5 Easy Ways To Cut Utility Bills if You’re Living on Only Social Security
Written by
Chris Adam
Edited by
Susan Kim
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We often think about the high cost of living and keeping our homes comfortable when it comes to winter (and those dreaded heating bills). But summer can be just as rough when we need to keep our homes and ourselves cool — especially if we are living on a fixed income, such as Social Security benefits.
According to Forbes, Americans pay an average of about $429 per month on their utility bills. Even without cutting heating and cooling costs completely, there are some easy ways to reduce those bills.
Ask for Senior Discounts
Let’s start with an easy way to save money on utility bills — asking for a senior discount. While this may sound like an obvious first step, many consumers are paying more than they need to because they don’t ask what discounts are available. These discounts don’t just apply to heating and cooling costs, as you could save money on other household expenses (like your internet or grocery bill).
Turn Off the Lights
A second easy way to cut your utility bills is to make sure you turn off lights and unplug appliances when you’re not using them.
You may have heard of phantom loads. This is a term for an appliance that’s plugged in but not in use, and which continues to draw a small amount of electricity from your outlet. According to Homecare Assistance, “While a few plugged-in devices generally won’t waste much energy, if your loved one has phantom loads throughout the home, it could end up costing hundreds of dollars a year.”
Switch to Smart Lights
Did you know you can save hundreds of dollars a year with smart light bulbs? According to Senior Living, LEDs use much less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Switching to LED bulbs can add up to a savings of more than $200 for the average household, despite a slight upfront cost increase.
Change the Air Filter
Here’s another easy way to save money on cooling costs this summer: Change the air filter on your air conditioning unit. A clogged filter can make your AC work harder, meaning it’s also more likely to break down.
Keep Yourself Cool
The final easy way to cut your utility bill this summer is to be proactive in keeping cool without cranking up the AC. This could mean using fans and keeping your curtains closed to keep out the outside heat.
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