Howdy, 🤠
We’ve all been there—scouring the internet for tangible tips on how to save on our electric bills and getting zilch for results.
With utility bills on the rise and summer heat around the corner, it’s vital we demystify savings options, especially for those in low-income households.
That’s why we dug deep and found free & low cost savings opportunities to share!
Before we dive into cutting our electric bills, it’s important that we take a look at our budget holistically. Did you know that you can cut your phone bill entirely? Helium Mobile is offering the first free phone plan. No bills, no contract, and no expiration date. You’ll get 5G coverage nationwide with 3GB of data, 300 texts, and 100 minutes of calls. The best part? It’s a community-built network that cuts out the pesky overhead costs of traditional carriers, and if you’re running out of data, you can seamlessly upgrade to another plan. You can download the Helium Mobile app now and use code FRUGAL for your free plan now. **
🔋 How to Save Money on Electricity
The best place to start is by getting an energy audit from your city’s utility office or your private energy company. These audits are free and can identify areas to improve usage, reduce waste, and will even increase your property value. This is a great baseline for those unsure if they qualify for the following programs, and it will come in handy later. ⬇️
💵 For low-income households:
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Find a Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
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Homes save an average of $372 a year once weatherized.
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Households must be at or below 200% of the Federal poverty line to be eligible.
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Check out their website for a free resource hub as well as the application.
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Apply to a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
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Federal program that helps pay electricity bills
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There are maximum income requirements that vary by state
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Head to https://energyhelp.us/ to find your local LIHEAP office
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✍🏼 Best Practices to Save
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Fix identified areas of energy loss. Remember earlier when we did our audit? Now it’s time to put the fixes into place. Oftentimes, rebates are offered so be sure to check with your city or energy provider on what rebates are available
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Focus on the 80/20 principle
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20% of your efforts should yield the majority of your results. Rather than focusing on minor adjustments like unplugging your toaster oven, turn to heating/cooling, which makes up the bulk of your energy bill.
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Seal cracks, windows, & manage thermostat settings to counterbalance the bill.
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Look on the free website In My Area to compare prices and negotiate utility costs yearly.
💭 Final Thoughts
Whew, that was a lot!
There are plenty of other ways to save on your electric bill. You can utilize discounts for running appliances in off-peak hours, perform regular maintenance, and spend time away from home to save on the ol’ AC.
Our favorite way to keep track of savings goals is dropping in our shop on the 28th! We’re bringing you an all new and mobile optimized SPENDING PLANNER!! Tackle financial roadblocks, organize investments, & find extra funds with this planner. And keep an eye out for Friday’s email for a special announcement. 😉
🔗 Check out The Donut for an impartial, witty newsletter that only takes minutes to read! With speedy updates, nonpartisan articles, and thought-provoking questions, it’s the morning bulletin that’ll keep you in the loop (and entertained!). Sign up now and read for FREE. **
🔗 Ep 502 How to Save Money on Your Electric Bill (Frugal Friends Podcast)
Sunday’s episode was a gamechanger for teachers, healthcare workers, and others with inflexible salaries. Listen to: How Teachers Can Increase Income (Not Just Side Hustles!) on Youtube now.
Spending is a skill and you can learn to master it. If you’ve ever struggled with being unable to stick to a budget or felt guilty about spending on something you enjoy, Jen and Jill’s debut book is going to be your next favorite read.
See ya
Kim
⭐️⭐️ P.S. Want to share all this goodness with your friends AND earn cool Frugal Friends merch?
**Means this is a sponsored or affiliate section. We may earn a small fee or commission when you choose to try one of our sponsor or affiliate partners. But opinions are still 1000% our own.
