San Leandro, CA – Financial Avvisers Tips for Spending Less on Utilities

Lower your household utility bills with these tips

With inflation in mind and bills stacking up, a tight monthly budget may seem inescapable. While many of your monthly expenses are set in stone, freeing up extra money for things you enjoy can be as simple as flipping a light switch.

As a financial adviser based in the Bay Area, I’m proud to help our community become stronger financially. My team can help local residents achieve their financial goals, from covering short-term business expenses to saving for future retirement.

Being mindful of small costs like utilities now can result in big savings down the road. When talking to clients about saving for the future, one step we take is discussing how they could spend less on utilities each month. Here are a few recommendations for saving energy and money.

Ensure your home is energy-efficient and up to date

Do you have an older home? Are your utility bills higher than your neighbors’? Innovative home construction, modernized appliances and insulation can do wonders for energy conservation. Updating your home may cost you now, but you’ll save on energy in the long run. Here are a few tips to consider.

• Get your home audited. A professional can determine where energy is being used (or wasted) by examining your duct system, windows, doors and other parts of your home.
• Upgrade your appliances. If your appliances and/or HVAC system aren’t working well, chances are they’re not using energy productively. Upgrade and save.
• Replace air filters. Get into the habit of maintaining your home systems regularly to keep everything running at peak efficiency and lower your bills.

Use technology to your advantage

We live in the age of technological advancement, and it’s cheaper and easier than ever before to implement energy-saving devices in your household. Here are just a few of the gadgets you should research to greatly decrease your energy usage.

• A smart thermostat. Save energy by programming your HVAC system to run only when needed.
• LED lighting. LED light bulbs are more energy efficient and last longer.
• Smart switches. Like the thermostat, smart light switches ensure your lights are only on when you need them to be.

 Work with your provider

Your energy provider can determine whether or not your energy usage is normal, suggest alternative billing options, and give you specialized advice for saving energy. They might even offer rebates for upgrading to newer, more efficient systems.

If you’re in an area with multiple providers, do some research to find the best utilities rates for you.

* Securities and advisory services offered through MWA Financial Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Modern Woodmen of America. Member: FINRA, SIPC.