Moving to new rental property - please help me keep the bills low!

**InDiAnNa** · 02-05-2009, 08:55 AM

FDH and I are moving house again!

Bit of background - the current place we live in is a tiny rented property. Tiny as in - it consists of two rooms, total sq footage, maybe 260 at most. All our bills are included in the cost of the rent, water, electricity, gas, council tax, the lot. So all we have had to budget for house-wise for the last 6 months has been the rent/bills lump sum.

The rented place we had before this current place was a complete self-contained two bed flat, five rooms in total, and we paid all bills. We lived there before I realized the art of being frugal, and our bills, especially for gas and electric were ridiculously high.

The new place we are moving to is a similar size to the above mentioned flat (link - http://www.sintonhomes.com/Property.asp?3758), and so I am trying to think of ways that I can keep the gas and electric costs down this time around.

Please don't have a heart attack at the rent advertised there, we put in a lower offer and got accepted

I don't have to worry about water costs, as the local company ask you to pay a set amount per month and that is it, it'll just be gas and electric we will have to be careful with.

I do plan on keeping all lights off, wearing layers to keep warm, turning the thermostat down (if there is an accessible one), using the crockpot instead of the oven, keeping curtains closed to keep the heat in... But I'm pretty much stumped for other ideas. I can't make any lasting alterations to the flat as of course it's a rented place.

Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

**McD** · 02-05-2009, 09:02 AM

And by moving, you do mean to Iowa right?

**InDiAnNa** · 02-05-2009, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by MrsMcDowell

And by moving, you do mean to Iowa right?

Working on it, working on it!!

**pbobber** · 02-05-2009, 11:26 AM

Use energy efficient flourescent bulbs. Check with your utilities to see if the have off peak rates. If they do, try to arrange usage (such as laundry, showers, etc) at this time. If the windows are drafy, cover with plastic. If the doors are, make a door snake. If possible close up the heating vents in unused rooms. You can also do this in your bedroom and reopen the vents a couple hours prior to bed. If you have a programable thermostat, program it. If you don't have one, it might be worth the cost to ask the landlord if you can install one (really easy to install). If you use the oven in cold weather, open the door after use and allow heat to escape.

**Bournecrazy** · 02-07-2009, 06:10 AM

Didnt know that it was that much just for rent down south. But it is London tho, i would never be able to live down there.

Its great that you found a place and it does look very nice.

**kmonokwe** · 02-07-2009, 04:17 PM

Great suggestions so far. I think your new mindset going in this time around is going to make the biggest difference of all. Just being aware and making a concerted effort to keep tabs on it and doing all you can will make this experience much, much better than your last one. Good luck!

**phoeny_moonstar** · 02-09-2009, 07:40 AM

Congrats on the new space!!! I live in an old converted house that was just recently renovated into apt's and I am glad to see all these suggestions. Thanks for the thread!!

**Momto2Boyz** · 02-09-2009, 07:55 AM

Put all of your "electronics" onto powerstrips that area easily accessible. (Like, don't put the one that the TV is hooked up to behind the TV, put it off to the side so you can get to it), and then shut off the powerstrip anytime you aren't using the TV. It's not a huge savings, but it is enough savings to make it worth the trouble!

Don't leave things plugged in at all when you are not using them. Like phone chargers and things like that!

Basic water usage. Remember the basics. When you brush your teeth, shut off the water. Put at least a half gallon jug of water into your toilet to save a 1/2 gallon every time you flush. When washing your hands, shut off the water when you soap up, then turn it back on to rinse (a woman caught me doing this at the gym the other day, and asked why I did it...I had to explain to her the importance of saving water!

)

A programmable thermostat is cheap and easy to install (they come with good directions, and in a rental, just keep the old one and put it back when you move again..then take the new thermostat with you). Then keep it programmed to go way down when you are not home every day!

Draft pillows are great around doors that leave a little bit of a draft in the winter. And foam weather stripping is a cheap way to keep the heat in. For a few bucks, you can replace the weather stripping on all the doors and windows, and even though it is a rental, it'll pay for itself in heat savings over the first year.

Ok, that is all I can think of off the top of my head!

**CrazyHomemaker** · 02-09-2009, 09:42 PM

It looks like a really nice flat. I hope you enjoy it.

One suggestion is to hang a decorative tapestry-like blanket on an outside wall, if you're allowed to hang things.

Also, you may be able to caulk - neatly - around doors and windows if you explain the cost savings to your landlord and the improvement it will make to his property for the next buyer. Just be aware of the types and colors of caulk available.

You can buy an insulation blanket at a home improvement center to wrap the water heater.

**larabelle** · 02-10-2009, 09:25 AM

Put up plastic and window blankets on the windows. I found that doing so has really helped my heat bill.

**Bournecrazy** · 02-15-2009, 07:19 AM

hope you dont mind me lurking around and getting tips for myself as i am in the process of getting a new place.

**InDiAnNa** · 02-15-2009, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by Bournecrazy

hope you dont mind me lurking around and getting tips for myself as i am in the process of getting a new place.

Of course I don't mind silly!

If anyone can get any good ideas from this thread then all the better. We're all about saving money right?

Any more suggestions from anyone? Only 20 days until we move, so starting to get excited!!

**Bournecrazy** · 02-15-2009, 06:28 PM

I cant wait until March 7th either lol im going on holiday that day. Hope the move goes well for you.

ive got a lot of work to do on mine before we can actually move in but i cant wait to get my hands on it

**Grainlady** · 02-18-2009, 10:48 AM

When our son moved into a new place last winter we gave him enough bubblewrap to cover all his drafty single-pane windows. You can often get it free from places that sell furniture.

How to:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects...bubblewrap.htm

It wasn't long before everyone in the building was adding bubble wrap to theirs. Since you apply it with a spritz of water, no mess and no harm, it's a great use for renters for additional insulation on windows. Tip: don't be generous when you cut the bubble wrap to fit the window. You only want it to just fit, or slightly smaller than the size of the window. Another bonus using bubble wrap on windows, no more condensation on windows to mop up.

Another tip... Use an electric kettle for heating water. It heats water more efficiently than a stove-top kettle because the water is in contact with the heating element. Once I've heated water to a boil for a cup of tea, I add the rest of the hot water to a thermos. Now I have hot water to use later for any number of uses.