Comments on: Family of 15 and $65 Power Bill–How do They do it? http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/secrets-of-a-large-familys-power-bill-savings.html Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:26:00 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: wendy http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/secrets-of-a-large-familys-power-bill-savings.html/comment-page-1#comment-17846 wendy Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:53:50 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=2018#comment-17846 It's interesting to read what others do and will do to save money. I will freezer cook, thrift shop and get $100's of dollars of things we use each and every month for free from Rite Aid and Walgreens and sometimes grocery stores. We eat healthy and good. I remember freezing as a child as my parents tried to save money on the heat. I hated it and none of my friends wanted to come over. It was cold! I can't imagine a COLD shower!! anytime of the year. I spend about 10 hours a month get my deals ready and in November I got $1200 of food/home stuff - things we use for $150. I like that savings and will keep my heat:) Thanks for sharing ~ I am in no way critizing but I can't imagine this for me :) It’s interesting to read what others do and will do to save money. I will freezer cook, thrift shop and get $100’s of dollars of things we use each and every month for free from Rite Aid and Walgreens and sometimes grocery stores. We eat healthy and good.

I remember freezing as a child as my parents tried to save money on the heat. I hated it and none of my friends wanted to come over. It was cold! I can’t imagine a COLD shower!! anytime of the year.

I spend about 10 hours a month get my deals ready and in November I got $1200 of food/home stuff – things we use for $150. I like that savings and will keep my heat:)

Thanks for sharing ~ I am in no way critizing but I can’t imagine this for me :)

]]> By: Vic http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/secrets-of-a-large-familys-power-bill-savings.html/comment-page-1#comment-17437 Vic Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:58:41 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=2018#comment-17437 Thank for sharing ! Thank for sharing !

]]> By: Chin http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/secrets-of-a-large-familys-power-bill-savings.html/comment-page-1#comment-17432 Chin Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:17:26 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=2018#comment-17432 Thank for information. Thank for information.

]]> By: tracy http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/secrets-of-a-large-familys-power-bill-savings.html/comment-page-1#comment-16858 tracy Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:24:22 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=2018#comment-16858 Thanks for all the wonderful ideas! i love it that we are not the only frugal folks out there. we have a 4000 sf home and my electric bill; averaged at the elec co, at $91 per month and my gas bill is $20 each month year round! not too bad. we do fully run the ac during the summer but for winter we purchased space heaters (cute ones with the little fake fires in them) and put them in the bedrooms- didn't turn our heat on all last year. pilot light out! only heating the rooms we occupied. i cook thru the winter in my solar oven (tulsi oven-love it-can plug in if necessary) and i make my own dog food with the leftovers we don't eat- boiling down leftover bones for broth add leftover meats rice, veg, wheat flour etc. i make a "bread" and roll it out thin and bake it. my dogs have spit out dry dog food to eat my homemade food (makes a dog mom proud). i make my own laundry soap, which is super easy. i only wash in cold and have retractable laundry lines in our large washroom - mom's humidifier! then i fluff them for 10 minutes in the dryer with one "rewet" item and a shoe! my clothes come out soft,fluffy and lint free every time. oh, and you'll get a kick out of this: i bought an outdoor solar shower ($75) and put it on my upper back deck. it has cute louvered doors and no, the neighbors have no idea and cannot see anything :) the best part is no hot water is used and the runoff goes directly to our strawberry/asperagus beds! think about it... no hot water, no messy bathroom and no watering outside! i love it. crazy aren't we. our urban "farm" lol - consists of asperagus, strawberries, basil, thyme, tomatoes, zukes, catnip(for tea), bell peppers, banana peppers, brussel sprouts, chives, pineapple sage, oregano, sage, leaf lettuce, onions, garlic etc... all under the guise of decorative plantings. no one would ever no from the street that we have planted a farm in our neighborhood! if i could only have chickens in my home owners assoc., life would be perfect! we aren't broke, we're just smart. i love the fact that i can talk about it online with folks that feel the same way. thanks for letting me share! tracy Thanks for all the wonderful ideas! i love it that we are not the only frugal folks out there. we have a 4000 sf home and my electric bill; averaged at the elec co, at $91 per month and my gas bill is $20 each month year round! not too bad. we do fully run the ac during the summer but for winter we purchased space heaters (cute ones with the little fake fires in them) and put them in the bedrooms- didn’t turn our heat on all last year. pilot light out! only heating the rooms we occupied.

i cook thru the winter in my solar oven (tulsi oven-love it-can plug in if necessary) and i make my own dog food with the leftovers we don’t eat- boiling down leftover bones for broth add leftover meats rice, veg, wheat flour etc. i make a “bread” and roll it out thin and bake it. my dogs have spit out dry dog food to eat my homemade food (makes a dog mom proud).

i make my own laundry soap, which is super easy. i only wash in cold and have retractable laundry lines in our large washroom – mom’s humidifier! then i fluff them for 10 minutes in the dryer with one “rewet” item and a shoe! my clothes come out soft,fluffy and lint free every time.

oh, and you’ll get a kick out of this: i bought an outdoor solar shower ($75) and put it on my upper back deck. it has cute louvered doors and no, the neighbors have no idea and cannot see anything :) the best part is no hot water is used and the runoff goes directly to our strawberry/asperagus beds! think about it… no hot water, no messy bathroom and no watering outside! i love it. crazy aren’t we.

our urban “farm” lol – consists of asperagus, strawberries, basil, thyme, tomatoes, zukes, catnip(for tea), bell peppers, banana peppers, brussel sprouts, chives, pineapple sage, oregano, sage, leaf lettuce, onions, garlic etc… all under the guise of decorative plantings. no one would ever no from the street that we have planted a farm in our neighborhood! if i could only have chickens in my home owners assoc., life would be perfect!

we aren’t broke, we’re just smart. i love the fact that i can talk about it online with folks that feel the same way. thanks for letting me share! tracy

]]> By: Harper http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/secrets-of-a-large-familys-power-bill-savings.html/comment-page-1#comment-16829 Harper Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:26:04 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=2018#comment-16829 Here in Israel, pretty much every home I've seen has a switch outside the bathroom that allows you to turn the water heater on and off. In our flat, we turn it on about 15 minutes before we shower and off immediately after. Here in Israel, pretty much every home I’ve seen has a switch outside the bathroom that allows you to turn the water heater on and off. In our flat, we turn it on about 15 minutes before we shower and off immediately after.

]]> By: Diane http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/secrets-of-a-large-familys-power-bill-savings.html/comment-page-1#comment-16816 Diane Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:11:35 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=2018#comment-16816 I posted this on my blog. I will incorporate a few of the tips like cutting my hot water heater off until 2 hours before doing dishes or bathing. I posted this on my blog. I will incorporate a few of the tips like cutting my hot water heater off until 2 hours before doing dishes or bathing.

]]> By: How a family of 15 spends peanuts on energy bills http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/secrets-of-a-large-familys-power-bill-savings.html/comment-page-1#comment-16803 How a family of 15 spends peanuts on energy bills Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:11:56 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=2018#comment-16803 [...] energy bills. This family of 15 spends $65 a month only on energy bills. Read the article here at Generation Cedar. Clearly there are some very extreme measures taking place here – no hot water showers, [...] [...] energy bills. This family of 15 spends $65 a month only on energy bills. Read the article here at Generation Cedar. Clearly there are some very extreme measures taking place here – no hot water showers, [...]

]]> By: Lillian http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/secrets-of-a-large-familys-power-bill-savings.html/comment-page-1#comment-16776 Lillian Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:09:00 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=2018#comment-16776 We got a tankless hot water heater which only heats on demand. That makes much more sense to me then going without hot water. But if they like cold showers so be it. The other thing we do is not eat meat. I almost never cook now that we are all vegetarians. Our power bill for a family of 4 is 80 dollars a month and I never notice we are trying to save. We got a tankless hot water heater which only heats on demand. That makes much more sense to me then going without hot water. But if they like cold showers so be it. The other thing we do is not eat meat. I almost never cook now that we are all vegetarians. Our power bill for a family of 4 is 80 dollars a month and I never notice we are trying to save.

]]> By: Cassandra http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/secrets-of-a-large-familys-power-bill-savings.html/comment-page-1#comment-16742 Cassandra Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:41:55 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=2018#comment-16742 Wow. I consider myself frugal, we use a woodburner in the garage to heat our house in the winter, and I don't spend money very often, but this- nope, wouldn't want to do it. Cold showers? I guess that's where I draw the line! I scrimp and save in so many other areas that I don't feel the least bit guilty using my oven and water heater! I am amazed that you can pull this off. I think I could- I just don't want too! = ) Wow. I consider myself frugal, we use a woodburner in the garage to heat our house in the winter, and I don’t spend money very often, but this- nope, wouldn’t want to do it. Cold showers? I guess that’s where I draw the line! I scrimp and save in so many other areas that I don’t feel the least bit guilty using my oven and water heater! I am amazed that you can pull this off. I think I could- I just don’t want too! = )

]]> By: Apple Annie http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/secrets-of-a-large-familys-power-bill-savings.html/comment-page-1#comment-16741 Apple Annie Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:29:29 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=2018#comment-16741 There are less intrusive ways to cut costs. Solar water heaters have come along way and are worth the investment. Checking with your electric utility about getting a time of use meter. With an all electric house (no A/C)(except a dual wall furnace), the savings has been huge. For summer heat the shade trees have done wonders. They are deciduous so in the winter the house warms up. There are also some sort of electric plug that can be put on large appliances to even out their energy use. And lastly, with concern over air pollution, the use of oil lamps are a detriment to one's health. Not only is there the end user cost for oil. (Is it really cheaper than electricity per kW/hour. This isn't high math do figure out, nor turiing off lights to see your utility KW usage)l. Plus this is a petroleum product. Would one use a BBQ in the house? This is soot produced, little microscopic particles that you inhale. They don't come out but stay in your lungs. Plus, would you paint in your houss on a daily basis? This is volatiles coming off the oil. This too is escaping when the lattern is lit AND when it is just sitting not in use. Both unfortunately are cancer causing. Show caution and hesitation when using a lattern inside. At least a Carbon Monoxice monitor is needed. There are less intrusive ways to cut costs. Solar water heaters have come along way and are worth the investment. Checking with your electric utility about getting a time of use meter. With an all electric house (no A/C)(except a dual wall furnace), the savings has been huge. For summer heat the shade trees have done wonders. They are deciduous so in the winter the house warms up. There are also some sort of electric plug that can be put on large appliances to even out their energy use.

And lastly, with concern over air pollution, the use of oil lamps are a detriment to one’s health. Not only is there the end user cost for oil. (Is it really cheaper than electricity per kW/hour. This isn’t high math do figure out, nor turiing off lights to see your utility KW usage)l. Plus this is a petroleum product. Would one use a BBQ in the house? This is soot produced, little microscopic particles that you inhale. They don’t come out but stay in your lungs. Plus, would you paint in your houss on a daily basis? This is volatiles coming off the oil. This too is escaping when the lattern is lit AND when it is just sitting not in use. Both unfortunately are cancer causing. Show caution and hesitation when using a lattern inside. At least a Carbon Monoxice monitor is needed.

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