Save money, switch it off!

Posted by Danielle in Miscellaneous on April 30, 2009 | 8 responses

After watching an Opera show about "penny pinchers" I wanted to see
if I could save money on our electricity bill by turning everything off
AT THE WALL when not in use.  I turned the jug, toaster, microwave, TV,
video player, Wii, set top box, computer, kids night light and electric
toothbrush charger points off when not in use.  My husband found this a
little irritating at first because it took a while to get used to
reaching behind the TV to turn it on and turning the jug on at the wall
instead of just flicking the boil button.  I think he must have thought
I was crazy when I unplugged the cordless phone and went back to an
older style phone that required no power point but hey... we probably
only get three phone calls a week... that includes telemarketers! I then
packed up the alarm clock and purchased a $15 wind up style alarm clock
that rings so loudly I'm sure it could wake the dead.  So now it has
been three months and the proof is in the savings:

Electricity bill before switching off: $242.07 including GST & ambulance cover (3 months)

Electricity bill after switching off: $144.41 including GST & ambulance cover (3 months)

So that's a saving of $97.66 simply by turning things off when not
in use! I now have my eyes set on the phone bill because $30 a month
just to have the phone sitting there sounds crazy to me... there has to
be a cheaper option!