Things are working out well as far as reducing my expenses. For one thing, my electric bill has now dropped by $30, which is pretty amazing.
Basically, to get it to drop, I've been very mindful of things being turned off...even the CFL bulbs. As low-cost as they are to operate, they aren't free to operate.
I have everything plugged into power strips so that when I leave, I can just switch off the strip and turn every item off. This includes my coffee maker, microwave oven, TV, DVD player, and surround sound system. I also make sure all chargers are unplugged. These so-called "wall warts" pull electricity even when you aren't using them if they're left plugged in.
My AC is turned off completely so that the timer and other digital functions don't pull power while it's not in use. I only use the hot water for bathing and for washing dishes. I use cold water only for rinsing dishes and for all laundry. I make sure to turn the water off when I'm brushing my teeth and between sinkfuls of dishes to be rinsed. (I am on a well so I'm trying to use less water which equals less time the pump has to run.)
We've had some really chilly days and nights lately, but I only run a space heater in the room where I am, and even then, it's turned down enough just to knock the chill out of the air. I dress in warm clothes in the house to help reduce the need for more heat, wearing socks and house shoes instead of going barefoot.
