For most families, housing expenses include more than just rent or mortgage payments. Most housing arrangements require paying for utilities, communication and cable TV services, and maintaining and repairing the home or things around the home.

The rate you pay the utility companies is fairly inflexible, but there are ways to save money in some of these areas.

To save on water expenses
Water costs are low in many parts of the country, but every penny counts when you are working with a limited budget. Keep in mind that in many cases you are using both water and a utility for heating water. The following suggestions will help reduce use of these resources.

• Take quick, cooler showers rather than baths.
  
• Turn off the water while brushing teeth.
  
• Fill the dishwasher completely before using, use the short cycle without automatic drying, or wash the dishes by hand rather than using the dishwasher.
  
• Wash only full loads of laundry, use the proper water temperature, and avoid the extra rinse cycle.

To save on electricity and heating expenses
Energy costs are high across the nation and tend to keep rising. The following suggestions will help you reduce consumption of these resources and thus reduce your monthly expenses.

• Don't keep refrigerator and freezer on the coldest settings (lower settings will keep food cold or frozen), and keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
  
• Set the thermostat on your hot water heater to a lower temperature (many times the hot water temperature is set high enough to scald).
  
• In winter, turn your heating thermostat down a degree or two and wear warm clothing; in summer, turn it up and open the windows when it's comfortable to do so.
  
• At night and when leaving the house for the day, adjust the thermostat a few degrees (but not too much because it costs more to cool a hot house than to maintain a moderate temperature).
  
• Keep windows and outside doors shut when using heating and cooling systems.
  
• Turn off lights, televisions, stereos, computers, and other electrical items when they're not being used.
  
• Limit TV, video games, and computer time.

The whole family can participate in cutting down on the use of utilities. Check with your local utility companies to learn other ways to save.

To save on communication bills
Most families use communication services such as cell phones, Internet access, and cable television to keep up with family and friends or for entertainment. However, when budgets are stretched to pay necessary housing expenses, some of these options may need to be reconsidered.

• Cell phones give us the benefits of convenience and security. You can find plans that start very low, but rates increase quickly as plans advance to levels with more features and minutes. Determine your need for a cell phone and how much you can afford to spend; then buy an appropriate plan or a prepaid phone card.
  
• Investigate free Internet access available through several sources, such as juno.com, altavista.com, and others.
  
• If you can pick up local stations without cable access, then save your money. If you can't, drop premium channels or expanded cable. Not only will you save money, you also will have more time for your family.

Keeping up the home
To help reduce other maintenance and repair expenses you can learn how to do simple jobs yourself. Local hardware or home improvement stores usually have very helpful staff members who are willing to offer tips to customers, and many stores offer instructional classes for home improvement projects.

These hints will help you reduce your monthly housing expenses, but there may be times when you've done all you can do to save money and you're faced with an emergency need that you can't handle on your own. Don't be afraid to ask your church for help. Your church should have an established benevolence ministry to provide financial assistance in emergencies. There may also be people in the church who can help you with your need by providing a service, a consultation, or a referral. You would help others in your situation, and others may be waiting to help you.