How to Save on Bills When You’re Working From Home

By Victoria Robertson on February 22, 2021

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As the pandemic rages on around us, many individuals have transitioned to working from home, and there’s no end in sight. While on many levels, this is a great and new and exciting opportunity, that’s not to say it comes without its challenges, including bills.

If you’re noticing that your bills are increasing as you continue working from home, the monetary stresses in your life can become a bit overwhelming. So, to help keep those stresses in check, here are six ways to save on bills when you’re working from home.

Photo Via Pixabay 

1. Unplug What You Can

First and foremost, leaving your electronic devices plugged in all day is going to make your electric bill skyrocket. In addition, leaving those chargers plugged in, even (and especially) when you walk away is going to have the same impact.

If you aren’t using something, unplug it. It’s that simple. Phone chargers that are always in the wall, laptop chargers that are plugged in at all hours (even if a device is turned off) are making a large impact on your bank account, so unplug what you can.

2. Rely on Sleep Mode

For the devices where unplugging isn’t an option, sleep mode is a great way to conserve energy without compromising what you need. When something isn’t in use and has a sleep mode option, make sure you’re utilizing that option to avoid running up your bill.

3. Let the Battery Run Dry

Everyday, we likely travel around the house (or sit in our home offices) with our computers, laptops and other devices plugged in so we don’t have to worry about a dead battery. That being said, this is a big reason why we’ve seen an increase in our bills.

Sure, there are occasionally instances in which you’d want to leave it plugged in (i.e. if you’re going to be in a long meeting in which you couldn’t get up and grab your charger when you need it) but when you’re able to, just keep an eye on the battery life instead.

Rather than leaving a device plugged in all day while it’s in use, simply let the battery run all the way down before plugging it in and giving it another charge. Not only is this better for the battery, but it’s going to make a great, positive impact on your bills as well.

4. Limit Usage

If you’re anything like most of us, you have a constant stream of devices on in your house, whether or not you’re in the room. Some have the TV on for background noise, some rely on music streaming or podcasts and others still utilize space heaters or humidifiers, etc.

The devices around us are overwhelming, and while they may be helpful and enjoyable to have on, leaving them on all day long is why our bills are so high. So, make sure to turn things off when they aren’t in use, unplug them, and don’t let anything run all day long if you can avoid it.

5. Channel Dad, Don’t Touch the Thermostat

Offices are well-known for having ridiculous temperatures, and that’s for a reason: it’s efficient. Now that you’re home, you’re likely more open to messing with the thermostat to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the day.

However, this is a mistake. Don’t touch the thermostat, as you’re only going to mess with your bill. Whatever your thermostat is set at while you’re at work is what it should be set to while you’re home. You can always layer up when you’re cold!

6. With Lights, Less is More

Finally, when it comes to our electric bills, the biggest culprit for the pricing increase is the lighting in our home. When you’re gone all day, the lights are off. However, when you’re home all day, turning on the lights to any room that you enter is a habit.

If you can avoid turning on the lights, avoid it! Natural light is going to be your best friend, and you should rely on it as often as possible. And if you’re not in a room, definitely make sure all of the lights are off. Your lighting fixtures might be great, but you’ll appreciate them much more when they aren’t costing you a small fortune.

Working from home can be great, but that’s not to say it’s not expensive when it comes to your monthly bills. The more time you spend in the house, the higher those numbers rise, which can be a bit overwhelming. Rather than worrying about those increasing numbers, it’s time to take control of the issue and adapt to fit your budget.

These six tips will not only help you gather some peace of mind as you continue working from home to stay safe, but will also ensure your bills aren’t so astronomical that you are dealing with constant financial stresses.

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