1 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: We've all heard and read the news reports this is 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,319 Speaker 1: the hottest summer on record around the globe. According to 3 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: Scientific America, July of twenty twenty three is currently the 4 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: hottest month ever recorded on Earth and likely the hottest 5 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: in about one hundred and twenty thousand years. This also 6 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: means everyone is using a lot more electricity in an 7 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: effort to stay cool, whether it's running multiple fans or 8 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: the air conditioner on full blast. The excess use of 9 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: energy puts a huge strain on the grid, and according 10 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: to the EPA, this added strain on the grid prompted 11 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: by these long periods of extreme heat can lead to 12 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: power outages. But it's not just the electrical grid that's 13 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: feeling the heat. Your wallet is too, because along with 14 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: an increase in electricity usage comes higher utility bills. At 15 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: the beginning of July, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association 16 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: predicted that the average home energy bill will increase by 17 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: nearly twelve percent this summer. Plus, we're not just using 18 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 1: more electricity during these heat waves, we're also using more water. 19 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: And with current predictions around climate change, it doesn't seem 20 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: like we're in for a break from these hot temperatures 21 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: or high utility costs anytime soon or really ever. Again, 22 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: the last two episodes of Grown Up Stuff, we talked 23 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: about both renting and buying a home, and one of 24 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: the major costs we have to consider in that budget 25 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: is utilities. But what exactly are utilities and what's included? 26 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: While we know that energy and water bills are increasing 27 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: across the globe due to climate change, how can we 28 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 1: better understand our utility bills and save money whenever we can. 29 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: Let's figure it out together and start taking notes. Because 30 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: this is grown Stuff. Welcome back to another important episode 31 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: of Grown Up Stoe How to Adult. This is a 32 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: show where we grow up and glow up one episode 33 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: at a time by breaking down adulthood challenges. Now, I 34 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: genuinely hope everyone is finding ways to stay cool and 35 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: safe during this truly unprecedented summer. I mean, it's hot 36 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: everywhere right now. Even the polar bears are sweating, honestly, 37 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: But Matt, how are you doing? Are you staying cool 38 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: out there? MBK? 39 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 2: I am well, okay, no I'm not. But I also 40 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: just got back. I am right now. But it's truly 41 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 2: not great here. 42 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 3: But you know, my wife and I have really been 43 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 3: trying to cut down on our bills because last summer 44 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 3: we got hit with a seven hundred dollars energy bill 45 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 3: no just because of how much we were using our 46 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 3: HVAC system. This kind of blew our minds. We got 47 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 3: really angry about it, but it kind of forced us 48 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 3: to like get into the bill itself and like why 49 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 3: we are being charged so much. And what we really 50 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 3: found out is our windows are really really drafty. So 51 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 3: we ended up saran wrapping our windows, which is like 52 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 3: a product you can buy at home depot and you 53 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 3: kind of like you use a hair dryer to sort 54 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 3: of like seal it tight. And really what it does 55 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 3: is it closes up those drafts so that you're not 56 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 3: constantly pumping heat or air conditioning out your windows and 57 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 3: just losing a bunch of money. You can't open your windows, 58 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 3: that's the only problem. So we're not opening those get. 59 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 2: Fresh air for you. 60 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: Stuck that hvac. 61 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 3: That HVAC is delivering that cool, cool, frosty breeze in 62 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 3: our apartment. 63 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: I would freak the fuck out if my bill was 64 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: seven hundred dollars. 65 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 2: It was not cool. We were both very mad. 66 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: At I freak out just at my general summer utility bill, 67 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: like that's it's insane. And my building just started doing 68 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: something called grid rewards, where they're basically telling you about 69 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: like grid events where they anticipate really high usage, so 70 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: in order to lower your bill, they give you timeframes 71 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: about like four hour chunks where they say, hey, turn 72 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: off or don't use as many things that run on 73 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: electric as you can to help lower a the stress 74 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: on the grid and your cost. So I actually think 75 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: that like I'm also saving a bit of money this summer. 76 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 3: I love that for you, And here to help us 77 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 3: all save a little bit of money this summer and 78 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 3: beyond is Lucas Hall. 79 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 4: I'm Lucas Hall, and I am a senior director of 80 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 4: product at Zumper, which is a large rental marketplace. I 81 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 4: have a long line of real estate tech professions and 82 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 4: bought my first rental property to impress a girl. Then 83 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 4: I started dating that girl and we've been married for 84 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 4: fifteen years. 85 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: Lucas now owns five properties in three different states, and 86 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: he's something of an expert when it comes to understanding utilities, 87 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,679 Speaker 1: who pays for what, and how it all gets measured. 88 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining us. First and foremost, 89 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: let's start with the most basic of questions. What are 90 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: utilities and who is responsible for paying them? 91 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 4: I like to think of them as everything that you 92 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 4: need to survive. Essentially, there's must have a nice have utilities. 93 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 4: The must haves are the things like electric and water 94 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 4: and sewer and then even trash. 95 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 5: But the nice to haves are like Wi. 96 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 4: Fi and phone cell service essentially, and it's different in 97 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 4: every state. It's probably even different in every county in 98 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 4: some states where a lot of times a landlord or 99 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 4: the property manager is responsible for paying the utility, and 100 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 4: then in other places it's the renter. And then if 101 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 4: you happen to go actually go buy a house and 102 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 4: own it yourself, then you are the one stop shop 103 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 4: and you have to pay for everything. 104 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 3: So, no matter where we live, what exactly the utilities 105 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 3: that we're responsible for, we are going to have to 106 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 3: go about finding service providers, whether it's water company, whether 107 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 3: it's gas, whether it's electric. So, if you're moving into 108 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 3: a new area where you're not as familiar with what 109 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:48,919 Speaker 3: those companies might be, what is the best way to 110 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 3: go about finding service providers in your area? 111 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 4: Yeah, if you move into a new place, chances are 112 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 4: your landlord or your property manager will say here are 113 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 4: the utilities that you're responsible for per year, release and 114 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 4: hear their phone numbers, give them a call or sign 115 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 4: up on their site and get your account set up. 116 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 4: And back in the olden days, somebody would literally come 117 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,679 Speaker 4: to the house and like turn on a big switch 118 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 4: out by the street that turned on your water and 119 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 4: then connected the electricity. And nowadays it's just all on 120 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 4: all the time, and only in rare cases while they 121 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 4: actually come to your house and shut something off. So 122 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 4: when you're setting something up, it's just a matter of 123 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 4: putting it in your name and then basically that day 124 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 4: you'll start getting built or you'll start having to pay 125 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 4: for that electricity you use. 126 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 5: If you don't want to. 127 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:42,040 Speaker 4: Use that provider that was probably recommended to you, that's 128 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 4: your choice in a lot of times, and you can 129 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 4: go shop it around. You just might have to do 130 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 4: a little bit of research and google it and figure 131 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 4: out who the next best customer is or next best provider. 132 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 4: But I found that oftentimes it's usually best to go 133 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 4: with the biggest provider, even if it is a little 134 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 4: more expensive, because you're going to get that level of 135 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 4: service and undisrupted utility that you might expect when you're 136 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 4: signing up for something. 137 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: Well, your best chance of getting a good deal is 138 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 1: to shop around and do your research and see what 139 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: other utility companies are offering in your area. In some 140 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: cities and towns, you may not have an option. For example, 141 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: Connetison is really our only energy provider option here in 142 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: New York City. However, Lucas explains that as green energy 143 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: becomes more popular, you might begin to have more options 144 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: than you think. 145 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 4: One thing that I think is catching on is green 146 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 4: powered energy, right, like solar or wind energy, And depending 147 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 4: on how much energy is being produced by those green sources, 148 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 4: it might make it actually cheaper. So if you want 149 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 4: to be earth conscious, you can start looking for those 150 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 4: two and they're a little harder to find because they 151 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 4: are not as common. And in my experience wherever I've lived, 152 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 4: it's always been like slightly more expensive, but sometimes it's 153 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 4: worth it if you want that on your conscience. 154 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: Right, if you care about the future, Yeah, generally right. 155 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 3: It actually gets into a really interesting point, which is, 156 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 3: you know, in the situation where you're stuck with one provider, 157 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 3: like I'm kind of stuck with con Ed in New York. 158 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 3: But there are these things called ESCO's energy service companies 159 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 3: that work with con Ed where you can kind of 160 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 3: swap out where you get your energy from. And I 161 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 3: was actually able to work with one in New York 162 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 3: called Green Mountain Energy, and so it actually ended up 163 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 3: being a really great situation because I was able to 164 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 3: work with this company that I can't necessarily change to 165 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 3: invest in green energy at a lower rate. Could you explain, 166 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 3: like what are escos in general and how you might 167 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 3: be able to work with them in different ways, especially 168 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,559 Speaker 3: in a situation where like you're locked in with one company. 169 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 4: Congress has passed lots of laws preventing monopolies as best 170 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 4: I can, and that allows companies to go provide energy, 171 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 4: and the big companies, even if they are the only 172 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 4: one in New York City, have to somehow allow it. 173 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 4: And a lot of times it's like sharing the grid. 174 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 4: They're sharing you as a customer if you sign on it, 175 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 4: because ultimately you're still you're still in charge, like you 176 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 4: still are the customer. You still get to choose where 177 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 4: you get your energy from, and they may not be 178 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:13,839 Speaker 4: able to necessarily give you that exact same power. 179 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 5: So I hope I don't burst your bubble. 180 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 4: But it's it's not like your electric line or your 181 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 4: electric grid right outside your building is getting that green 182 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 4: power specifically because you signed up. It means that they 183 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 4: have four thousand customers in New York City that have 184 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 4: signed up for this green energy. Therefore, they're sending that 185 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:39,199 Speaker 4: much electricity through the grid to feed that area, right, 186 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 4: and then it kind of offsets the total amount of 187 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 4: kilawata us, right, And in that case, it's making a dent. 188 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 4: But it might not necessarily mean that there's two types 189 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 4: of electricity and you're getting one and the other people 190 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 4: are getting the other. It's all electricity, right, just some 191 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 4: of it comes from a different source. 192 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 5: And I'm glad. 193 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 4: That they were able to make it cheaper, Like that's amazing, 194 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:00,839 Speaker 4: So good for you, And honestly, if I were you, 195 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 4: I'd be telling everybody I know to go sign up 196 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 4: for that, because think about the downstream effect of this is, 197 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 4: like you sign up for this type of energy, and 198 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 4: then that provider, let's hope they're trying to improve the 199 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 4: energy usage in this planet, and hopefully as they get 200 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 4: more profitable and more customers, then they will pay for 201 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 4: more solar farms and pay for more wind meals, and 202 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:26,319 Speaker 4: pay for more sources that then provide more energy. And 203 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 4: it's this like positive feedback loop. And then ultimately there 204 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 4: becomes a tipping point where the big electric or old 205 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 4: fashioned electric companies, right, they will say, hey, listen, that 206 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:37,719 Speaker 4: company is making a whole lot more money than we are, 207 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 4: and they're going to start adapting to the newer models 208 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 4: of generating electricity. You know, it does have an effect, 209 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 4: and if no one does sign up and stick with it, 210 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 4: then it's never going to take off. Put your money 211 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 4: where your mouth is is probably the best analogy. 212 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 5: Yeah. 213 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a really good point. I want to backtrack 214 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: a little bit because when you were talking about the 215 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: things that certain munits of require, whether the owners to 216 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: pay and cover versus the renters. Should we just be 217 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: checking our municipalities website to figure out, Oh, this is 218 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: what our landlord should be covering, this is what we're 219 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 1: going to be responsible, just to make sure that we 220 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 1: are again that the landlord's not trying to I guess 221 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: potentially pull one over on us. 222 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,079 Speaker 4: Yes, the municipal websites will talk about that. They usually 223 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 4: have some sort of utility page that describes who the 224 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 4: main providers are, and then if there are other options 225 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 4: that they approve of, then actually that's. 226 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 5: A really good spot. Go see what your competitors look like. 227 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 4: The other aspect of it is like to follow up 228 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 4: and see if your landlord's paying the ones they should. 229 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 4: And if a landlord is absolutely required to pay it 230 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 4: by default, then it's not like they're going to have 231 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 4: an option really to pass the buck onto you, at 232 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 4: least formally through the utility company. 233 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 5: But that doesn't overrule what your lease might say. 234 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 4: The other aspect there is that a lot of times 235 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 4: you might have a flat utility fee. I've seen that 236 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 4: ton is where there's like here's your rent, and then 237 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 4: here's you have to pay an additional three hundred dollars 238 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 4: because that's the average of twelve months of utilities for 239 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 4: all these different vendors kind of grouped together, and that's 240 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 4: the closest number. And then it sounds like in New 241 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 4: York a lot of times you don't even have a 242 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,319 Speaker 4: line item that says utilities. You just pay rent and 243 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 4: the landlord has figured out on the back end how 244 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 4: much he needs to charge for rent in order to 245 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 4: make sure all of his expenses are covered with the utilities, 246 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 4: and that's the third and sometimes most common option when 247 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:30,960 Speaker 4: the landlord's paying the utilities. 248 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: That kind of leads to another question, when should we 249 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: start going about to getting our utilities set up. 250 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 4: I tell my tenants that the day after they sign 251 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 4: a lease is when they should be calling the utility 252 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 4: company set up accounts. So I try to give them 253 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 4: a cheat sheet and say here's what I recommend. 254 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 5: They're here the only providers. 255 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 4: In some cases, and set it up as fast as possible. 256 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:55,439 Speaker 4: And in most cases, you can set up a utility 257 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 4: to change over to your name or to create a 258 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:00,439 Speaker 4: new account in your name for a certain date in 259 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 4: the future, and so I just tell them, hey, make 260 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 4: sure that utilities are in your name and they're on 261 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 4: by the start of your lease. But it happens oftentimes 262 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 4: where there is a little bit of a gap between 263 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 4: renters in a property or a unit, and so if 264 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 4: a place is empty, it's actually much better to have 265 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 4: the utilities continue to run even if no one's living 266 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 4: there because they won't be used that much. But it's 267 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 4: better to do that than to turn it off and 268 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 4: turn it on, because oftentimes there's like a ninety nine 269 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 4: dollars activation fee or turnoff turn on fee. 270 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,319 Speaker 3: Let's say we're moving within a city. Does it make 271 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,439 Speaker 3: sense to just transfer an old address to a new address? 272 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 3: Is there a fee associated with that? And if so, 273 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 3: does it make sense to set up a new account 274 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:41,679 Speaker 3: with a new address. 275 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 4: So yes, yes, and yes and yes, and usually there's 276 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 4: a whole hotline for you to do that. There's usually 277 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 4: no fee for that, at least in my experience, because 278 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 4: they want to retain you. But it's not a guarantee 279 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,679 Speaker 4: that you're going to keep the same account number. You'll 280 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 4: probably keep your saying like law. And if you have 281 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 4: online access, you just log in the same you'll see 282 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 4: a different account number and you may have to set up, 283 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 4: you know, automatic payments for that if that's what you 284 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 4: want to do. 285 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 5: But yeah, it's pretty easy. 286 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: In general, utility companies make it super easy for renters 287 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: to transfer from one apartment to another. However, it's very 288 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: important that you make sure you call and provide them 289 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: with an end date for your services under your name, 290 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: even if your roommates are staying, make sure you arrange 291 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: with them for somebody else to take the utilities over. 292 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: The last thing you want to be is a cautionary tale. 293 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: Who ends up paying for somebody else's electric bill. 294 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 3: My wife learned the hard way, and I'm hoping people 295 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 3: can learn from her experience. 296 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: It. 297 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 3: Basically, when she was moving out of her old apartment 298 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 3: and moving in with me, she left her name on. 299 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 2: The gas bill. 300 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 3: Oh no, and I think about a year later, the 301 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 3: gas company in New York called and asked her for 302 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 3: about one thousand dollars, and so she was able over 303 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 3: time to prove that she hadn't been living there. But 304 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 3: it was a complete nightmare, and the person who was 305 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 3: living there and using the utilities and not paying for 306 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 3: it kind of got away with it. So what is 307 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 3: the best practice for leaving an apartment with roommates? 308 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 5: Yeah, a great question. 309 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 4: This ideal with this every single time I have renters 310 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 4: move out. I have situations where entire households move out, 311 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 4: though all the renters go at the same time. And 312 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 4: then I have situations where they cycle out. You know, 313 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 4: one person needs to leave and then somebody else comes in. 314 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 4: So yes, there's two very different paths there. If everybody's leaving, 315 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 4: it's super important for whoever has their name on the 316 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 4: utilities to go ahead and tell the utility company that hey, listen, 317 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 4: I'm moving out on you know, the thirty first, and 318 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 4: I need you to cancel my responsibility as of. 319 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 5: The end of that day. 320 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 4: And then if it's just one person, let's say, you know, 321 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 4: Susie moves out, and Susie actually has the water and 322 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 4: the electricity in her name, then it's super important for 323 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 4: Susie to realize that she doesn't want to pay for 324 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 4: her roommate's utilities. So it would be prudent for Susie 325 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 4: to just talk to her roommates and say who wants. 326 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 5: To take over the utility bills? 327 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 4: Otherwise I'm I'm going to turn it off or I'm 328 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 4: gonna take my name off it when I move out. 329 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 4: So that's what I recommend. And that's usually just as 330 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 4: easy as a phone call or even going online and 331 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 4: adding another user to the account. 332 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's super interesting. We talked many episodes ago about 333 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: credit cards, credit scores and how it impacts everything. There 334 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: are also times I'm asked to run a credit report 335 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: when I open utilities. Is this commonplace? Talk to me 336 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: about like how our credit is involved in actually determining 337 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: our utilities? 338 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, there's multiple factors there, so you are correct. It 339 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 4: seems like it's more and more of a best practice 340 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 4: for any utility company to run a credit check before 341 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 4: they allow you to sign up for service. And I've 342 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 4: even seen it with the essential utilities. Let's say water 343 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 4: for example, where they're not really allowed to decline you, right, 344 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 4: I mean it's water. They can't say sorry, you don't 345 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 4: have enough credit to drink water, right, But what they 346 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 4: will do is if you refuse, which you can in 347 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 4: some cases, you can refuse the credit check if it's 348 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 4: an essential utility, and then they will oftentimes try to 349 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:20,159 Speaker 4: or are allowed to add on like a non credit 350 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 4: check fee, so they could add in another fifty bucks 351 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 4: or something if they don't run your credit and that's 352 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 4: kind of like a monetary way to offset their risk 353 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 4: that you might be a flight risk or someone really 354 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 4: died credit who just runs up utility bills and then leaves. 355 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: It's so interesting because I had my identity stolen not 356 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 1: long ago, and there are obviously the three major credit 357 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:43,400 Speaker 1: unions where you know, they say, go check there, go 358 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 1: make sure you take care of whatever you need to there. 359 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,200 Speaker 1: But then I was also recommended that there are smaller 360 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 1: credit kind of bureaus that are associated with utilities, and 361 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 1: they were like, make sure you check there too, because 362 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 1: somebody could have opened utilities in your name and it's 363 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 1: going to show up on there rather than like the 364 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: main three. So if we're not paying our utilities bill, 365 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 1: this could impact our credit. 366 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 4: It sounds like absolutely, and you don't really want that 367 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,440 Speaker 4: kind of debt on your credit report because utilities are 368 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:16,479 Speaker 4: fairly essential for living. Right, If you were to go 369 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 4: try to rent a new apartment and they run a 370 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 4: credit check on you, which most property managers or landlords 371 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 4: do before they sign the lease, and they see that 372 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 4: you don't. 373 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 5: Pay your utilities, like, well, are you going to pay 374 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 5: your rent? 375 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 1: We'll be right back with more grown up stuff how 376 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: to adult. After a quick break, and we're back with 377 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: more grown up stuff how to adults. How exactly are 378 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:51,440 Speaker 1: utility companies measuring the amount of energy that we use? 379 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: And how accurate is it? And how can we be 380 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: sure that it is accurate? 381 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:57,719 Speaker 5: Yeah, that's a point of contention. 382 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:00,479 Speaker 4: I think a lot of people argue because let's kind 383 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 4: of walk through the history here. So the phrase meter 384 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 4: maids right kind of comes from a variety of different 385 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 4: industries but one of which is that somebody from the 386 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,119 Speaker 4: electric company will use that as an example, would actually 387 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 4: come to your house every single month and they would 388 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 4: look at your your panel on the outside and usually 389 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 4: had like some glass dome on it with like some 390 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 4: spinning wheels, and that was gauging how many kilowatts that 391 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:22,679 Speaker 4: you've used that month. And they would just look at 392 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 4: the last reading last month and look at this reading 393 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 4: and then charge you the difference. And that was the 394 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,880 Speaker 4: start of how they would monitor it. And so that 395 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 4: meter that's unique to electric, but every single utility has 396 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 4: something similar. So the water utility has a meter somewhere 397 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 4: in your house, there's a meter in there that knows 398 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 4: how much just flowing through it. Then they got a 399 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 4: little more advanced and they use like radio signals and 400 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 4: so it would it be plugged in. It would like 401 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 4: summit a radio signal, and they would be able to 402 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 4: drive by your house and pick up on the radio 403 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,159 Speaker 4: signal and then know how many kilowatts used. And now 404 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:58,959 Speaker 4: it's so advanced that they can either tell just like 405 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:00,919 Speaker 4: through the line and they can tell and they're in 406 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 4: the system how much you've been using, or it's like 407 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 4: transmitted over cell to tours and no one needs to 408 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 4: show up at your house at all. So there is 409 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 4: a legit meter. You know, if the meter's working right, 410 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:15,239 Speaker 4: it is very accurate, and you're just getting build a 411 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 4: simple formula of like how much you use times the 412 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 4: rate you agreed upon. 413 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 5: Equals the bill you get. 414 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 4: So I would say it's oftentimes very confusing to the consumer, 415 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 4: but it's usually pretty accurate. 416 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: You know, to that point. What happens then when there 417 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,920 Speaker 1: are power outages, gas leaks, or you know, boil orders 418 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: when it comes to water. In that case, how does 419 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: that impact our power usage and how much we get charged? 420 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 1: Is that included in terms of what is not used 421 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 1: for that month. 422 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 4: So rates will fluctuate based on supply and demand, and 423 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:52,719 Speaker 4: if they don't have enough electricity being generated to feed 424 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 4: their customers, then the rates will be higher, and therefore 425 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 4: those willing to pay the high rate essentially will get 426 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 4: the product. And it depends on the type of power outage. 427 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:06,919 Speaker 4: To be honest, if it's your house or your neighborhood 428 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 4: that went out has nothing to do with the amount 429 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 4: of electricity they're generating to supply their customers, then your 430 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 4: rate probably won't change at all. But if it has 431 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:20,199 Speaker 4: something to do with the utility company having trouble producing 432 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 4: enough energy to feed the customer base, then you better 433 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 4: believe they're going to spike their rates. 434 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: What Lucas is talking about is happening more and more 435 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: now due to climate change. In February of twenty twenty one, 436 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: Texas was hit with an unprecedented snowstorm and freezing temperatures. 437 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 1: Due to the stress on the grid at that time 438 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: and the demand for energy, the Public Utility Commission raised 439 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: the price of electricity to nine thousand dollars per megawatt hour. 440 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: Since then, a Texas appellate court has ruled that the 441 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: Commission broke the law, and Texas legislature has required electricity 442 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:59,439 Speaker 1: regulators to winterize power plants to better prepare for more 443 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 1: extreme wealfy' in the future. But Matt and I still 444 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: have a lot of questions about utilities in general, and 445 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: at some point in our lives we might find ourselves 446 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 1: transitioning from renters to homeowners, and we wanted to ask 447 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,719 Speaker 1: Lucas about how that movement impact the cost of our 448 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: utilities and what we have to pay for that we 449 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 1: weren't responsible for before. What are some of the things 450 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: when we transfer from you know where we've been a 451 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 1: renter for a long time and now we're transitioning to 452 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: owning our own property. What are some of those big 453 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:29,360 Speaker 1: surprises that we might not have expected. 454 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 2: With utilities, how expensive they are. 455 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 4: They really are very prizy, and doing things in your 456 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 4: house to make sure that you're not using as much 457 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 4: or consuming as many utilities is certainly a way to 458 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 4: keep your cost down. So it can be shocking, you know, 459 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 4: I think you start to realize that there's oscillations in 460 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 4: the bills. But if you kind of round it out 461 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 4: after the first year of homeowning and you kind of 462 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 4: figure out all of these bills that you had, you 463 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 4: can kind of then budget for it a whole lot better. 464 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 4: And that's what I would say, is just make sure 465 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 4: that you prioritize a couple things that are essential, right 466 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:05,960 Speaker 4: like you make sure that your utilities are paid. And 467 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:08,439 Speaker 4: this is maybe controversial to what some people would say, 468 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 4: but I would make sure that you pay your essential 469 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 4: utilities first over any mortgage or any any sort of 470 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:17,280 Speaker 4: house payment that you might have, because at the end 471 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 4: of the day, you can kind of go without paying 472 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 4: your mortgage a couple months before they really pay notice. Right, 473 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 4: But then the electricity you need that to survive, right, 474 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:28,359 Speaker 4: Or water you need that to survive. So those, in 475 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 4: my opinion, are even higher on the list of what 476 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 4: gets paid first. And you got to make sure that 477 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 4: you save enough money every month to deal with it 478 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 4: when the electric bill is five hundred dollars because it's desummer. 479 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 4: The good news is that I've never come across a 480 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 4: utility company that will actually cut off electricity for someone 481 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:45,919 Speaker 4: who seems to be in need. They'll usually just kind 482 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 4: of mark those accounts as not cancelable in a sense, 483 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 4: and they kind of eat that cost if they need to, 484 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:54,399 Speaker 4: because they certainly don't want to put somebody out or 485 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 4: hurt them if they have medical equipment or whatever. 486 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,680 Speaker 1: I've been observing my utilities a lot lately and thinking 487 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 1: about the very different cost between summer and winter. Plus 488 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: i mostly work from home these days, so I'm using 489 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: electricity at various levels all day. But this all got 490 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,399 Speaker 1: me wondering is there a right and wrong time to 491 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: use electricity? 492 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:16,439 Speaker 5: Yep, totally. 493 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 4: I think electric is probably the most well known for that. 494 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 4: It is back to supplying the man. If everybody is 495 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 4: craving the electricity during the hours of you know, four 496 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:30,720 Speaker 4: in the afternoon to nine at night, when everybody's trying 497 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 4: to make dinner and everyone's home from work, you absolutely 498 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 4: see spikes. And so if you're able to track your 499 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 4: own electric usage, which you probably could if you get 500 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 4: your bill, you'll see during the time of day. It 501 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 4: usually spikes in the morning when everyone wakes up, and 502 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:45,680 Speaker 4: then it lulls down if you're working. 503 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 5: Now now that we're most of us are working from home. 504 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 4: In a lot of ways, I don't know if it 505 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:52,440 Speaker 4: necessarily spikes as much, but then it usually goes back 506 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 4: up when everybody gets home, and then after bedtime it 507 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 4: goes back down. And when everybody's putting that hardship on 508 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 4: the infrastructure and the grid is when rates are highest, 509 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 4: and so they want to make sure that, you know, 510 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 4: the power company has all of their generators going, they 511 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:11,159 Speaker 4: have all of everybody's working. Everybody's going after it to 512 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 4: produce the demand. Now, if you wanted to save money, 513 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 4: then you could run the electric heavy appliances after like 514 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 4: nine o'clock a night or before seven in the morning, 515 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 4: and it'll probably cost you half as much. 516 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 3: You just got brought up one great way to save money. 517 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 3: But you know, when we look at utilities as a whole, 518 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,879 Speaker 3: the most impactful way to reduce how much we spend 519 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 3: on our utilities is to make our homes as efficient 520 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 3: as possible. What, in your opinion, are some of the 521 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 3: best ways to make your home efficient. 522 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:48,639 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think where I've seen the most efficiency saved 523 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 4: is making sure your home is well insulated. And that 524 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 4: doesn't mean like ripping out dry wall and putting in 525 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:58,679 Speaker 4: better installation, but it does mean like checking around for 526 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 4: obvious wins. Right, Like, if you've got a drafty window 527 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 4: that is always like you can just feel the cold 528 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 4: air coming in, you better believe you're just like dumping 529 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:08,720 Speaker 4: dollars out that window with the heat. 530 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 5: So things you can do there where you. 531 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 4: Feel for drafts, feel for like cold spots in the house, 532 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 4: and it's probably because maybe there's a piece of siding 533 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:19,159 Speaker 4: that's missing and like the elements are just exposed to 534 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 4: the interior part of the wall. 535 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:22,200 Speaker 5: And if you can fix. 536 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 4: Those, whether you're handy or not, like you're probably going 537 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 4: to see a really good return on investment very quickly. 538 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 4: So the colder the spot, the better it needs to be. 539 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 5: Insulated. 540 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:34,639 Speaker 3: Are there any easy changes we can make in our 541 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 3: day to day to save energy? I'm thinking about like 542 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 3: turning off your appliance is or using smart power strips. 543 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's a great call. So it's interesting a lot 544 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 4: of times in other parts of the country, they will 545 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 4: operate off of a power strip, Like they will have 546 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 4: one single power strip coming off an outlet and they'll 547 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:54,400 Speaker 4: have like all of their you know, entertainment or TV 548 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 4: and you know, players and such like plugged into it. 549 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 4: And literally that's how they turn it on. They don't 550 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 4: go to the remote and hit the power button. They 551 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,199 Speaker 4: go like touch the power strip and flip it on, 552 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:08,040 Speaker 4: and then it gives power to everything that's there, and 553 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:10,119 Speaker 4: that is just normal to them. It's like a light switch. 554 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:10,440 Speaker 3: Wow. 555 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 4: And what that also does is it causes power to 556 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 4: truly get shut off to those appliances, Whereas if you 557 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 4: were to do a little research with whatever TV you have, 558 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 4: you know, they talk about energy savings, but I promise 559 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 4: you you turn that sucker off, and it's still eating 560 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,399 Speaker 4: electricity even if it's off. And the only way to 561 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 4: really stop that is to cut the power to it completely. 562 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 4: So running a power strip to central locations where you're 563 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 4: using a lot of appliance and electronics. Is actually a 564 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:40,200 Speaker 4: really good idea, and I bet you'd see a difference 565 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 4: if you did that everywhere in your house. 566 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: Utilities are essential, but sometimes they can also go horribly wrong. 567 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 1: In March of twenty fourteen, there was an explosion in 568 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 1: a residential building in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan 569 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 1: that was caused by a natural gas leak. The tragic 570 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:00,679 Speaker 1: event leveled two five story buildings and killed eight people. 571 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 1: It also resulted in Kannad paying New York State a 572 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:08,199 Speaker 1: settlement of one hundred and fifty three million dollars. We 573 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: wanted to ask Lucas about the best ways to handle 574 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:13,160 Speaker 1: emergency utility situations that we might encounter. 575 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 3: I wanted to talk a little bit about emergency situations 576 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:20,640 Speaker 3: because they can arise from you know, our utilities. Let's 577 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 3: say we're in a situation where like water main breaks, 578 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,400 Speaker 3: gas leaks, and it might be as simple as call 579 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:29,680 Speaker 3: the police, But what are the what should we do. 580 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:30,520 Speaker 2: In those situations? 581 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, if you're in any danger, you leave immediately. 582 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 4: You call nine one one and you say there's a 583 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,640 Speaker 4: gas leak, and I'm not in the building, and they 584 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 4: will do everything they can and get everybody out. You know, 585 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 4: water is slightly different. I mean, was it Hurricane Sandy, Yeah, 586 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 4: five or ten years ago that really flooded in New 587 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 4: York City. And in that case, it was really bad 588 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 4: because you know, entire basements or even first floors were 589 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 4: flooded and water was mixing with sewage and it was 590 00:28:57,480 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 4: just unsanitary in a lot of ways, and it could 591 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:02,840 Speaker 4: create a lot of issues with disease. So if it's 592 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 4: ever unsafe, you just immediately stop what you're doing and 593 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 4: leave and you know, get the higher ground if you 594 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 4: need to, or just get far enough away from the building. 595 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 4: If it's a gas situation, I will say, if it's 596 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 4: if it is a gas shut off or gas leak 597 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 4: that you can't control, but it's not incredibly bad or 598 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 4: it's just started, it might be beneficial to open the windows, 599 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 4: like as many windows as you can within thirty seconds, right, 600 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 4: and just create airflow. You don't want any sort of 601 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 4: high density pocket of gas natural gas to form, and 602 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 4: that might save an explosion, right. But if it's too later, 603 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 4: it's too bad of a gas leak, you know, get 604 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 4: out of there. 605 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 5: Quickly. 606 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:46,200 Speaker 4: You just can the fire department deal with it and 607 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 4: just stay safe. 608 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, we had a couple of times where a gas 609 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:53,480 Speaker 3: like we've like left a stovetop on. We're like, oh god, 610 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 3: we're so dumb, and so we actually installed a gas 611 00:29:57,320 --> 00:30:00,720 Speaker 3: meter or a gas I guess detector, you know, in 612 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 3: addition to like you know, smoke detectors and stuff like that, 613 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 3: just to keep us safe. So that's something I would 614 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 3: highly recommend. Yeah, people do smart Lucas. 615 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for sharing your insights with us. 616 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 1: Any final thoughts you want to share with our listeners 617 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 1: or final recommendations, Yeah. 618 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 5: Till there are. 619 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:21,160 Speaker 4: I think that I think that go into it knowing 620 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 4: that utility is going to be a part of life, right, 621 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:25,920 Speaker 4: It's what's that old phrase that you know, the only 622 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 4: two things that are certain are death in taxes, and 623 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 4: I think utilities you could add to that list. So 624 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,760 Speaker 4: you know, utilities are a consumer based product where you 625 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:37,400 Speaker 4: just pay for them as you use them, and you 626 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 4: have choices and sometimes it takes a little more research 627 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 4: on others to find a cheaper option. But if you're 628 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,520 Speaker 4: struggling to pay the utilities, or you have a hard 629 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 4: time in a certain month, look for alternatives, or just 630 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,440 Speaker 4: call up the utility company and say, hey, listen, I'm 631 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 4: so sorry, like I didn't mean to use that much 632 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 4: and I can't afford it, and they usually will, you know, 633 00:30:57,880 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 4: give you a one time grant. 634 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:01,520 Speaker 5: Just a little quick story. I had a situation. 635 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:04,840 Speaker 4: Where the toilet upstairs was just running. You know, we 636 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 4: didn't use that toilet very much, and it was just 637 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:09,160 Speaker 4: running in the back of the tank. And it was 638 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 4: the difference between a normal one hundred and ten dollars 639 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 4: water bill and a four hundred dollars water bill. 640 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:14,240 Speaker 2: Wow. 641 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 5: And I didn't. 642 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 4: Realize it until the bill came and I just called 643 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 4: them and I said, it was a toilet and I've 644 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 4: you know, I've had a plumber out there and they 645 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:22,640 Speaker 4: fixed it and it's not running anymore. And they said, oh, 646 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 4: thanks for letting us know. We grant all of our 647 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 4: customers two exemptions a year for stuff like this. I said, great, 648 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 4: I didn't even know, right. 649 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 1: That's incredible. So the important lesson I learned here is 650 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 1: to just bug my utility company and be like, here's 651 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:40,560 Speaker 1: what I've done. What could I get? Totally that's amazing. Well, Lucas, 652 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:43,120 Speaker 1: thank you. So much for joining us. This has been 653 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 1: beyond insightful and I feel so much more equipped to 654 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 1: even just lower my current energy bill by you know, 655 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:52,400 Speaker 1: shutting off those power strips. 656 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 3: Let's start there, and Lucas, before you go, could you 657 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 3: tell our listeners real quick just where they can find 658 00:31:58,200 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 3: out more information about you? 659 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 5: And yeah, thank you so. 660 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 4: One of the things that we're doing is we're helping 661 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 4: to make renting easier and more simple for everybody. Our 662 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:12,080 Speaker 4: website is zumper dot com. It's zumper dot com and 663 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 4: we are the third largest marketplace and one of the 664 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:17,880 Speaker 4: leading marketplaces in all of North America to find your 665 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 4: next runtal home with lots of options and lots of 666 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:22,160 Speaker 4: easy ways to filter through those. 667 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:23,080 Speaker 5: That's awesome. 668 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, really appreciate it. 669 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 1: Thanks Lucas, Thank you. I want to thank Lucas again 670 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 1: for sharing his incredible knowledge with us today. I have 671 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 1: learned so much about utilities, starting with if you're a 672 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:40,240 Speaker 1: renter who pays for the utilities will change from state 673 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 1: to state or even city to city, So check your 674 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 1: municipalities website. This will tell you who is responsible to 675 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 1: pay for what and let you know what kind of 676 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:51,440 Speaker 1: options you have for utilities in your area. As green 677 00:32:51,560 --> 00:32:54,200 Speaker 1: energy is growing in popularity. Even if you only have 678 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 1: one provider in your area for electricity, you may have 679 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,480 Speaker 1: a green energy share program that you can sign up for. 680 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 1: Utility companies make it super easy for you to move 681 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:04,960 Speaker 1: if you're staying within their network, and they have people 682 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: designated to help you switch your utilities over from your 683 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 1: old apartment to your new apartment. Make sure you give 684 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,400 Speaker 1: them an end date for your old apartment. You don't 685 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:15,640 Speaker 1: want to end up paying for somebody else's electric bill. 686 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 1: Power strips are a great way to shut off power 687 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 1: to some of your bigger appliances and devices like your TV, 688 00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:23,560 Speaker 1: because even if you have them turned off, if they're 689 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:27,320 Speaker 1: still plugged in, they're pulling some energy. Examine your home 690 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:30,880 Speaker 1: for drafts. Identifying a drafty window and finding the right 691 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 1: way to eliminate that draft will save you money on 692 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 1: your heating and cooling bills. And finally, if you encounter 693 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:39,640 Speaker 1: our utilities emergency, get out and call nine one one 694 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:42,560 Speaker 1: if you have time. Try to open as many windows 695 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 1: as you can on your way out, but ultimately getting 696 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: yourself out safely is the priority. That's all for today's episode, 697 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 1: Matt's tell us what's next on Grown Up Stuff. 698 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:56,959 Speaker 3: Next up is saving for college and other continuing education options. 699 00:33:57,160 --> 00:33:59,080 Speaker 3: That's right, We're going to dig into the five twenty 700 00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:02,320 Speaker 3: nine savings account in a very special two part episode. 701 00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:04,200 Speaker 1: Wow, I really wish I knew about this before I 702 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 1: went to grad school. But also I feel like I 703 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:08,640 Speaker 1: don't even have children right now, and maybe I should 704 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:12,560 Speaker 1: start saving for any potential future offspring I have because 705 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:15,080 Speaker 1: I can only imagine how expensive it's going to be 706 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:18,760 Speaker 1: in eighteen to twenty two to twenty five years from now. 707 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:21,279 Speaker 3: We'll talk about all the smart ways to save in 708 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:22,279 Speaker 3: two weeks. 709 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:24,280 Speaker 2: On the next episode of Grown Up Stuff, How. 710 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:27,320 Speaker 1: To Adult and remember you might not be graded in life, 711 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 1: but it never hurts to do your homework. This is 712 00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:32,920 Speaker 1: a production from Ruby Studios from iHeartMedia. 713 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:35,880 Speaker 2: Our executive producers are Mally Sosha. 714 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 1: And Matt Stillo. This episode was engineered by Matt Stello. 715 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:42,040 Speaker 3: And written by Mally Soshia. Special thanks to the Ruby team, 716 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:46,280 Speaker 3: including Eden Fixel, Rachel Swan Krasnov, Amber Smith, Nikia Swinton, 717 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:54,960 Speaker 3: Sierra Kaiser, Sierra Spreen, and Andy Kelly.