Frugal Electricity

My electric bill last month was $20. That is the highest it has been for ages. Normally, it is around 13 to 15 dollars.

People ask me how I do that. I get jokes about living by candle light.

I don't.

It's easy. If you want to be frugal or use less electricity for whatever reason, here is what I do. Most of these are common sense, but I will list them anyway.

1. Turn stuff off, even if it is for 1 minute. Yes, florescent lights too. That stuff about it being cheaper to leave them on than to turn them off briefly, is an urban myth. Also, turn lights on when it's dark. Not before.

2. You normally do not need more than one light on in your house. sometimes two.l

3. Use those curly cue bulbs. They save a LOT!

4. Make sure kids are taught, nicely of course, to turn stuff off.

5. Check to see if you qualify for a low income discount on your bill. What is regarded as low income is a pretty darn high income by standards. Check it out.

6. If you actually are low income, like me, see if there is a program that helps you get things that are more efficient. From a local self help program, I got ten free curly cue light bulbs and a new refrigerator. FREE. (I also got $400 in free wood pellets to heat my home, which is almost, but not quite, enough to heat the entire winter.)

Using this method compulsively just might lead you to break my record for an electric bill.

What is my record low bill?

OK, I will tell you, even if you don't believe me.

This is TRUE.

My record low electric bill (summer time) is

.....

Eight (yes 8) dollars.

And it entailed absolutely NO suffering whatsoever.

Good luck :)