Beech Tree News Network

My use of electricity changes monthly (The winter months cause a significant increase.). Electricity may be generated from energy sources found in the environment, such as sunlight, coal and wind. According to 2008 statistics (http://www.nachi.org/electricity-origin-consumption-cost.htm#ixzz2lc3bZrAP), Tennessee had the highest per-capita annual energy consumption of any state in the U.S., and Maine had the lowest. National averages show that electricity has been consumed by American homes in the following distribution:  heating 29%; cooling 17%; water heating 14%; large appliances 13%; lighting 12%; other household appliances 11%; and electronics 4%. In the back of my 2010 WRECC cookbook, the chart gives examples of appliance use and cost per month. For example, using a home computer (including the monitor) for four hours per day might cost $4.89 per month; using a pool pump (1 hp) for 24 hours per day might cost $99.46 per month; and using a portable heater (1500 watt) for 8 hours per day might cost $29.28 per month.

Telephone service is another significant expense for me and probably for others. Some people have decided that they really don’t need a landline phone, while some people who have cell phones still feel they need to keep a home phone. The average cost of basic home telephone service, without any extra features, is usually between $20 and $50 a month, depending on the provider and plan (http://www.brighthub.com/money/personal-finance/articles/82044.aspx). The average cost for cell phones can be more expensive. Although most basic cell phone plans for one person usually start around $40 a month, many people want extra features. Those with more than one cell phone in the household commonly pay $100 or more a month for cell phone service. Some people find that they can save money by using a prepaid phone plan. Some of these companies provide plans that average around $40 a month, without the need for cancellation fees or contracts.

Car expenses also fluctuate due to various factors. In addition to the purchase price, the cost of maintenance, insurance and gasoline must be paid. “According to Consumer Expenditures in 2006, released in February of 2008 by the U.S. Department of Labor's U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average vehicle costs $8,003 per year to own and operate. The breakdown of the figure comes to $3,421 for purchasing the vehicle, $2,227 in gasoline and motor oil expenses, and $2,355 in other vehicle-related costs” (http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/cost-car-ownership.asp). In 2007, the American Automobile Association (AAA) also compiled statistics on the cost of driving the 2007 model cars. AAA reported that the cost per mile of driving 15,000 miles per year was: small sedan 41.4 cents; medium sedan 52.5 cents; large sedan 62.5 cents; 4WD SUV 66.6 cents; and minivan 57.6 cents. Since I drive an older model vehicle, I’m hoping my cost is on the lower end.

Electricity, telephone service and car expenses have become ‘must haves’ in our society. And, generally, we want our personal bills to be on the low side of the average. But, despite our cost of living, most of us just want to have more income than expense.