Breath held in fear and with one eye open while the other is squeezed shut tightly, you peek at the amount due on your utility bills.

Sounds familiar?

Utilities can be quite costly and because the usage fluctuates from month to month, you never quite know how much to expect on your bill. If you have ever received a nasty shock when you opened utility bills, you will know the importance of reducing your utilities as much as possible. Here are twelve ways that you can do this.

12 Ways to save on your utility bills

1. Hit the off switch

Keep electronic devices switched off when not in use. Turn lights, fans and televisions off when no-one is in the room. Don’t leave computers in stand-by mode as they will still consume electricity.

2. Pull the plug

Unplug devices such as your cell phone and tablet as soon as they are fully charged. Appliances such as coffee makers, toasters and blenders should be unplugged when not in use. Each plugged appliance can still use electricity even when it’s not switched on.

3. Replace Light bulbs

Replace all of the light bulbs in your home with LED bulbs. They last for several years and use less electricity.

4. Get energy-efficient

Any time you need to purchase a new appliance, look for an energy-efficient style. You should consider this especially when buying a new refrigerator which is always plugged in and constantly running.

5. Use Mother Nature

Whenever possible, hang your clothes out in the sun and they will be dry in no time. This is easy if you live in a warmer climate like I do. You can also air dry your laundry on a clothes line. Bonus: no electricity is required at all.

Consider using solar or wind power instead of electricity. The initial setup may be costly but it will mean the end of high electricity bills. Some countries offer incentives for installing green power sources in your home.

6. Control the temperature

Keep your heating turned down as much as possible to reduce your energy bill. When the house is empty during the day and at night when you are snuggled in your blankets, use a programmable thermostat to adjust the heat in the house.

You can also do this with the air conditioning during the summer months or if you live in a warm climate. Better yet, open the windows in your house or use fans to avoid running your a/c altogether.

7. Conserve water

Install low-flow shower heads and toilets in your home’s bathrooms. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth and take shorter showers.

8. Fix leaks

Leaks may not always be obvious so use your water meter to test for them. If your house will be empty during the day, check the water meter before you leave home and as soon as you return. If you notice any changes, you may have a leak.

9. Insulate

Insulate your house thoroughly if you live in colder climates and add weatherstripping to windows and doors. This will keep cold air out.

10. Bundle Services

Service providers usually offer cable, phone and internet packages. Determine whether this might be a cheaper option for you than paying for the individual services separately. Ensure there is no introductory offer where the price increases significantly after the initial period.

I mentioned this option in a previous post: 7 Easy Ways To Stop Worrying About Money Problems.

11. Scale back

Do you really need all of those cable channels? Consider cutting out some of them with a cheaper package.

12. Get rid of services

Think about services you really don’t use or find a cheaper alternative. Cut out cable altogether and watch shows on Netflix. Do you hardly use your house phone because everyone in your home uses their cell phones? Get a family package for the cell phones and cancel the landline.

No-one wants to spend more than they have to on utilities so try these easy ways to reduce your bills each month.

Tell me what you do to reduce utility bills in your home.