What to know

  • You pay separate electricity and phone bills for both the apartment and the old house; ignoring either one breaks lights, heat, and calls.​
  • Electricity cost comes mostly from radiators and lights; turning them off in unused rooms is the biggest way to save.​
  • If the phone stops working, the first thing to check is the phone bill; unpaid bills mean no customer calls for taxi jobs.​
  • The apartment heats up much faster than the old house, so it’s cheaper to heat just one room where you sleep instead of the whole place.​

In My Winter Car, managing electricity and phone bills for both your apartment and old house is crucial. Each location has its own meter, and failing to pay electricity shuts down lights, heaters, and appliances, leaving rooms cold even after payment. Skipping the phone bill prevents calls for taxi jobs, so staying on top of both is key to keeping your finances, and gameplay, running smoothly.

How to lower your electricity bill

Follow these tips to cut your electricity bill, maximize savings, and keep more money in your pocket:

Turn off radiators in unused rooms

Only heat the rooms you’re actually using. In the apartment, turn off hallway, kitchen, and bathroom radiators if you’re just sleeping in the bedroom. In the old house, keep only the main living room or bedroom heater on. Heating empty rooms is the #1 reason for high bills.

Lower the radiator temperature

Even in the room you’re using, a comfortable setting around 20–22 °C is enough. The apartment heats faster than the old house, so lowering the temp slightly saves noticeable power over time.

Turn off lights when not in a room

Hallway, kitchen, and bathroom lights can silently drain electricity if left on. Make it a habit to switch off lights whenever you leave a room.

Heat only one room per location

Instead of warming the entire apartment or house, focus on a single main room. In the apartment, keep only the bedroom warm at night. In the old house, leave just the living room or bedroom heated—this “one-room-only” strategy is the most effective way to cut costs.

Upgrade radiators in the old house (optional)

Upgraded radiators are more efficient, heating rooms faster. While this doesn’t reduce the base cost, it shortens the heating time, indirectly lowering your electricity bill.

Radiators in My Winter Car. Image credits: Amistech Games / YouTube: SimDEX

How to keep your phone bill under control

Pay Your Bill on Time

Each location (apartment and old house) has a fixed monthly cost. Skipping payment will prevent calls from coming through, meaning you won’t get taxi jobs. If the phone suddenly stops working, always check the bill first.

Use the Phone Only When Needed

You don’t need the line active 24/7 if you’re not doing taxi jobs. It’s fine to let the bill slide temporarily while focusing on other work, but remember to pay up when you want taxi calls again

Phone bill in My Winter Car. Image credits: Amistech Games / YouTube: SimDEX

Do’s and Don’ts for Managing Both Properties Cheaply

Do’s:

  • Choose a primary location: Focus on one property at a time. Use the apartment for faster heating and lower electricity use, and the old house only for car projects or occasional visits.
  • Heat one location at a time: Keep all radiators and lights off in the unused property to cut electricity costs roughly in half.
  • Turn on heat and lights sparingly in the secondary location: Only when necessary, for short periods.

Don’ts:

  • Don’t leave all radiators on max: This quickly spikes electricity bills.
  • Don’t ignore hallway lights: They may stay on by default and gradually increase costs.
  • Don’t forget the phone bill: Unpaid bills stop calls, preventing taxi job income.
  • Don’t heat unused rooms: Turn off radiators and lights in guest rooms, storage, and other unoccupied spaces.

Survive Winter Without Going Broke

In My Winter Car, surviving winter without emptying your wallet comes down to smart energy habits. Heat only the room you’re using, keep radiators at moderate settings, and turn off lights when leaving a room. Pay bills on time, but avoid heating multiple locations at once. With these simple routines, you can stay warm and keep your apartment or old house functional without breaking the bank.

Thanks for reading through! If this Lowering Electricity and Phone Bills guide helped you, share your thoughts or doubts in the comments section. We reply regularly and would love to help if you’re stuck anywhere.