Fighting the Cost of Living: 7 Practical Ways to Save on Fuel, Gas, Water and Electricity Bills!

This year has been a relentless battle against the rising cost of living. From rising consumer prices to sudden spikes in higher mortgage payments and rent increases, the struggle is real. And let’s not forget the 20% increase in gas and electricity bills last year, followed by another increase of nearly 30% this year. That’s an extra $1300 over two years on your average home’s utility bills!

So how do we weather this economic storm? Discover 7 smart tips to combat fuel, gas, water and electricity bills, saving you hundreds or even thousands.

Always check a fuel comparison site before fueling up. In NSW, Fuel control can show you the cheapest fuel nearest you or in a selected suburb.

See cheap gas at a local gas station but not ready to top up? Close the price now with the 7-Eleven App and feed this value later. Just download it 7-Eleven appand will search for prices at 7-Eleven gas stations near you and allow you to lock in the lowest price for 7 days.

You can then use this locked fuel price at ANY 7-Eleven station. So if you’re driving to a friend’s house and see that fuel is cheaper there, lock them up! And you can redeem it back home within 7 days. I have saved hundreds of dollars doing this!

If your energy or water consumption suddenly increases, there’s a good chance you have a leak somewhere. This happened to us with our water bill where it tripled in one month because it turns out we had a hidden leak! An easy way to check for hidden water leaks is when no one is using water, check your water meter to see if it is moving.

Most electricity and gas bills also give you a comparison number to help you compare your usage with other bills of a similar household size. If you run out of use, check for leaks in air conditioners, dishwashers, refrigerators, faucets, and toilets. You can do this yourself or turn to a professional. If there are no leaks, consider switching to more energy-saving appliances from the most competitively priced retailer we’ve found, Devices Online. (BONUS – Click here for an additional $30 OFF.)

Here are some simple tips to reduce your energy and water consumption, and therefore your bills!

• If you use an air conditioner, every degree warmer on the thermostat can save you 10%.

• Change your lights to energy saving bulbs.

• Clean the refrigerator door seals and replace them if worn.

• Take shorter showers. Every minute under a shower with a standard shower head consumes about 9 liters of water. That’s a bucket full.

• Install a WELS 4 star shower head to save on water and energy costs. Older shower heads use 15–25 liters per minute, but an efficient shower head only uses 6–7 liters per minute (more than half).

• Use the half flush (3 liters of water) in your toilet, instead of the full flush (4.5 liters of water).

• When replacing your washing machine, choose a front loader. Top loaders use about 100 liters per load, but front loaders use approx 60 liters – almost half.

In Australia, there is more than $1.4 billion in help from state and territory governments to reduce the burden of household energy bills.

If you have a concession card, live on a lower income or aim to boost your home’s energy efficiency, some states offer hundreds of dollars in support.

To get your hands on these sales, in NSW, head to Service NSW Website. Alternatively, check out the federal government’s energy hub at Energy.gov.auwhere you can easily search for discounts specific to your state.

You could save up to $4,000 a year with solar energy. If you can’t afford a solar installation, there are now a number of ways to go solar with $0 down payment.

In VIC and NSW there are state government programs for low income housing. There are also low interest green loans offered by CBA and Brighte.

For renters you can choose portable solar panels or keep an eye out for opportunities to participate in the new project called Haystacks Solar Gardenwhich allows people to buy solar panels and receive an annual discount on their bill.

Here you have it, 7 practical ways to help you save on fuel, energy and water bills. Have a tip we haven’t shared? Leave us a comment below!