Today is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day! So, let’s talk about the number one energy cost in winter… heat. No one wants to be cold in their own home. But no one wants to spend a lot of money on their heat and energy bills either, especially if they’re in debt management. So how do you find the balance between comfortable living and saving money on heating costs? We have some ideas.
Here are some tips to save money on heat and reduce energy bills this winter:
Try our credit counseling tips to stay warm without costly energy bills.
- Bundle up. Keep your heat set to a comfortably low setting and, rather than turning it up when you get a chill, just throw on a sweater, socks, a blanket, or whatever you like to stay warm.
- Seal drafty windows. If you have any drafty windows in your home, you could be spending a lot of money by letting all that cold air seep into your home. You may want to seal them up with a few products you can get at your local hardware store. You can look for things like a window shrink wrap kit or rope caulk.
- Let the sun do the work. On sunny days, open up your curtains and let the sun’s rays heat any room facing the sun (South-facing windows). If it gets cloudy or the sun is no longer shining, close them back up. Not having to use your heater will save money, which helps you stay on track with your household budget.
- Don’t heat an empty house. Turn your heat down if you plan on being out of the house for long periods of time. You can also get a programmable thermostat that will turn the heat to whatever temperature you wish at scheduled times.
- Don’t heat empty rooms. If you rarely use certain rooms in your home, then shut all vents in those rooms and close the doors. If you notice drafts, then roll up a towel and stuff it in the bottom of the doors. You can also use a store-bought draft stopper.
- Use a space heater. If you want to just heat a small area, then get yourself an space heater. These are great for heating small areas for short periods. No need to heat the whole house if you’re spending most of the day in your home office or living room. However, you should not leave a space heater on overnight.
- Reverse your ceiling fans. Heat rises, but a ceiling fan can help circulate the warm air down to your level. Set your fan to spin clockwise, pushing air up towards the ceiling. This will force the warm air off the ceiling and down the walls, where it will rise again to heat the room evenly.
These are just a few ways to save money on heat this winter. See what works for you or try to find even more ways to save money, conserve energy, and stay warm!
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
