The summer heat is coming, which means I may cry when I look at my power bill. When it’s 110 degrees outside and my family wants it to be 74 inside, it’s not cheap. This leaves you with two options: listen to everyone complain or look for ways to save. Here are ways to save on cooling costs, part four of our series on how to cut your utility bills.
Other posts in this series:
How to Cut Your Utility Bills | Water, Trash, Electricity + General Advice
How to Cut Your Utility Bills | Internet, Phone, and Cable
How to Cut Your Utility Bills | Heating Costs
How to Cut Your Utility Bills | Part Four: Cooling Costs
Use Fans
This is one of the easiest and most obvious ways to save. Ceiling fans are an efficient way to help circulate air making your home feel cooler without running the air conditioner more. Want to save on ceiling fans? Check eBay, Craigslist, and thrift stores (like Restore). You can also get the contractor’s price if you buy 5 or more at some stores.
Bonus tip: Use the “on” fan setting on your air conditioner to circulate air continuously through your home. It will help to even out hot spots and allow you to run your thermostat at a higher temperature without feeling the heat.
Build an Attic Stairs Insulation Box
This is basically a box that sits at the top of your attic stairs to keep air from escaping. To build one, you’ll need foam board, foil tape, a straight edge, measuring tape, and a utility knife. The best thing about this box is that it is really light so you can easily move it out of the way when you need to access the attic. You can add weather stripping around the edge to increase the effectiveness even more. You can watch this YouTube video for full instructions.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
You can set the thermostat to increase and decrease the temperature based on when you are home. 78 degree is considered energy efficient. If that is too warm for comfort when you are home, you can set it to 78-80 degrees when you away. You can also usually raise the temperature a few degrees while you sleep. We have this one and it is only $23. It’s very easy to program and works well.
Many have a program for each day of the week so you can change settings for weekends and weekdays. If you are home all the time, at least have it set to turn the air up/down while you sleep.
Check out this deal on jeans! Get B1G1 Free Aeropostale Jeans with free shipping!
Add (2) pairs of jeans or shorts to your cart and the lowest one will automatically be free.
Deal Ideas:
Buy:
(2) Women’s Mid-Rise Bootcut Jeans, $59.95
-B1G1 FREE
makes it $29.98 each!
Buy:
(2) Men’s Straight Jeans – $54.95
-B1G1 FREE
makes it $24.98 each!
Buy:
(2) Super Low-Rise Baggy Denim Shorts 6″ – $54.95
-B1G1 FREE
makes it $24.98 each!
This deal is good for a limited time. Shipping is free when you buy jeans.
Read More→
Secure some frugal fun for the summer!
Right now, speed over to Walmart where you can get this highly-rated Ozark Trail river tube for just $4.97!
The reviews say it’s the “best tube ever” and you can use it at the river, on the lake, at the beach or the pool!
Get the Deal:
Ozark Trail Teal River Tube 39″ – $4.98 (reg. $6.98)
This deal is good for a limited time and while supplies last. Shipping is free for Walmart+ members and on orders $35 and up.
See more online shopping deals!
Right now through 5/16, head to Walgreens Photo to get a nice price on double-sided yard signs! Regularly $34.99, this makes signs just $12.25!!
To get the deal, use code SIGNHERE at checkout and choose same-day pickup.
These are great for birthdays, graduation, events and more!
This deal is good through 5/16. Choose FREE same-day pickup.
See more online shopping deals!
CVS is running an ExtraCare Bucks deal this week and next when you purchase two Maybelline Cosmetics. Add in an eCoupon and pick up two Expert Wear Eyeshadows for FREE!
This deal is good in-store or online.
CVS Maybelline Freebie Deal (ends 5/16):
- $6 ECB wyb (2) L’Oreal or Maybelline Cosmetics, Any, , limit 1
Buy:
(2) Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow, $4.79 ea.
Use:
-$4 off L’Oreal or Maybelline cosmetics, any, exp. 5/16, CVS eCoupon
Total Due: $5.58
Get Back: $6 ExtraCare Bucks
Makes both FREE
See the full CVS Ad for more great deals.
Get a sweet offer on a kids digital instant print camera at Amazon! Grab it for just $17.99 when you go through my link and get 50% off!
To get the deal, go through my link or use code DK88WYPU at checkout.
Print black-and-white photos in just 1 second, while color images save to the 32GB SD card (which is included)!
Get the Deal:
Instant Print Camera with Front Rear Dual Selfie Cameras and 1080P Videos $35.99
– Go through my link or use code DK88WYPU at checkout
Makes it $17.99
These offers can change at any time. Go grab one now! Shipping is free for Prime members.
See more Amazon deals.
I’ve got a great deal on Charmin toilet paper for you!! If you are up for the switch, you can grab a Charmin Forever Roll starter kit right now for $19.97, regularly $34.97. The starter kit includes the brushed stainless steel holder and (2) Charmin Ultra Soft Forever Rolls.
Each forever roll is equal to 32 regular rolls of toilet paper (1700 sheets each)!
We switched the hall bathroom to the first forever roll on March 19th and we are still on the first roll. I’m guessing at this rate we will finish the 2nd roll in the starter kit around the middle of June. For a household filled with girls this is crazy to me!
Get the Deal
You’ve got two options to get the same price:
At Walmart:
Grab the Charmin Forever Roll Starter Kit for $29.97
then get back $10 in Walmart cash to use on your next purchase
At Amazon:
Grab the Charmin Forever Roll Starter Kit for $19.97 after an instant digital coupon
Need Refills??
Grab a great price on butter at the Kroger Mega Event! Head in this week and use a printable coupon with the Mega Deal to score Vital Farms Butter for only $2.99!
This item is part of a mega event. The price listed is after a $1 instant savings when you purchase 5+ items. You can mix and match items and are welcome to buy more than 5.
Kroger Vital Farms Mega Deal (ends 5/12):
- Vital Farms Butter, 8 oz, $3.99
-$1 off Vital Farms Butter printable
(makes it $2.99)
Join me tomorrow night, at 8:30 pm (eastern) as we discuss all the things you should buy during the summer.
There are some big sales and things on sale in the summer that aren’t on sale any other time of the year. Let’s hit all the things you should buy this summer (and things to wait on if possible) in this week’s Q&A.
Feel free to bring any other questions you have too (they can be off topic)!
If you’ve never joined our weekly Q&A this is a great time to ask any questions you have on couponing, saving money etc. I’m open to anything and while I always have a topic the questions can be all over the place and makes for a fun night.
You can watch directly on Southern Savers at the top of the homepage or on Facebook.
