For the most part, there are two types of home owners in Arizona – those who live in their homes full time and those who live in Arizona during seasonal periods. But for the most part, several Arizona home owners will occupy their homes during the holiday season – as the temperatures are quite comfortable between the months of October – January. And as the holidays approach, finding some money saving tips around the house always becomes a constant struggle for virtually all Arizona home owners.
Top 3 Money Saving Tips For The Holidays
To help provide some easy solutions to this common problem, here are a few things that home owners can do around the house to save money on their utility bills each month during the holiday season.
Tip #1 – Be Smart About Holiday Lights and Decorations
The leading cause of increasing utility bills during the holiday season in Arizona is outdoor and indoor decorations that draw tons of electricity. And guess what – the utility companies know this; and tend to increase the rates during peak operation times in the evening. This is why it’s very important for Arizona home owners to be smart about turning on their outdoor decorations. As such, here are a few simple tips to consider:
- Consider buying LED outdoor lights when they need to be replaced. LED lights save more than 50% on your utility bill each month vs. standard light bulbs.
- Set up your outdoor lights with an automatic timer that will turn on and off at specific times. This also can apply to indoor lights as well – such as a Christmas tree.
- If you are not home during the holidays, but have outdoor lights, setting them on a timer can help reduce potential theft issues as well.
Tip #2 – Use your Major Appliances during Off-Peak Time Periods
The second thing that any Arizona home owner can do to save money during the holiday season is to be smart about when you use major appliances that soak up a lot of ‘juice’. Some of these household appliances include:
- Vacuum Machines
- Washing Machines and Dryers
- Dishwashers and Electric Stoves
Consider using these items during non-peak usage time periods, such as mid-afternoon or late mornings if possible. If you need to use them at night, make sure to be as energy efficient as possible, and maximize usage by only doing full loads of laundry or dishwashing.
Tip #3 – Have your HVAC System Inspected Before the Holidays
This is a great tip for both home owners who will have people visit them or if they’ll be away for the holidays. By having your HVAC system inspected prior to the holiday season, you’ll be able to ensure your home heating unit is 100% operational and running as energy efficient as possible. In fact, it is estimated that HVAC systems that are tuned up before the holiday season can save you as much as 35-50% on your monthly energy bills – simply by replacing filters and topping off fluids.
As the holiday season approaches, finding money saving tips around the house can be difficult. But, if you follow these three simple energy saving tips, you’ll be surprised how much money you’ll save on your monthly utility bills.