by Hope
I am convinced that using the programming feature on our heating and air conditioning unit has made a big difference in our utility bills this year. And maybe for the first time!
Granted we are setting our heat to a lower temperature than ever before. And we are also being more conscientious about turning off lights when we leave rooms, etc. But my electric bill was just $57 this month. I think that’s the lowest it’s been in the almost 3 years we have lived here.
Of course, the week of 70ish degree weather doesn’t hurt either.
The twins gave me a digital/electronic deadbolt for Christmas. I love it. And it got me thinking about the other digital interfaces you can now purchase for your home. (Don’t worry, we kept the original deadbolt to put back on the door when we move out.)
Does anyone in the BAD community use “smart” appliances in their home? Other than ease of use and security, have you seen a cost savings?
I am not considering making any changes to this rental house, but am definitely enjoying watching video reviews and hearing about people’s experiences with them. I really like the idea of being able to turn lights on and off with my phone using our home WiFi.
My parents received a video doorbell for Christmas from my siblings. They had requested it due to stolen Amazon packages around their neighborhood. But now they find it annoying because anytime a car drives past their house, they get an alert on their phones. And yes, they have been modifying the alert settings but have not found one that works for them. Even while my mom has been here these last few days, we constantly hear a ping from her phone regarding activity at her door.
So tell me, what do you think about all these smart/wifi connected appliances? Are you a fan or not?
Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.
But life has a way of rewriting your plans.
A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.
Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.
Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.
She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.
