How to lower your electricity bill

So we moved into a new house 3 months ago. We had been told our house is energy efficient and the utilities were cheap, blah, blah. So we have got 3 bills and all where over $350. WTH, thats not cheap! First bill were like "ok, not so bad", second bill comes, "OMG this is expensive" So we crank the thermostat up a degree higher and really start jumping the kids about leaving tv's on and lights ..etc. etc. thinking the next bill should look better. Third bill comes, its even more. THIS IS INSANE! So bewildered I was but hadnt had a chance to think about it much since the bill came yesterday but was pretty much had accepted the fact that they were going to be expensive and we were just going to have to live with i t. :(

Last night and the night before have been real nice and in the 50 & 60's so we have been sleeping with the windows open. So I raise the thermostat to 80. I opened the windows last night around 8pm and around 10 it was time for bed for the little ones. Noticing as I walked Emerson to her room that the fan is running on the air conditioner. I'm like 'thats not right'. So then it dawned on me check to make sure the fan was set to "auto" and not "on". I checked the upstairs thermostat and it was right. So then Steve went downstairs and checks that one and wouldnt you know the darn thing was switched to "ON!" OMG!!!! These past 3 months the fan has been running non stop. Not sure how or who changed it but dont you know today that its on "auto". I couldnt believe it! SO next months bill should be pleasant. So thats how I save on electricity.