90 a month".  If you mean spend only $90 a month on electricity.  There's not much you can do to save on showers other than what I mentioned.  If your toilets are old, you can buy newer more efficient Energy Star toilets that don't use as much water.  Of course, often you have to spend money to save money.

2.  Why kind of battery are you talking about?

3.  Often times when you make your own food it is tastier and better for you. A U.S. family of four spends an average of more than $8,600 a year or $717/month on food, according to the U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey.  So your goal of spending $400/month for 6 people is very low.

4. In case of electricity use, it's better to use the more expensive florescent bulbs because it will save you money in the long run.  In general, you should try to save money anywhere you can.  Always buy items when they are for sale or shop around for the best price.

5.  Looks like your plants are costing you money.  It would be different if you were growing your own vegetables, then you would be really saving money.  I would let the plants go or only water them occasionally.  Maybe you can replace them with drought tolerant plants that don't need so much water?