by Raven Lebeau

Created on: April 01, 2009   Last Updated: January 28, 2010

In the current economy, frugal living is a necessity for most and a smart idea for everyone. People are cutting back on all but the basics, and even when it comes to something as fundamental as electricity, we all look for ways to save. The good news is, there really are some simple strategies you can use to cut back on the electric bill and save money. Here are a few cost cutting tips:

1. Stay out of hot water.

Your water heater could be responsible for as much as one fifth of your electric bill. In order to cut back on hot water usage, try washing your clothes in cold water unless they are very dirty. Also, take shorter showers and/or install a low-flow shower head. You can also buy an insulator for your water heater that will help keep it from radiating heat to the surroundings, wasting energy.

2. Watch out for vampires.

So-called "energy vampires" are appliances that drain electricity even when not in use. Clock radios, cable boxes, and bread makers all use energy whenever they are plugged into the wall. The Consumer Energy Center has a chart that lists some common household appliances along with their minimum and maximum energy use. Anything with a minimum energy use that isn't zero should be unplugged when not in use. By unplugging as many of these energy vampires as possible, you may be able to shave a few dollars a month off your bill.

3. Hang 'em out to dry.

Your clothes, that is. Clothes dryers are another major factor in most household electric bills. Drying clothes costs an average of $0.36 per load. Even if you can't hang your clothes outside, you can take them out of the dryer when they are damp and hang them in your closet to finish drying. Shortening drying time will help cut the cost.

4. Get on the downward spiral.

Use spiral fluorescent bulbs and your energy costs will go down. These bulbs are more expensive to purchase in the first place, but they generally last ten times as long as a traditional incandescent bulb. Also note that a lower wattage fluorescent bulb will be just as bright as a higher wattage incandescent bulb. Because these bulbs use less electricity to make the same amount of light, they are a much more frugal choice.

5. Take on a full load.

Washing half a load of clothing or dishes uses the same amount of energy as washing a full load. Save money by waiting until you have enough dirty dishes or clothes to make a full load. Fewer loads means less spent on electricity, and will save on water and detergent, too.

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