Here’s a handy device from Blue Line Innovations called the PowerCost Monitor that monitors your electric costs as you’re using it, displaying in real time your ever escalating energy bill.

I see a bright side, and a dark side to this.

The bright side is you can see how much money you’re spending on energy as you use it. The dark side is that you can see how much money you’re spending on energy as you use it.

It’s a glass half-full or half-empty type thing.

The bright side is you can adjust your power usage as you see the dollar amount surging upward, and you’ll never be surprised by a big energy bill again. The dark side is you may be crying as you feel the money being ripped out of your wallet in real time, and may find yourself heating your apartment with a single light bulb, and eating more raw food as you hesitate to turn on that ghastly inefficient electric stove.

Either way, it’s a smart thing to have. The moment I move from an apartment and into a house, you can bet I’m getting one.