Tuesday, April 13, 2021

How to Keep Your Utility Bills Low

As a homeowner, costs can really start to add up, so it never hurts to take measures to help you reduce your monthly utility bills. Below are a few ways to do just that!



Electricity Bill: Saving money on your electricity bill can be done multiple ways. Some easy changes include running appliances, like the stove, dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer, at night, opting to air dry clothes, or cooking meals in a crockpot or toaster oven. Set aside time throughout the year to inspect the areas around doors and windows and seal any cracks with caulk or weather stripping. Additionally, make sure to unplug electronics when not in use or use a power strip to turn them all off at once.

Water Bill: Your monthly water bill can sneak up on you, but small changes can be made to cut costs. Install WaterSense-certified faucets and shower heads and convert toilets to low flow to reduce the amount of water used. Make sure to regularly check toilets and sinks for leaks and repair them. Opt for using your dishwasher instead of hand-washing and ensure it's a full load each time. Also, don’t forget to turn off water while brushing your teeth and shaving.

Gas Bill: Investing in some changes up front can make a difference on your natural gas bill long term. Add insulation in your attic and around your water heater and pipes. Make sure to repair any leaks in your ducts, inspect your furnace regularly, and check your home for any blocked vents that could cause your gas heating system to work overtime. You can also reduce the temperature of your water heater.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

The Tale of the Disappearing Blogger

Raise your hand if you can relate to this: one day you're just going along living on hopes and dreams and caffeine, and the next day you realize five months have gone by and you may have whiplash from how quickly time has flown. That is exactly how I feel right now when I realize it has been almost five months since I last wrote a post here. I enjoy writing here and sharing with all of you. I just fell victim to "I'll get to that tomorrow" for about five months straight. Let me just say, if you are reading this right now... Welcome back and thanks for sticking around. I appreciate all of you. If no one is reading this, that's okay too because I enjoyed writing it.

I wish I could say I disappeared because I went on an exotic adventure around the globe exploring new places and trying new things and taking daily adventures. However, we are still in a pandemic, so all of you would know that I was lying. Instead I have just been busy working two jobs, going back to school, and enjoying free time when I can reading, crafting, video chatting with friends and family, and soaking up sunshine. In reality, this blogger disappeared mainly because she still is not the best at time management, and also a little bit because she could not think of interesting things to write about. 

This is my return to blogging. I will try my best to be consistent. I will make every effort to have interesting posts. I hope some of you follow along. I will continue to write about a range of topics I enjoy from real estate to crafts to reading to just exploring an area. I look forward to being back at this and welcome you on this amateur writer's journey.

Stay Magical,

Christine