Flexible bills reduction

**crdurham** · 05-06-2005, 08:36 PM

What things are you doing to reduce the amount of your flexible bills like power, water, phone, cable, net, etc?

I am going to sit down this weekend and see what all we can do to reduce these bills. What are some things that you all have done to reduce these types of debt?

**Mom23boys** · 05-06-2005, 09:55 PM

Power ~ turn water heater setting down, changed to flourescent light bulbs

Water ~ catch rain water to use in the garden

Phone ~ no long distance (use email or call when it is free)

Cable ~ have directv with just the basic channels, no movie channels, etc.

**homesteadmamma** · 05-06-2005, 10:04 PM

This is what I'm doing for electricity, water and heat.

War on utilities

I haven't looked at the net or the phone. I'm going to do that this weekend. Thanks Cornelia, I hadn't even thought of those two.

**britbunny** · 05-07-2005, 06:05 AM

Water - this is at a set rate anyway so we can't do anything to reduce the bill.

Power - just the usual, energy saving lightbulbs or candles, turn the heat down unplug unused appliences etc. Have the heating system serviced, replacing old appliences with energy efficient ones when needed.

Phone - we got rid of our landline completely as we have broadband internet so don't need a phoneline. I also got rid of my mobile phone which in turn has greatly reduced the amount DH spends on his, we usually use about £5 a month. (Compared to the bad old days when we would each have a bill of around £40)

**MandiDawn** · 05-09-2005, 10:54 AM

I have turned down the heater to 66 (I can't stand to be cold, it won't go down farther!!!)

I have unplugged a few appliences.

I havn't made any long distance calls on my landline phone in a month.

**rebecca** · 05-09-2005, 12:30 PM

Keeping heat off.

My credit union I belong to sent me in the mail that since I am a member of their credit union I could get up to a 10% discount on my 6 auto insurance. So going to call on that today.

catch rain water.

Thinking about going down to basic cable during the summer. Will save me about 15 dollars.

Catching rain water.

**hollyhill** · 05-09-2005, 05:12 PM

Power ~ Hanging all my Laundry and use dryer only when I have no choice, wash in cold water,turn water heater setting down, turn off lights, heat is turned off, use oven efficiently, double up children in baths (one after the other), turn water heater off if we are away overnight or more (this saves SOOOO much).

Water ~ We are on well water but I conserve water as much as possible in the summer. Our well has never gone dry but I am aware of all the wells around us that do! So I reuse water for the garden as much as possible and do not let the water run. If I have to let it run I catch it in a pail to use in the garden etc..

Phone ~ no long distance (use email or call when it is free), no extras absolute basic service

Cell~ pay-as-you go card $10/month

Cable ~ We have no cable

Net~ we have basic dial-up

__________________

**sarahsmile** · 05-09-2005, 05:19 PM

basic cable w/net (so no home phone)

long distance on my cell phone (free)

talk on the phone most on the weekends (free)

turned water heater down

5 minute showers (try!)

keep thermostat down

**rebecca** · 05-09-2005, 05:59 PM

Well I called the insurance company that my credit union referred me to to see if I could reduce my car insurance. At first she quoted $65.00 ($19.00 cheaper than I'm paying now) but when she found out I had an accident in July 2001 it raised it to $111.! So, I'm keeping the car insurance I have now. I think the accident stays on my record for five years. I did get another surprise though. Last week I talked to my insurance agent about my house insurance going up. Raised it up to a $500 deductible and he just sent me a letter saying that my house insurance went down $196 for a year!! Now trying to see what other flexible bills I can bring down. Will have to brainstorm tonight!

**Nada.Leona** · 05-10-2005, 08:13 PM

Some excellent ideas here, ladies. I definitely need help getting my electricity bill down down down. That's my clincher. Keep 'em coming, I'm taking notes!

Phone -- set rate, includes cable internet and telephone. We need the cable internet because DH is in university and even in the summer, works for a professor and needs to be in constant connection with the Web. Besides, I'm a bit of an addict.

Water -- I try to conserve water, even though water is included in our rent. When I boil anything that doesn't dirty the water, like eggs or vegetables, I'll use the left over water to make soup. Tastes great, and if there's any nutrients boiled out of the food, well I get to eat it in my soup!

Television -- we don't have any television access, so instead, we buy blank tapes for good friends and ask them to tape shows for us, mainly CSI and Law and Order shows. In return, we do little things for them, like watch their kids or pick up things on our way to and from their homes when we visit.

Long Distance -- we hooked up with EastLink not long ago and I tell ya, it's been the best move we've made! They give us a good deal on our phone/internet, and then any long distance calls we make are added together and they give us the lowest cost of the three local phone companies -- Aliant, Sprint, and Primus. Theoretically, our bill should never be more than $29.95, which is Aliant's flat monthly rate. This turned out to be excellent for DH and I, since we don't make a lot of long distance calls, but like to be able to call our family when we chose. Our last bill was a few cents over $10. Good enough for me!

Bright Blessings!
Rawiya

**handmerounds** · 05-11-2005, 12:18 AM

We don't have any extra's on the phone, such as call waiting etc.
I do have a seperate line for my internet though.

No extras on satellite.

Well water.

Electric runs about $70 per month. Should go down since heat is off and windows open.

Trash is $20 per month.

Cell phone: had mine turned off. Have one now and I make sure to pay bill on time now, no late fees.

**bamamomto4** · 05-11-2005, 12:43 AM

Power-Keep lights turned off,Only use heat and air when it's a must.Somedays I just turn it on in the evening and cool the house then turn it back off...Once it starts getting hotter,it'll be on most allday.Alabama is TOO hot for no a/c,,,or maybe I'm just spoiled..or as hubby says...I have freeon disease

Water-Our water bill is failry cheap($21 last month) considering there are 6 of us that bath every day and I wash clothes every other day if not every day. I still save water when I can.

Phone-I just cancelled my area calling and saved $20.62 on my bill amonth

I use calling cards for long distance,no call waiting or any extras except caller id

Cable--I'm not so good here. We have our internet through here (cable modem) and have digital cable and a sports package that STEVEN HAD TO HAVE lol

**MandiDawn** · 05-13-2005, 11:21 AM

This wasn't a reduction really - but I just set up our gas bill on the yearly payment plan, so I pay a set amount every month, instead of high in the winter, low in the summer. This is going to suck in summer but at least next winter it will help me to keep on a budget, instead of blowing all my money on one heat bill.

**Jerrie K** · 05-13-2005, 11:56 AM

Our biggest reduction was last Dec. when we put in the woodstove. Our gas bill ran about 27.00 a month this winter:

We turn off lights and tv during the day. Will only use ac when it gets really hot. I do almost all laundry in cold.

Well water

Use cell phone for long distance. We have the in network plan so verizon to verizon calls are free. Try and make other calls after 9 pm and on weekends. Local calls only on our house phone costs 20.00 a month.

No cable or satellite. Antenna is free.

Oh and dh gets all the wood for the woodstove free.

**crdurham** · 05-13-2005, 01:35 PM

Thanks for all the great ideas.

We went down to basic cable which will save us alot.

We use cable modem but where I do alot of selling on ebay, dail up would take forever.

We don't have a cell phone, and my sis pays a once a month fee for unlimited long distance on her land line so I call her and hang up and she always calls me back....that has saved me a ton. I use calling cards (which I try to get for free or trade) for my other long distance calls.

Our power bill has gone down some so that has helped.