20 Energy Saving Tips To Save More Money In 2024

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Times are tough in this tumultuous economy as costs are skyrocketing for homeowners and landlords alike. Winter is coming... and that means increased energy use to heat homes for homeowners and property owners. Everyone has to tighten their belt and pinch pennies to improve their frugal finances in 2024. 


But some bills are unavoidable and show up in your mail on or your credit and debit card statements each month, cutting into your frugal finances. We all have mandatory monthly costs like utilities cutting into your budget significantly. Your energy bills are probably eating away at your savings and investable income each month with many people feeling powerless to reduce or eliminate them. And even with the extreme increase in energy prices, some states and regions are still having power outages going into 2024!

Exponential Energy Bill Increases

Energy prices are unfortunately only going one way, and that is way up with almost no end in sight! This is especially true with rising inflation and steep increases in oil and gas prices around the world. A lot of traditional fuel companies have been facing growth restrictions and some countries are being boycotted for their energy, driving up prices further for consumers around the world. Even states and nations proud of their renewable energy initiatives have reverted at least temporarily to natural gas, coal, and nuclear power just to support their power grids so people don't freeze to death. Gas, oil, and electricity are a lot more expensive than they used to be for homeowners and property owners, despite ESG standards being much higher nationwide and worldwide for appliances. 

There is not a lot of price reduction relief in sight despite some stimulus checks in a few areas of the world. Most government safety nets for energy relief and financial protection have ended or will be ending soon, leaving consumers to fend for themselves.

So, how do you make the most out of your energy, fuel, and utilities to help cut costs each month? Frugal Finance has you covered on smart and simple energy saving methods. Here are 17 top tips to reduce energy use and save money daily along with lowering HVAC costs. 

Heating And Cooling Cost Cutting

Heating and cooling are the main culprits responsible for expensive utility bills. This is also the best place to explore cost-reduction measures for your household or workplace. Ensure your furnace or boiler is efficient with boiler coverage. It would be wise to check here for available plans to cut costs and improve efficiency with boilers if your home or property has an older one. 

Now read the additional 20 top ways to save on your bills and energy usage below. 

20 Top Energy Saving Tips To Lower Your Utility Bills

1. Inspect Seals On Doors, Windows, And Appliances 

Heat and cold care escape through the cracks in a matter of milliseconds. To avoid or minimize this, ensure your freezer and fridge are appropriately sealed to trap cold air inside. This also applies to windows and doors. Any seal malfunction could contribute to leaks and end up draining your heat, air conditioning, and/or wallet. 

2. Repair Leaky Ducts 

Gaps and leaks within your ductwork can lead to air loss and inflate your electricity bills. Sealing and insulating your air conditioning ducts, ventilation, and heating and cooling systems may go a long way towards lowering your bills. Caulking and seal repairs (or even duct tape) are frugal methods that can help to preserve heat or air conditioning every day to help your utility bill savings add up. You can also use duct tape to close gaps since that is what it is named after, and even purchase some at the local Dollar Tree (even though products now cost around $1.25 instead of $1, plus taxes).

3. Set Your Thermostat 

When you head to bed each night, lower your thermostat's temperature to between 10 and 15 degrees. This also applies when you are away from home for work or travels. By doing this for eight to twenty hours every day, you can significantly lower the energy you use to heat and cool your house all year round. 

You can be able to automate this process using a programmable thermostat or smart home device like NEST, Ecobee, Amazon Smart Thermostat, or Honeywell brand. Now you can adjust heat or AC levels from a convenient app on your smartphone!

4. Adjust The Temperature Settings Of Your Fridge And Freezer 

To cut energy costs, make sure you set the temperature of your fridge to 38 degrees and that of your freezer between 0 and 5 degrees. By doing this, you will keep your food fresh. Your fridge and freezer won't have to use much energy to maintain temperature. To make the most of your money, monitoring your expenditure is crucial. Observe trends and spot opportunities you can exploit. This will give you a clear idea of what you need to do to save some cash. Smart appliances and smart phones are excellent at tracking energy use and temperatures.

Water usage is also a crucial consideration for reducing energy and utility use. According to the Energy Department, hot water is the second-placed item driving high utility bills in most homes. Whether in the laundry room or the shower, reducing your hot water usage can significantly reduce your electricity costs in 2024. 

5. Take Shorter Showers 

You may save up to five gallons of water if you cut your shower time by two minutes. You will save money, reduce energy expenditure, lower water use, and free up valuable time! The phrase "time is money" applies to showering for sure. Set a timer if you need to or pretend that you are paying by the minute like in some public showers, because in reality you actually are!

6. Install A New Showerhead 

A water-efficient showerhead can reduce the amount of hot water you use and save up to 2,700 gallons per year. Get a shower head with the WaterSense label, certifying that it meets the Environmental Protection Agency's efficiency criteria. Or a high-pressure showerhead will allow you to take a quicker shower and therefore use less hot water in that way.

7. Avoid Washing Clothes In Hot Water 

Washing clothes with hot water is energy-intensive and only needed for certain garments, bulk items, or stains. If possible, use warm or cold water to do your laundry to avoid the extra heat costs. Sometimes the cold water actually works better anyways!

8. Repair Leaky Taps 

No one wants to hear that dripping sound every night. All of those drips add up day after day and night after night. Fix your faucets to save gallons of water 24/7. A quick visit from a plumber or watching a YouTube DIY video should do the trick.

9. Adjust Your Water Heater's Temperature 

Most water heaters are typically set at 140 degrees. If you lower this default setting to 120 degrees instead, you may save water heating costs by around 10% annually. Leaving town for the weekend? Make sure you turn that water heater to its lowest setting to save more energy. This is especially helpful if you have a small household and don't have to worry about running out of hot water for daily family member showers and baths. You also have to consider dishwashers and washing machines.

10. Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances 

If you are looking for a new water heater, washing machine, or dishwasher, consider purchasing an energy-efficient model to save energy usage for longer. For example, a dishwasher with the Energy Star label should use 3.5 gallons of water or less every cycle. Some older dishwasher models may use more than 10 gallons per cycle. For appliances that run nearly all day or for weeks like the fridge, water heater, TV, and HVAC system, consider buying energy-efficient models. 

The latest energy efficient appliances can more than pay for themselves within a couple of years. Many of them turn off or go on eco-mode when they are unused for a period of time, saving more electricity and money.

11. Inquire About Discounted Rates From Utility Providers 

During certain times of the day, you may enjoy cheaper rates for you to do energy-intensive chores, like laundry. Electronics and lighting account for roughly 11% or more of a typical residential utility bill. And if you are a good negotiator, there is always the chance that you could strike a discounted deal with your utility providers. 

12. Change Your Lightbulbs 

You can save up to $75 per year by replacing bulbs in the five frequently-used light fixtures with LED bulbs or compact fluorescents (CFL) that have the Energy Star label. The LED bulb option is much better these days if you have the choice and they will pay for themselves in no time. They also don't get as hot so it can actually make them safer in terms of potential burns or fires. 

LED bulbs are so much more efficient than incandescent bulbs that the United States and some other nations are essentially restricting or banning their use. There are much fewer incandescent bulbs for sale now and a lot less in terms of legacy bulb products being produced. This helps to save consumers money, improve energy independence, and enhance overall safety.

13. Set Up Dimmer Switches 

Dimmers allow you to determine a room's brightness at a sliding scale customized level. This lets you set the mood that suits your needs and saves energy in the process. Make sure to use LED light bulbs that are compatible with dimmer switches to get the most energy reduction and avoid flickering lights at certain dimming levels. Dimmer switches may cost slightly more money initially but overall they will more than pay for themselves on your electricity bills.

14. Use Smart Power Strips 

For devices that don't truly power off while connected to electricity, plug them into a power strip. This mainly applies to devices with remote controls. High quality power strips also provide additional safety with surge protector capacity which could prevent overloads or fires in certain cases.

15. Conduct An Energy Audit 

Utility providers will often perform energy audits to determine ways to cut down on your energy usage. There are many other methods to reduce power use that you may not have thought about but an expert could identify quickly. Often times energy audits are free due to government energy efficiency programs. Your local and federal government wants you to be more efficient with your energy use and has an incentive to help you. 

16. Install Solar Panels Or Wind Turbines On Your Property

Want to generate your electricity for free? Interested in selling your excess electricity to the local power company? Then renewable energy generation is your ticket! Solar energy panels or wind turbines / windmills will generate your power and help you save countless costs while going green. You may even qualify for government tax credits to save even more money while cutting back on energy! And the power company in your area is legally required to buy your excess electricity, so you will end up getting a credit or check each month from them. 

17. Go Off The Grid

Want to take energy savings to the extreme and live off the land? If you want to save even more money, consider going off the grid as a homesteader for full self-sufficiency. Buy a piece of land in a remote area for a bargain price and work it yourself while setting up wind, solar, and minimal fossil fuel sources to generate energy. It can be a risky move, but also rewarding in many ways. 

18. Get A Hybrid, Electric, Or Great Gas Mileage Vehicle 

While this tip isn't technically for saving energy with your home, you can still save plenty of fuel by switching to a more efficient vehicle. Some efficient gas-powered vehicles get even better mileage than hybrids, like compact sedans or Smart cars.   

19. Purchase Electric Tools 

Using electric instead of gas-powered tools can help reduce energy costs as well. With a lawn mower, leaf blower, hedge trimmer, weed whacker, or snowblower you can eliminate gas use while lowering noise levels. Your neighbors will thank you and so will your gas bills!

20. Recharge Your Batteries 

Batteries cost a lot more money these days than they used to, and still power many aspects of your home and its devices. When you recharge batteries, you only spend a fraction of the cost compared to buying new ones. You also keep a lot of toxic waste out of landfills!

It is time to go green so you can save some green and maintain your frugal finances! Save energy and money more in 2024!

Energy Efficiency Excellence 

When it comes to living frugally and sustainably, energy efficiency is essential. Keep these top tips in mind to help lower utility bills and reduce your energy use daily.

8 Tips To Improve Family Financial Security

improve family security financial management finance plan money management

In the U.S. nearly 25% of Americans have nothing saved for retirement. That is correct about 50 million people in the US have exactly $0 in savings for their hopes to retire securely someday. The same financial trend is taking place around the world as well after a mini recession and rampant inflation.

How will these people have any family security financially? What will families do during this global economic recession with shortages, debt, and inflation still running rampant? 


It is an embarrassing reflection on people's priorities and a shameful reflection on American society. But we are not here to shame you, we are here to help your personal finances. Because when it comes to finance, it is all about family first and financial freedom!

Family Finances First

If you are looking to improve your financial security, you have come to the right place. We have rounded up family security and finance tips to help you prepare for the future. 

Whether you have three small children or you are on the verge of retirement, today is always the best day to start improving your financial health. Fiscal responsibility is essential in today's world. From life insurance to college and retirement savings, we have rounded up everything you need to know about how to be financially secure for your family's future. 

Here is how to improve your family finances and secure their financial future. 

8 Tips To Improve Your Family Finances

1. Get Life Insurance 

Having an adequate life insurance policy is essential for ensuring the financial security of most families. But what is whole life insurance and why do I need it? Whole life insurance protects your spouse and family in the event of an unexpected death. If you pass away, your family loses your income. 

Unlike term life insurance, whole life insurance policies last your entire life. These policies don’t expire as you age. That means your family has even more monetary protection. If you pass away in your 90s, your spouse or children still receive the benefits. 

Whole life insurance is also inexpensive compared to some other forms of investing. Making your monthly payments on time is all you need to do to financially protect your loved ones in the event of and unfortunate accident or illness. 

2. Boost Your Savings and Emergency Fund 

According to a study by the Federal Reserve, the average American doesn’t have enough saved to cover a $400 emergency. 

If you fall into this category, it’s not too late to start saving. There is some debate about how much of your income you should save for emergencies. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all number, you want to be comfortable. 

Let’s say your expenses total $2,000 per month. If you lose your job, how long could you live off your savings? Having $10,000 in savings could float you through five months of unemployment. Saving $208 per bi-weekly paycheck for two years could get you to $10,000 in savings. 

Once you reach your goal of $10,000, don’t stop the savings there. Remember that there are plenty of other important things to save for. Keep up your savings rate and shift your money into retirement savings, investments, and your child’s education. 

While an emergency fund is important, saving for retirement and investing is arguably even more vital. Should you need more than what is in your emergency fund, you still have these assets to pull from. If you never need them, they are growing at a much higher rate than a savings account. 

3. Create a Budget 

If you are thinking there is no way I can save any money each month for your families, it is time to take another look. Budgeting isn’t about coupons and envelopes of cash. It is about going through your expenses and really looking at how you’re spending your money. 

Take some time to go through your bank account. Look at how much you have coming in as income. Next, look at what expenses you have. Fixed expenses are bills you have to pay each month. This includes your mortgage, student loans, and car payments. 

Next, look at the expenses you can trim some costs if needed. You might not even realize you have been paying for three different music subscription services. If you aren’t using things such as group fitness classes or virtual cooking lessons, take the time to cancel them. It is the frugal thing to do for masterful money management!

Once you have a clear picture of where your money is going, it is time to see what is left. If the answer is nothing, take another look. Look at your grocery bill and how much you spend on coffee or eating out. 

Your food and entertainment spending are likely areas where you will be able to pull down some extra savings. Set a goal for each of your savings buckets. You should always have one for retirement and financial emergencies. You may want more for things like a new home and your child’s education fund. 

4. Make a Financial Plan 

Once you have your budget in place, it will be easier to tackle your next steps. Consider your financial goals. What does it mean to you to have financial security for your family? 

Some people, want to pay off their debt while others prefer to see a large emergency fund. Whatever your goals are, get them down on paper and start shifting your budget accordingly. 

5. Pay Off Debt 

Debt is expensive. The less debt you have, the less interest and finance charges you’re paying. With less debt, you will see lower interest rates on cars and homes. 

Without credit card debt, you’ll drop expensive monthly interest payments as well. Your credit score will improve, and you will have a better debt-to-income ratio. Pay down your debt and you will be that much closer to better financial health. 

6. Save for Retirement 

Retirement is one of those non-negotiables when it comes to savings and financial planning. There comes a time in everyone’s life when they aren’t able to work anymore. Think about how you’d like your retirement to look and what you will realistically need. 

Make a plan to invest in your future. If you have an employer-funded 401(k) plan, start by maximizing this. An employer match is free money you should take advantage of. Next, consider opening your own brokerage or IRA account. 

Set up automatic withdrawals from your checking account into these investment accounts. When the money comes out automatically, you won’t miss it. The money goes right in each month and you can sit back and watch it grow. 

If you like to see a visual of how you’re shaping up, there are a lot of great apps you can use. You can put in all your accounts and funds and they will automatically add up your wealth and net worth. 

From here, you can see what that looks like when you retire. Is $500 or $5,000 enough to live off of each month? Remember that any wealth you accumulate can also be left to your spouse, children, and grandchildren to take care of them after you’ve passed. 

7. Provide Your Family With Finances for College 

When you first have a baby, college can seem far away. You will be surprised at how fast the time goes. How much you should save for college is often debated by financial experts. 

With the rising costs of education, if you have multiple children, paying for all their college tuition will be expensive. A 529 Plan is a tax-advantaged way to save for college. 

Instead of burning yourself out trying to pay for it all, aim for a third. Paying for a third of their education means your child handles a third and the final third is paid through grants, scholarships, or loans. 

Remember that your child should also be involved in this process. There are work-study programs and on-campus jobs that provide students with income to offset the cost of their education. Get them involved in the planning process as well. 

Also remember that paying for their entire education isn’t a burden you need to take on alone. Whether you pay for 100% or a few thousand dollars, there’s no right or wrong answer here. Starting young, however, gives you the best chance to accumulate some savings when they reach 18. 

8. Set Up a Will or Estate Plan 

Once you have children, if you don’t have a will, it is time to get one. An estate plan is another security to make sure your final wishes are clear. When you pass away, your loved ones won’t have to fight over or sort out what asset is going where. 

These are especially important if you have young children. You can include medical directives, and who should care for your children in the event that you and your partner should pass away. 

These aren’t only for the super-wealthy families and estates. If you own a home or have any money in your bank accounts, you qualify for an estate plan and a will. Make sure everything is lined up for your spouse and children after you have gone. 

If you have also had more than one spouse or children from different marriages, an estate plan is a great way to avoid any tensions or confusion. Everyone will know your wishes and will understand what to do with real estate, investments, and assets which improves overall family security when it comes to money management. 

How To Improve Your Family Security and Finances 

Family security offers some much-needed peace of mind. It is a great feeling knowing you are on track for your frugal financial goals. 

For some, financial security means paying for their child’s education. For others, it is a large emergency fund or retirement savings. 

Whatever financial security means to you, it starts with getting control of your finances. You can’t change where your money is going if you don’t know what you are spending it on. Get your priorities in place and set your plan in motion for your family's financial future. 

From life insurance to estate plans, it is never too late to start taking advantage of these programs and securing your family’s financial future. For more finance and money resources to improve monetary family security, head to the Frugal Finances blog section.

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