How can we save money on utility bills?

I want to make a list on how I can save money with my utility bills. My water bill was way too much because I had a leak in my toilet. I called a plumber. He wanted $175 to put a new system into the tank.

How crazy is that?? I said, I cannot afford that. He said, well okay, how about $140. I said the part is around $30.00. He brought the price down to $100.

I am losing faith in people and feel that I am in Tijuana where I have to haggle with everything. New carpeting, laminate floors, appliances and so on..... why do we the average person here have to pay so much for a service. Why do these businesses want to rip people off? I know I live in a state that is a little backwards and I am not use to this.

I am a very honest person and "try" to believe that people are honest too. Not the case. I want to compile a list of how we can save money with appliances and at the grocery store.

I am paying more for water to come into my house than is going out.

First off, If I were the plumber I would have left and not haggled. remember he is trying to make a living. The problem with people is they expect others to work for nothing. He drove out to your house which is time he drove home which is time and fixed it which is time. He spent money on gas to get there and 30 bucks on the parts. He went to school to be a plumber and served his apprenticeship making little money. Isn't it time he should be able to make a living. You are not a honest person. you want people to do your work for nothing. Maybe you should learn to fix things yourself. It would have saved you 70 bucks. $50.00 an hour plus travel is not to much to pay for service. Gas is $3.60 a gal. He probably used $30.00 in gas to get to your place You kind of people piss me off. Don't call me and tell me what my work is worth. If you know do it yourself.

The fact of the matter is that it takes money for businesses to survive. They need three times the dollar amount of the worker to cover their own insurance, business liability, and tool and office expense.

Doing a back ground check and asking for references about the company you are asking to work for you is important also.

If times are tight the Library is a great source of Info.

Fix It Yourself books are available on every subject!
Most problems are very simple once you know how.

Wishing you the Best!

Contact your electric company. Most of them will send you alot of usefull info on how to save money. Some will even come out to visit your house and give you a specific recomendation on problem areas.

try to understand that businesses are there to make money. These days that is getting harder and harder to do. you have taxes and insurance (unemployment ins, worker comp ins, liability ins) as well as the rising cost of fuel. People charge what they feel they need to get by.

There are too many ways to save to list them here but you can find a guide at http://www.hvac-for-beginners.com/energy...

You will find a step by step guide for systematically walking through the home and checking things. Most of the things can be done by the average homeowner.