Cost of Utilities...how does this sound?

**Cylenchar** · 11-19-2008, 09:52 AM

A easy way to conserve considerable power is to swap out your regular light bulbs with Compact fluorescent. This can really save a bunch in the long term. A 60 watt CF only uses 14 watts versus an incandescent, so you can use 4 for the same cost. a 200 watt CF only uses 40 watts of power. This is also handy if you only have one light in the room, you can significantly upgrade the watss of the bulb without overloading the light. I just figured i would throw this out because anywhere you can cut costs helps.

**ScrimpAndSave** · 11-19-2008, 10:47 AM

Thanks Cylenchar! I will have to look around and see what types of bulbs my dad has in the house. My fiance has retinitus pigmentosa...so he doesn't see very well in low lights. I might have to invest in bright lights rather than ones that are a little dimmer so he is comfortable.

Either way - I will definitely check it out.

**Cylenchar** · 11-19-2008, 12:02 PM

If your fiance needs higher lighting, the CF's are definitly the way to go. For example if a floor lamp is only rated for 40 watts, it's a bad idea to use an incandescent of a higher wattage... usually doesn't light fully or last as long. But you could put a 200 watt CF in it and not have problems, plus get that additional light.

**KatieNK** · 11-19-2008, 02:24 PM

That is a really cute house!

I 2nd the lightbulb idea, we did that and saw a decrease in our bills.

I have no idea about baseboard heat. We had it once in a rental and it sucked, the house was freezing. But it was a really old house.

If you are looking to lower your other bills, $100 for cable is a lot of money. If you HAVE to have a ton of channels, look into satellite which is a lot cheaper.

**ScrimpAndSave** · 11-19-2008, 03:04 PM

Thanks Katie!

I've been living in the house for 28 years and it has always been toasty warm...so the baseboard heat has been efficient enough. I guess I am trying to figure out what our monthly mortgage payment will be along with all of the utilities as well. I am not sure whether the house is energy efficient or not...so I wanted to see what others thought about the cost of the utilities.

As far as the cable, we probably could get by with a lot less. He loves his sports and I love HGTV.

**KatieNK** · 11-19-2008, 04:42 PM

You should definitely check out satellite. You might be able to get the same channels for half as much. Unless that $100 included internet.

The utilities sound reasonable to me. Is the gas bill $100 year round or just in cold months? My garbage is a lot lower but I live in the city so maybe that is why. Also my water is lower too and is included in my electric bill. But I think your utilities sounds fine, not crazy high. And I am sure rates vary by region. If you want to figure out how high your mortgage payments will be, try to google "mortgage calculators." Don't forget to factor in escrow (home insurance, property tax, etc.).

**disneysteve** · 11-19-2008, 07:02 PM

Just to be nit-picky...

Cable and cell phones are not utilities - they are luxury items.

As for the other amounts listed, they sound reasonable. It is really impossible to ask the question, though, since we live all over the country (and other countries) in all different types and sizes of homes, so you can't compare your bills with mine. You're better off speaking to neighbors who have similar homes and systems in place.

One question I'd ask is how old the gas furnace is. We bought our house in 1994. The furnace was the original one from 1964 and was horribly inefficient. When we replaced it with a 92% efficient unit, our gas bills dropped in half. We also replaced the windows around the same time. As for electric bills, you need to look at the age of appliances there, too. How old is the fridge? If it is 10 or more years old, it is likely costing more to run than it would cost to replace. Clothes washer and dryer, dishwasher, etc. all factor in also. Current models are far more efficient than anything more than 8-10 years old.

**ScrimpAndSave** · 11-20-2008, 08:52 AM

Disneysteve - you are totally right about cable and cell phones being luxuries. I guess I was just trying to figure out what my monthly "payments" were rather that just "utilities"...this would have been a better word.

I am going to check with my dad about the age of some of the appliances. I know that the diswasher, washer and dryer were all bought within the last 7 years...but the stove, oven and fridge are all about 15 years old. I would definitely switch the energystar models...and if we get this house, this kitchen is the first thing I would like to remodel.

**disneysteve** · 11-20-2008, 09:05 AM

Originally posted by ScrimpAndSave View Post

I am going to check with my dad about the age of some of the appliances. I know that the diswasher, washer and dryer were all bought within the last 7 years...but the stove, oven and fridge are all about 15 years old. I would definitely switch the energystar models...and if we get this house, this kitchen is the first thing I would like to remodel.

The really big ones are the fridge and heater. Stove and oven aren't such a big deal because they don't get that much use. The fridge runs 24/7 and the heater runs daily during the winter months. Replace those two and you can cut your utility bills dramatically.

One of these days, we'll break down and get a new fridge. I just hate the thought of replacing it when there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, but I know it would slash the electric bill. We also have an extra freezer in the basement that is even older. If we replaced both of those, I'm positive we'd see our electric bill plummet.

**ScrimpAndSave** · 11-20-2008, 03:24 PM

The gas/hot water heater in the basement was bought in the mid-nineties. He says it has zoned heating...not sure what that means.

**segmond** · 11-21-2008, 05:41 AM

lol@cell phones and cable being luxury items. cable perhaps, but cell phone is not a luxury item for most, it's a necessity! a lot of people have only cell phones and no land lines.

as for cable, i think it's worth it if it keeps you indoors and from going out and spending more money. I feel basic cable for no more than $50 should be sufficient, you can get major news networks, plenty of decent channels, and even some sports. just going to the movies once or to a sports game once could easily cost as much as cable. basic cable saves me money by keeping me indoors!

no matter how much of a miser we may try to be on these boards, it is easier to endure with a little bit of a treat, and I feel cable/internet is a good monthly treat for most that keeps us grounded.

**disneysteve** · 11-21-2008, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by segmond View Post

a lot of people have only cell phones and no land lines.

as for cable, i think it's worth it if it keeps you indoors and from going out and spending more money. I feel cable/internet is a good monthly treat for most that keeps us grounded.

I agree that a cell phone counts as a necessity if it is your only phone. There are also some jobs that require it, which would also qualify it as a necessity. Other than that, it is a luxury item.

As for cable, I think it depends where you live. If you live in an area with broadcast TV, cable is probably a luxury. A $20 set of rabbit ears will get you plenty of channels. We used an antenna until about 2-3 years ago (I'm 44) when we finally decided to get limited basic cable ($11.00/month).

My mom lives in an apartment building. She can't get any TV reception with an antenna. She has to have cable to watch TV. For most of us, though, it is not a necessity.

**autoxer** · 11-21-2008, 12:24 PM

Originally posted by ScrimpAndSave View Post

The gas/hot water heater in the basement was bought in the mid-nineties. He says it has zoned heating...not sure what that means.

Do they use programmable thermostats? I have my house heat up right before I wake up and when I get home from work, so the heat isn't on constantly. Also, my house has 5 zones, and currently two of them aren't on, because I don't use the upstairs bedrooms, and my basement is warm even without that zone cranked up.

I got an 'easysave energy kit' from my electric utility company that came with a few CFL's (compact flourescent lightbulbs), an LED nightlight, a low flow shower head and low flow sink aerators for the kitchen and bathroom. Check with your utility to see if they offer anything similar.

**Cylenchar** · 11-21-2008, 12:55 PM

Another thing, get an insulated sleeve for your water heater.

Cost of Utilities...how does this sound?