[OAC_Sparky]

You can save a lot if you are careful.

My newer house (2500sqft not incl. basement) has newer appliances and features that I installed which cost a lot at the time, but in the long run saves money.

On electricity:

2.5 ton Carrier Puron 14Seer C/A Unit
26cuft Whirlpool SBS Fridge
Whirlpool Front Loader Washer
Whirlpool D/W
CF lighting in basement where it doesn't matter.
Flourescent Lighting in the garage and on timed motion sensors.
Halogen pots in the soffits are on programmable timers.
External lighting on motion sensors.
All internal lighting on electronic dimmers (bedrooms, dining room. dinette, kitchen, family room) and/or motion sensors (laundry room, workshop)
Bathroom fans and the heat lamp in the ensuite bath are on timers.

(You would be surprised how much electricity you waste leaving bathroom fans on, laundry and garage lights on, etc.)

Hydro bill: $80 winter, $140 Summer (A/C set at 72*F)

On Gas:

Mid Eff. Furnace. on a programmable thermostat.
Hi-Eff hot water.
Whirpool gas dryer
Gas stove/oven
Gas fireplace

Gas bill $130-$160 Winter (depending on outside temp. Inside set at 68*F. 2* makes a big difference in the bill) $50 summer

Water:
$30-60 a month winter/summer.

Cable/internet. $100

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Plan in advance for your taxes, if you don't have the bank handle it. Personally Ilike my $$ gaining 3% interest in an ING account than the bank giving me .3%. You can set up automatic transfers, just like clockwork. But if you handle it yourself, start early (like now), take last year's tax bill at the house, add 4% and plan on that.

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Moving sucks, but moving into a house sucks more because utilities rape you. Plan for connect charges for:

Phone $40, Cable (if you're a new customer and not an xfer they might waive it), Hydro ($100-$300), Gas (this is f'd up---$500 deposit unless you agree to equal billing AND automatic withdrawal).

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Plan on the incidentals.

Lawnmower, fertilizer, paint, basic tools (hammer, level, screwdrivers, saw, etc.)

I guess what I'm saying is while you want to max out your payment sched to pay off the house faster, don't bind your hands. It's easier to make extra "lump sum" payments with saved money than it is to reduce your expenses when things gets tight.


That's all I can think of at the moment