Each time I walk through the house, I check and recheck to make sure no unnecessary lights are left on. High electric bills are inevitable in Texas. Since A/C is a necessity, I like to conserve other energy sources as much as possible.
Trouble is, my kids seem to think electricity is free. I find lights on in empty rooms multiple times a day. Telling them to turn them off falls on deaf ears. So I took some advice from my friend Aubrie, one the best moms I know.
If I happen to find a light left on in an empty room, the last kid in the room owes me 25 cents. Seriously. This makes an impact. The first few days, I “earned” over two dollars. So far today, I am up to 75 cents.
I am hoping that soon enough, I will no longer be depleting their piggy banks. Until then, I have plenty of extra money to spend at CVS!
That works for me!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
We’ve been having some hot weather for California as well. Today was 110 and we’ve been running the AC all afternoon. I have it set at 78, but it still runs and runs. My kids are to young for an allowance, but I’m sure I will be after them to turn off the lights in a couple years.
[Reply]
those quarters really work…when we were younger, suddenly it seemed like everybody always left their shoes in the den at night…between the 5 of us, that made for a lot of shoes. Mama and Daddy instituted the $0.25 rule – whoever found shoes in the den in the morning could charge the owner $0.25 to get them back…the funny thing was us kids learned the rule much more quickly and I think my parents shelled out the majority of the quarters. We loved it!
[Reply]
This is a good idea…I have been preaching the same sermon here. And I don’t think anyone is listening.
I will try this idea out.
Thanks for posting
[Reply]
Hey thanks for kind words! I hope it works as well for you as it did for me! I haven’t gotten any $$ from my boys in a while! Now if I could only find something that worked that well for my husband…..
[Reply]
I’m a fanatic about cutting the lights off when you leave but my recent houseguests weren’t. It drove me bonkers to see all those lights on and I was constantly following behind them…but I can’t fuss at a guest.
[Reply]
My Dad used to take my brother’s light bulb out!
Nothing worse than walking into a dark room, flipping the light switch and nothing happens…LOL!
I used to think he was being silly, but boy do I understand now
I like your $0.25 fee. That could work for lots of issues!
[Reply]
Ice House- Taking the light bulb out? Wow, I think that might be a better strategy. So far, I am still raking in those quarters!
[Reply]
What a great idea! Love it!!
[Reply]