Lower your heating bills

1. Put more clothes on. Seriously.
   1. Wear thick socks – When your feet are warm, the rest of your body tolerates cold better
   2. Invest in footie pajamas – They cover you from neck to toes, and they’re perfect for spending time lounging around the house
   3. Use a lap blanket
   4. Layer your clothing
   5. Wear a sweater inside
2. Install a programmable thermostat
   1. Winter – Program the temp at 68 when you’re home and awake. Program it to lower to 60 when you’re normally asleep or not home.
   2. Summer – Program the temp at 78 when you’re at home and awake. Program it to 83 when you’re normally asleep or not home.
3. Warm up your bed
   1. Try getting a mattress warmer or an electric blanket
   2. Turn your heating pad on low and put it under the covers where your feet rest 15 minutes before getting into bed. Your partner(s) will thank you!
4. Keep the drafts out
   1. Caulk
   2. Weather Strip
   3. Insulate the ceiling and walls – Especially around outlet plugs and switch plates. These are typically very drafty.
   4. Put plastic over your windows
   5. Seal off rooms you don’t use
5. Keep your furnace healthy
   1. Get your furnace serviced
   2. Replace the filters every month during heavy use
   3. Have your ducts cleaned
6. Move More
   1. Play games with the kids
   2. Do jumping jacks
   3. Fold the laundry
   4. Dust the shelves
   5. Whatever it takes, just move.
7. Cook
   1. Using the oven heats the house – make your food at home!
   2. Spice up your food. A few hot peppers never made anyone feel cold (yeah, this one has no scientific basis that I know of, but just work with me here.)
8. Entertain
   1. Throw a pot luck dinner. Having all those folks in your house is sure to heat it up.
9. Go outside
   1. Go for a jog
   2. Walk the dog
   3. Rake the leaves
   4. Sit on the porch and take in a sunset
   5. Whatever you do outside in the cold, it will feel toasty warm when you get back inside the house.

Here are some links to a bazillion tips for saving on your heating bills:

• Save Money On Heating Your Home at Momma’s Blog
• Ten Tips: Reduce your heating bill at MSNBC
• 12 Tips to lower your heating bills this winter at Sixwise
• Simple tips to reduce heating bills from the Kansas Corporation Commission
• Top Tips: how to lower your heating bills at CNN Money
• Tips to reduce your home heating bill at CNBC
• Tips to lower your heating bill at Thrifty Fun
• 12 tips to lower your heating bill at FIRE Finance
• Tips to lower home-heating bills at Better Connecticut (WFSB)
• Efficiency tips to lower your heating bill at NPR Vermont Edition

That’s all I have for today. What are your favorites?

Start turning your family’s financial ship around by cutting 50% or more off your grocery expenses, household cleaners, toiletries, dining out, and more. I use this system and save 60% to 75% off retail prices every single week.


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Tagged as: heating, save money, Tips, tricks, Utilities