Political unrest at home and abroad, the potential for nuclear war and even a global economic collapse loom large on the horizon.

But while those macro-issues are certainly cause for concern, most people are just trying to live their lives, often struggling financially just to make ends meet. It does seem as though many of us are working longer and harder, but have less to show for it.

One of the biggest expenditures we dread each month is the electric bill. Like everything else, it keeps going up and no matter what we do to keep it under control, nothing seems to work. If we manage to cut some costs year-on-year, the next thing we know, the electric company gets permission to raise rates again.

It's a never-ending cycle. (RELATED: Read Off-The-Grid Couple Creates A Life Without Bills, Builds Home For $30,000.)

The good news is, there are some ways to save big dollars on our monthly utility bills that actually won't cost you anything to implement.