One of the biggest differences between living on campus and
moving off is that (in most cases) utilities are not included in the rent. This
can prove very expensive if you’re not careful, and you will quickly realize it
pays to be conscious of where your money is going. Utilities can be broken up
into electricity/gas, cable/internet, and water. In certain places some
utilities are bundled together, and some may even charge for other things, it
simply depends on your landlord. Here are some tips in each of those categories
to help save money when you move off campus:
Electricity/Gas- these days if you live in a newer house it
will usually run on simply electricity. Obviously turning off the lights is the
most basic form of saving money on electricity, however there are some devices
that still use a good amount of electricity even if they are not “On.” A
general rule of thumb is that if you do not frequently use an appliance or objects
unplug it. Another major way to save money in this category is if your heat is electric
you should keep it at a temperature that is neutral, not turn it off and blast
it when you get cold. When your heater uses high power it uses an excess amount
of energy that is wasteful.
Cable/Internet- it is all about bundling. Never pay separate
for cable and Internet because it simply doesn’t make sense. There are few
options of providers in this area, but they still compete and depending on the
time you sign up you might find that because of their offers one is cheaper
than the other. Remember that once you get cable in one room you get basic
cable in the rest of your house, so paying for extra boxes may not be necessary.
Water- obviously being water conscious starts with not
running water when directly using it. Make sure you are in and out of the
shower in a reasonable time and when using the laundry machine and dishwasher
wait until you have a full load, because you use the same amount of water
generally, no matter if it’s full or not.
Use these tips and watch your bills go down!
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