Bills, Bills, Bills

The coming of winter will usually cause utility bills in college apartments and houses to drastically increase (that is, if it's not a fixed rate included in your lease). I figured I'd share some tips on how to cut down on electricity, gas, and water usage as the months get a little colder.

Electricity and Gas
I'll put these two together as several appliances could run on either. First thing to do is to check what major parts of your place use electricity vs. gas. Housing companies aren't usually the smartest people, so make sure you check your stove, water heater, and furnace to figure out if they run on electricity.
The biggest way you can save money is by reducing your heating costs. Don't expect to keep your place at 72 degrees during the winter, keep your thermostat in the 60's and wear slippers and a sweater around the house. However, under no circumstances leave your furnace completely off and let temperatures get to cold in your house - I guarantee if you get sick and miss class and perform poorly on exams, you're not going to be happy with the 10 dollars you saved that month on heating. If it's cloudy or nighttime, make sure the blinds to your windows stay closed. You may even want to put a thick blanket over windows that don't offer a view you would appreciate at any time.

Electricity can be saved from a variety of sources. The most prevalent wastage of electricity I've seen is from computers. Computers use an incredible amount of power over time if they are left on all day. Keep your computer off (not in "suspend" or "hibernate") whenever you're not at home, or even if you won't be using it for an hour or more. Additionally, change your computer settings so your monitor is slightly dimmer (this will also make your laptop battery life increase). Personally, I like to keep any electronics in my apartment on a surge protector. Almost all electronics continue to use power while they are off, but still plugged in. Whenever I leave my apartment, I make sure the surge protector connected to my TV, cable box, Computer, printer, and anything else electronic is turned off. UNPLUG YOUR CELL PHONE CHARGER DURING THE DAY. I can't stress that enough.
Finally, if you are gone for hours at a time, make sure your thermostat is adjusted lower than normal. If it's at 67, put it down to 62 when you're gone. When you come home, put it back up. There is no sense in keeping your house/apartment warm if no one is in it. Again, do not completely turn it off, as pipes can freeze if left cold for too long.

Water
Water usage is a simple thing. Taking shorter showers can have a large effect. Get in, shampoo, conditioner, soap, get out. When shaving, close off the sink drain, fill the sink with water, and use that water to wash off your razor, instead of continuously running the faucet. Ladies, you can do the same thing using a bucket while sitting on the edge of the tub - its certainly cheaper than the water wasted shaving in the shower. Also, opt to do dishes by hand instead of using a dishwasher.

Well, there you have it. A lot of these things many of you may already know, but I figured I would try to organize them all here. I can't really speak towards cable/internet bills, as that is specific to each individual case. I can say that Comcast should be avoided at all costs. Since living on my own, I haven't gone 2 months without them trying to screw me out of money. If you have any other thoughts or suggestions, feel free to comment!