Does My Piggy Bank Look Fat to You?

Anyone here want to save money on their home heating bill? Yep, I thought so. We are all feeling the squeeze and searching for solutions to save money anywhere we can. May I offer a few tidbits of sage advice that may save you money on your monthly home heating bill?

• Check each room in your home for air leaks. Windows or doors with a draft may be the culprit when losing any amount of warm. Seal any leaks found with weather stripping or caulk. If the rooms are still cold, consider installing an inexpensive wall-mount heater.

• Consider turning down your central heating system and using smaller wall-mount heaters or space heaters that cost less to operate in rooms your find yourselves most often.

• Close the heating vents in rooms or areas you rarely use.

• Inspect your chimney and make sure the flue is closed when not in use. Cold air can seep in or warm air escape when this is open.

• Let the sun shine! Natural light can be a truly affordable (try free) home improvement. On sunny days, open your blinds and curtains and let earth’s natural heater do the work for you.

• A programmable thermostat is another way to achieve optimal energy saving heat. Set the temperature lower at night while you sleep under those thick, warm blankets and program it to warm up as you rise in the morning. This will significantly impact your home heating system.

• Treat yourself to a simple luxury that won’t break the bank. You want to be frugal not feel like a financial reject. Consider a towel warmer and bathroom heater, which offers an affordable and efficient way to step from a warm shower to an equally warm towel. This also saves on dryer time, thereby cutting down on further energy uses that can add up on your monthly bills.