As temperatures begin to dip below freezing, students living off-campus may find that the price of staying comfortable is going up.

One of the benefits of living off-campus in an apartment or condominium is having more control over your own living style, but this increased control comes with increased responsibility – responsibility in the form of utility bills.

“Living off-campus definitely has its perks,” said Caleigh Bolt, a sophomore at UA. “But paying your own bills isn’t much fun.”

Electricity is generally the highest bill that off-campus students will pay. While several student-housing options like the Woodlands or the Retreat have utilities included in the rent-per-month price, there is a cap on how much power can be used per month.

If the cap is exceeded, students must pay a fine. In more traditional apartments, power, water and cable are all on the residents. In any type of housing complex, students must get creative to cut costs.

Fredey Padilla of Alabama Power offered a few tips for students worried about the price of staying warm this winter.

“It’s the little things that’ll help you save money on heating,” Padilla said. “Electric blankets are a good personal option and a lot less expensive than heating a whole room for the entire night. Also, portable heaters with a thermostat can be pretty useful, especially if you want different levels of heat in different rooms. They can be more energy efficient if you use them right.” Padilla also mentioned turning any ceiling fans on in the opposite direction they normally spin, which distributes heated air throughout the room.