 The residential sector is currently one of the main contributors to the global energy balance. However, its energy demand is largely uncontrolled and inelastic with respect to the power grid conditions. To address this issue, demand management mechanisms are needed to optimize the energy resources of customers and their energy demand profiles. Demand side management, DSM, is a proactive approach that makes users more energy efficient over time. This paper surveys the literature on optimization methods for DSM of residential consumers, categorizing them into three axes, individual user versus cooperative consumer, deterministic versus stochastic and day ahead versus real time. Based on these classifications, the paper provides a comprehensive overview of the key features of various approaches and techniques and discusses future research directions. This article was authored by Antimo Barbato and Antonio Capone.