Winter money saving tips
The easiest thing is to bundle up. Always wear long pants, socks or slippers and long sleeve shirts. Wool is a great insulator and will keep you very warm.
Lower your thermostat. Leaving it at 68 degrees instead of 75 degrees will save you a ton of money.
Make sure your windows are working with you and not against you. Open the curtains during the day on windows that get a lot of sunlight. Close the blinds or curtains during the night to keep heat in. Investing in thermal curtains that don’t allow heat to escape can also save you bundles during the winter and summer. And of course, make sure your windows are properly insulated and sealed.
Don’t heat rooms you aren’t using. If you have a guest bedroom or home office that isn’t in use, shut the door and turn off the vents. You can also put a blanket or towel under the door to keep heat out. There is no use wasting electricity or gas to heat an empty room.
Use space heaters instead of central heat. By only heating a small area, you save a ton on gas or electricity.
Close your fireplace damper when not in use so heat doesn’t escape through your chimney.
Invest in an electric blanket so you can feel comfortable and cozy during the night. Using an electric blanket instead of your heater can save you hundreds during winter months and most blankets are only $30-40.
Make sure your water heater is properly insulated. If it doesn’t have enough insulation, you can wrap it in a $20 insulating blanket so it won’t have to work as hard to heat your water.
Unless you have a free or very cheap source of wood, a wood-burning stove can easily cost as much or more as a gas or electric furnace. If you do use a wood-burning stove, ask your friends and neighbors for any extra paper they may have. You can also save up any junk mail you get to throw in the fire.
Don’t leave Christmas lights on all day. Turn them off when you’re not at home or sleeping to help save on electricity bills.
After using your oven, open the door and let it heat your house while it’s cooling off. Every little thing helps in the long run.
4 Responses
These are some great tips. I haven’t thought about getting an electric blanket…
I am so glad to be in a warmer part of the U.S. so I don’t have to worry about electric blankets and water heater covers. I haven’t had to turn the heater on more than twice so far this December.
I religiously keep my thermostat at 68 in the winter, even though I would rather have 75 degrees. But I know it does save on my bill. I have lots of quilts on my bed in the winter, and it works out just fine. We keep blankets near the coaches too, so if you’re watching tv or reading, you can cover up and stay comfortable.
After a major operation, I have to keep the heat up, as I wear 3 layers of clothes already, as I lost my muscle tone and body fat. Even with extra blankets on Bed & recliner.