Ok, two useful things:

If you use Blockbuster's Total Access (the Netflix ripoff), you can get half-off for two months by going to cancel the account - just check the "trying to cut down on expenses" ... when you do, it will offer you half-off for two months. I did this a few days ago, I hope it still works for you!

One of my halogen lamps (300 watts!!!!) burned out last week. I thought it was the perfect time to get it replaced with a CFF-bulbed lamp that I've been reading so much about. CFFs are meant to replace replace your normal incandescent lightbulb, so you can just buy the bulbs and replace any of your lamps. Unfortunately since my old lamp was a halogen lamp, I had to get a new lamp (no problemo!)

I went to Target last week and picked up a 4-pack of the 26-watt CFF bulbs and bought a 2xlight bulb lamp. I was a bit skeptical about how bright two 26-watt bulbs could be ... holy CRAP! This thing is lighting up the WHOLE room by itself (normally I run two halogen lamps to light up the whole room). I plugged in my handy-dandy Kill-A-Watt (that thing is awesome, btw) which is reporting a usage of 46 watts. Compare that to my halogen lamp, which is drawing about 300 watts. My CFF lamp is seven times more efficient than my halogen lamp. This boggles my mind. I'm about to go back to Target this weekend and buy another one of these lamps ...

If you have ANY incandescent bulbs you're still using, I highly suggest you looking into getting a CFF bulb. They're pricier, but you can probably figure out the math on how much money you'll save by switching to it. Plus you get that smugness from "saving the environment."