Hello World! Welcome Friends! The average household spends about $2,060 a year on utilities. If you just bought a home, you may be wondering what else you need to pay monthly other than a mortgage.
Here is a comprehensive list of utilities to help take out the surprise of unexpected expenses and help you budget.
What Are Utilities?
As you make your monthly budget, it’s important to know what utilities to expect. There are various categories of utilities including:
- Heating and cooling
- Electricity and gas that covers in addition to heating and cooling
- Water and sewer
- Trash and recycling
- Phone service
- Internet
- Cable
If you are moving into a new spot, you can ask the landlord or real estate agent the average cost of utilities as you begin your search.
Electricity and Gas
Your electricity and gas heat and cool your home along with giving you light and power. The amount of these bills depends on the size of your home and your usage. Your appliances, like refrigerator, dishwasher, washer, and dryer, also are part of this bill.
You can save money by using energy-efficient appliances, checking electricity rates, invest in energy-efficient lightbulbs, and unplug electronics and appliances when they are not in use.
Change your furnace filters regularly. Read your owner’s manual, but the average is to change it every one or two months for fiberglass filters and every four months for paper filters.
Water and Sewer
The average American water bill is around $70.39 per month because the average American uses about 300 gallons of water per day. The city runs the water and sewer.
You can typically get an idea of your sewer bill because it is usually a flat rate based on your area. Some bills come bi-monthly, monthly, or quarterly.
Trash and Recycling
Some trash and recycling can be paid independently or sometimes it is grouped with your water bill depending on your city. The average American generates 4.48 pounds of trash each day, which translates to about $8-$12 a month.
Phone Service
The days of the typical landline are disappearing, and nearly 96 percent of Americans have a cell phone. Depending on your package, you can expect your bill to be around $60-$110 a month. It’s always important to shop your rates and make sure you have the best plan for you at the most reasonable price.
Internet and Cable
You can often bundle your Internet and cable bills together to save money with the same provider. You can also use streaming services to cut your cable bills. Depending on what you watch, you may need to get multiple subscriptions to piece together to get the channels you want.
Reviewing Your List of Utilities
Now that you know your list of utilities, you can figure your new monthly budget. You will also need to figure out your insurance. You can sit down and review the average expenses in your area and find ways to save money.
Keep checking out our site for ideas to turn your house into a home with decoration ideas, recipes, and other DIY tips.
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