As a parent, you’re likely always looking for little ways that you and your family can save money. One thing you might want to try is cutting back on some of your monthly utility costs. However, you can’t do this on your own. To have this money-saving tactic be successful, you’ve got to have your entire family involved in this effort.
To show you how this can be done, here are three ways to get your kids to help you save money on utilities.
Use Fans Or Blankets First
One of the biggest utility costs that families have to pay each month is for heating and cooling. The more you use your heater or air conditioner, the higher your utility costs will be each month. Because of this, you’ve got to find ways to keep your thermostat set at conservative temperatures for each season you’re in.
While you likely have control over this in your home, you might have to endure your kids complaining about it either being too hot or too cold during certain times of the year. To combat this, Jessica Gray, a contributor to The Penny Hoarder, you should invest in some fans for each room in your home. When it’s too hot, have your family turn these fans on before dropping the temperature on your thermostat. And in the cooler months, make sure you have plenty of warm blankets available to keep everyone comfortably warm.
Cut Down On Running Water
Another way your kids can help you reduce your monthly utility bill is by taking shorter and cooler showers or baths.
According to Trent Hamm, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, if you turn down the temperature on your hot water heater, you’ll have to use less energy to heat your water, which will significantly help to cut down your utility costs. And by taking shorter showers or using less water during baths, you’ll be paying less for water each month since you’ll be using less.
Be Smart When Doing Dishes
Washing dishes is another area of your home where you can likely cut back on your utility costs. And if your kids help you with these chores, it’s vital that you instill these money-saving principles in them in order to see any real change.
Heather Levin, a contributor to Money Crashers, shares that if you pack your dishwasher full of dished before running it, you’ll have to run fewer loads, which can save you a lot of water and energy it takes to run the dishwasher. As part of this, consider handwashing bigger items so they don’t have up so much space in your dishwasher.
If you’re wanting to save some money on your family’s monthly utility costs, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish this.
