When it comes time for the summer and winter months to roll around, homeowners and apartment dwellers alike begin to groan. These two times of the year alone are when most people see a significant increase in their cost of living due to high utilities. Think about it. In the winter time, you run your heat to stay warm while in the hot summer months, you run your air conditioning unit to try to keep cool. It all adds up!

No one ever said that being comfortable in your own home would be easy or cheap, but luckily there are some things that you can do to cut down on costs this summer (or winter) to help save you a few extra bucks. First of all, let's take a look at how much energy you're using. It is always helpful to keep a small diary of how much energy you're using. Another way to keep track of energy being used is to phone or contact your electric and/or gas company. They will be more than happy to mail you a copy of your utility maintenance if you haven't already saved a few copies.

Keeping records of how much enegy you're using can help to give you a more accurate reading of what times of year (it can even be broken down into weeks and days) you're using the most energy. By knowing when you're using the most energy in your home, you can then begin to dissect why. For instance, when you go out during the day, do you leave the heat or air conditioning on? How many appliances do you own, and of these- how many are left plugged in during the day? Things ranging from leaving a computer running all day, every day to allowing the shower to run for 10 minutes prior to you actually getting in can make a significant difference on your utility bills. It is important to remember, therefore, that every little bit counts.

If you are leaving your house to go out somewhere, remember to turn your air conditioning or heating to an automatic setting so that it will only kick on if necessary. So, for instance, turn your thermostat down to no less than 65 degrees in the winter time in order to prevent pipes from freezing versus just leaving it in the “on” position all of the time. If you're not ready to immediately jump in the shower, then wait until you are rather than waste gallons of water.

The same thing goes for lighting. If at all possible, you should strive to be a “morning person”; someone who is awake primarily during the day and who goes to bed when it is dark out. Not only is this better for you physically, but it is also better for you financially. When you are up all night, you have to use electricity to keep lights on (unless you prefer to walk around in the dark or work by candle light). Working during the day allows you to complete more activities by using natural light versus having to turn on a light, thereby using unnecessary electricity.