I decided to call in my payment to Duke Power instead of using my credit union’s free bill pay. This would allow my payment to be received today rather than waiting until tomorrow for my bank to process it.

I called in to Duke Power, entered my account number, and selected the payment option. Do you know what they said? There would be a fee of $3.50! Hahahahaahahaaha. Gee, no thanks. Duke Power, you’ll just have to get your payment tomorrow. I also checked the back of my gas bill. Their fee is $4.95. No thanks.

Paying fees for quick bill pay would only be beneficial if the interest payment or late charge fee was higher than the bill pay fee. For example, if your credit card company is going to charge you a $29 late fee, then it might be worth paying their phone payment fee. It’s just another lesson in being organized (oops) and paying your bills on time.

Do you pay fees to make payments? What’s the highest fee you’ve ever seen?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

A few weeks ago, I gave you some tips on saving money on your summer electric bill.  There are more ways to save throughout the year that you might want to consider.  Here are some ways to cut back on the expense of water usage.

1.  Put an approved insulation jacket/blanket on your electric hot water heater.

2.  Insulate hot water pipes.

3.  Wash clothes in cold water, if possible.  Always rinse clothes in cold water.

4.  Clean and maintain hot water heater.  Drain water from bottom of water heater to remove sediment, at least once a year.  This one definitely needs to be done at my house.

5.  Take showers instead of baths.

6.  Make sure your shower head is one that is designed to reduce water usage.

7.  Try not to stay in the shower more than 5 minutes.

8.  Fix leaky faucets.

9.  Use your dishwasher.

10.  Shut off faucet when shaving, brushing your teeth, and doing dishes.

11.  Only use washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load.

12.  Adjust washing machine water levels to match your load.

13.  Use cold water in the garbage disposal.

14.  Check water efficiency ratings before buying new appliances.  Some washing machines use a few gallons less per load.

15.  Avoid using sprinklers and water soakers to water your grass.  Instead, collect rain water in buckets.  You may even want to invest in a rain barrel.  These can also be attached to your gutters to help collect the most water.  We considered purchasing one of these a few years ago because of water restrictions. 

16.  Check toilets for leaks.  The inside plumbing for a toilet is only a few dollars.  A few years ago, our water bill kept rising every month.  The water dept suggested that we put a packet of unsweetened Kool-Aid in the tank to see if it drained into the bowl.  The color immediately drained into the bowl and we got our toilet fixed, which saved us a lot of money.

17.  Chill water in refrigerator, rather than running faucet for water to cool down before filling a glass.

18.  Consider getting an on-demand hot water heater.

19.  If you have a gas hot water heater, make sure your pilot light is adjusted and working properly.  Make sure your flu pipe is clear with no bird or insect nests inside.

20.  To reduce water usage from your toilet, fill a small water bottle with sand or water and place inside the tank.  Do not use a brick because the brick can dissolve and cause future problems.

21.  Reduce your water heater temperature to 120 degrees.  If your dishwasher does not have a booster heater, you may need to set it higher.

22.  Install aerators on your faucets, which will reduce the flow of water.

23.  Cover swimming pools when not in use to help keep the water from evaporating.

24.  Avoid using the toilet as a trashcan.  Throw away cotton swabs, tissues, and other items rather than flushing them.

25.  If you need to water your plants, try to water them in the early morning or evening.  Watering them during the heat of the day will cause the water to evaporate quickly.

Ok, I’ve racked my brain for too long.  Do you have any tips to share?

Picture from sirrusshowers.com.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy