Hello and welcome to Money Girls Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer life.

I'm your host Laura Adams. Today's topic is about how to save money by reducing

your utility bills. I'll share 10 ways to help keep more of your hard-earned money.

In the last show I discussed inflation.

As prices rise, it's a good idea to compensate for these increases

by reducing spending wherever possible.

Whether you rent or own a home,

there are many simple ways to lower your utility bills.

Just a few small changes in your routines and habits

can add up to big savings over time.

Consider the following 10 tips to save energy and money in your home.

Number one, be conservative with your air conditioning thermostat settings.

During warm weather, try not to cool your home to a temperature lower than 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Every degree you choose to raise the thermostat above 78 can reduce your cooling

costs by as much as 10%. When you leave for work or go away on a summer vacation, raise the thermostat to a minimum of 80 degrees.

And during cold weather set the temperature to the lowest comfortable setting.

It's recommended to aim for 68 to 70 degrees during the day.

Every degree above 70 can cost you an additional 7 to 10%.

Consider the fact that warming your home to 75 degrees consistently could cost up to 47% more than

keeping it at a moderate 70 degrees.

And at night, pull out that extra blanket and lower the thermostat to 60 to 65 degrees.

This nighttime adjustment alone can save you 10 to 20 percent in heating costs.

...