Want to chop $85 off your electricity bill in one easy step? Consider designating just one room in the house for watching television and not having multiple TVs set up all over the house. On average, a flat-screen TV uses about $7 a month in electricity (and that doesn't count the cable box or other devices, like gaming consoles and DVD players). But it's more than just economic savings: According to a study by the University of Michigan, 71% of teenagers have a TV in their bedroom, and kids ages 6-11 watch 28 hours of TV a week. The study showed excessive TV watching affected their sleep, weight, grades and behavior. Instead of cutting the cord, commit to meaningful TV watching.
ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION