The $15 gadget that cuts your electricity bill
It’s only March, and we’re nearing 100 degrees in Phoenix. I’m already sweating, dreading my power bills. It got me thinking about the stuff in your house that’s sucking up electricity 24/7, even when it’s turned off.
Phantom power may not seem like a big deal, but those little energy leaks can add hundreds of dollars a year to your power bill. The fix? A smart plug. It’s one of the cheapest smart home upgrades you can make, and it starts saving you money the second you plug it in.
💡 Smart plug 101
These tiny devices go between your wall outlet and whatever you’re powering — a TV, lamp, fan, coffee maker, you name it. Connect it to your Wi-Fi, then you can control the power from your phone or with your voice, using Alexa or Google Assistant.
You can set timers, monitor energy usage or just kill power completely when you’re not using something. Sweet.
💸 Here’s how it saves you money
- Shuts off phantom load: Stops electronics from quietly draining power all night. Your TVs, microwave, game consoles, chargers and even that Keurig that only brews one cup a day are guilty.
- Scheduled shutdown: Automatically turns off items like heated blankets or air purifiers after bedtime or when you leave the house.
- Remote access: Forgot to turn something off? Don’t want to get your butt off the couch? Open the app and do it from anywhere.
- Energy monitoring: Some models show exactly how much electricity a device uses, so you know what’s worth unplugging.
🔌 Best budget smart plugs (all under $20)
I did the hard work to tell you which ones are best and for what purpose. These are Amazon’s Big Spring Sale prices. So get ’em now before the sale is over!
Kasa smart plug (2 for $14, 25% off): Plug it in, download the app and setup is basically done. Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Amazon Basics (2 for $14, 15% off): Super simple setup on this one, too. Good buy if you have Echos around the house.
EIGHTREE (4 for $20, 33% off): Sleek round design, and compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant.
HBN (4 for $16, 20% off): Set timers, schedules and groups. Alexa- and Google-compatible for voice commands. Great price.
GE Cync ($12, 20% off): Matter-compatible, meaning it’ll talk to the rest of your smart home gear. Includes all the bells and whistles the others do.
Pro tip: Plug your TV, soundbar and game console into a power strip (50% off), then connect that strip to a smart plug. One command shuts the whole entertainment center down at once. Yup, I’m a genius.
😂 Last summer, I was checking the mail, and I opened my water and electric bills at the same time. I was shocked.
Now, do your good deed for the day and use the share icons below to spread the word! Thank you!
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Tags: Amazon, Google, smart plug, soundbar, upgrades
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