WiseDollar

Having too much free time is rarely a problem for anyone I know, but if you are struggling to think of things to do in your free time that don?t cost an arm and a leg then you?ve come to the right place. Breaking my day up into different chunks of time helps me ensure that I don?t get bored from one task or burned out on another.

The downside of breaking up your day is that there might be odd little chunks of time between your more major activities. Here are just a few things you can do in your free time between activities.

Be Productive

There are lots of little productive tasks that can be completed in 5 minutes or less. The good thing about doing these tasks during your short breaks between larger activities is that it will save you from having to do them later. Things like cleaning out your inbox, checking your voicemails, or getting a head start on another project, are all great uses of your little chunks of free time throughout the day.

Another way to use free time to be productive is to pick up a side hustle of some kind. Becoming a freelance writer, walking dogs, babysitting, and doing yard work are all simple ideas to start making a little extra money on the side.

Or Not

Admittedly, I?m not always productive. Sometimes a girl just needs a break after all. 🙂 During the times when I?m feeling especially tired or burned out from being productive, I like to play games online or on my phone. Games that don?t require you to hit certain achievements before you can save and quit are my favorite since I never know how much time I?ll have to play throughout the day. Casino-style games are fun and aren?t usually on-going so they are easy to play whenever you have a free minute or two especially when you?re able to find free casino slot games no download no registration.

If you have larger periods of free time in the evenings or on the weekends, perhaps you can find a club or sports team to join. Lots of places around your community may have bulletin boards with postings of different clubs and community activities taking place. In my community, our public library does a great job of organizing information about all kinds of various community clubs and activities taking place. Our Chamber of Commerce also sends out an email to a subscriber list each Monday morning with a list of activities taking place that week and some bigger events later in the month too. It?s a great resource if I?m looking for something to do during a free evening or weekend.

No matter if you decide to be productive during your free time, or not, you should always aim to use your time frugally. There?s no sense using a lot of money out of your budget to entertain yourself when there are plenty of free and frugal activities to be found.

Photo courtesy of:?Intel Free Press

If I remember right, we had an unbelievably hot summer last year and utility bills were at their highest. This year has not been quite as warm, yet, but that doesn’t mean you can?t save some money on your utility bills this summer. Utility bills can be somewhat relative depending on where you live, but there are still some common things you can do to keep some money in your pocket as opposed to sending it to the utility company each month.

#1 Use Those Windows, Not the Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is a fairly common luxury for most of us and one that I love to use. However, this does not mean that you need or should run it all the time as they only increase your utility bills. I was recently outside near my neighbor?s house on a 65 degree day and the air conditioning unit was running constantly. This is simply a waste. The outside air was plenty cool and they could have just opened the windows and saved themselves some money.

With that being said, I know we all have our own comfort levels in relation to air conditioning. Just make sure you realize there is a balance to be had. If it?s going to be an unseasonably cool week then give your air conditioner a break. Your wallet will thank you.

#2 Use a Programmable Thermostat to Cut Your Utility Bills

[easyazon_link asin=”B007BHLUWM” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”wisedollar-20″ add_to_cart=”yes” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”yes”]Programmable thermostats[/easyazon_link]?can cost as little as $20, or more if you want a fancy one, and they can pay for themselves in just a few short months. If your family is outside of the house during the day, then why are you cooling your house for nobody? It just doesn?t make any sense.

Instead, program your thermostat to let the temperature rise in your house during the day and then begin cooling it off an hour before you get home. This is a simple way you can save money on utility bills this summer, not to mention during the winter.

#3 Enjoy Your Porch or Deck in the Evenings

Instead of cranking your air conditioner when you get home from work, why not enjoy your porch or deck instead? This is assuming you have one of course. 🙂 The breeze and the shade will likely keep these areas cool enough to eat your meals and hang out. Open your windows once it begins to cool off and then enjoy your home for the rest of the night. No air conditioner needed.

#4 Do Not Use Your Stove or Oven as Often

Heating up meals in your house will only make things hotter and cause your air conditioner to run more often. There are many other options outside of simply using the stove that can help relieve some of the stress on your utility bills. As opposed to warming up the stove, you can do things like preparing a salad from your garden to grilling. Not only will that cause your air conditioner to work less, but it can also open up more options if you?re trying to eat healthy.

#5 Water the Grass Early

Many people water the grass in the middle of the day or early in the evening. While this does help the grass grow somewhat, it?s not the optimal time to give your lawn a drink. To save on water, turn your sprinklers on in the morning. The water will properly soak the roots and keep your lawn and plants nourished throughout the entire day.

By watering early, you won?t have to expend as much H₂O, and your grass will look more green and luscious.

#6 Relocate Your Bedroom

This might sound like a strange one, but I have heard of many people relocating their bedroom when summer time rolls around. If your bedroom is upstairs where it is hottest, instead of blasting the air conditioning to bring the temperature down, consider picking up your mattress and moving it to the basement for a few weeks (during those really hot stretches). You will be more comfortable and will save a bunch of money on your utility bills.

What are you doing to save money on utility bills this summer? Is there a certain temperature that you avoid going outside in? Have you ever moved your bedroom temporarily to save money?

Photo courtesy of: Tax Rebate.org