How to Stay Warm in Your Home

Are you trying to find ways to lower your expenses? I am sure you are like most people these days who are struggling to make ends meet. With the winter months coming upon us, I am sure that many families are concerned about their heating bills. I have put together several steps that my family uses to try and bring down our winter heating bills. It can be especially tough when you also have young children to keep warm!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blankets
• Heavy Clothing
• Slippers, Warm Socks
• Fireplace
• Ceiling Fans

1. Open your shades or blinds to your windows when it is sunny. Make every use to what nature gives you. A nice sunny day in the winter can keep your house warm provided you let in the natural light.

2. Be sure to keep your shades or blinds closed during the evening or when the sun is not out on a winter day. You want to make sure you trap as much heat as possible inside your home once you have heat stored up in your house.

3. If you have a choice between using your microwave or oven to cook something, I would choose to use the oven. This will help to heat your house on cold winter days.

4. Make sure you bundle up. Make use of hooded sweatshirts, blankets, socks, and slippers to stay warm. I have several hooded sweatshirts that I wear in the winter, along with a warm pair of slippers. You will be amazed at how warm you can stay just by bundling up inside your home. I have even heard of some people wearing their long underwear in their home. If you are sitting down to watch television, use blankets to stay warm.

5. Install ceiling fans and switched the blades on reverse, which will cycle the warm air at the ceiling back down to the floor. If you have a fireplace, make use of this heat source. There is no point in heating your entire home when you have the option of just heating the rooms you are in.

6. Add extra insulation to your doors, windows, and even electrical outlets. This extra insulation will keep drafty areas to a minimum. Longer term, try planting trees and shrubs around your home, especially where the winter winds blow. These forms of vegetation act as a natural insulator.

7. Put an extra comforter or blanket on your bed at night. If you have toddlers or babies in your home, try dressing them in extra layers of clothing instead of adding extra blankets.

Tips & Warnings

• Invest a few dollars in warm slippers for all your family members.
• Make sure everyone in your family has heavy warm sweatshirts to wear.
• Pile on the blankets at night for adults and older children. Each layer can help you stay warm.
• NEVER use blankets on babies. Instead try and adding extra layers of clothing to them to stay warm.
• Be careful of space heaters in your home as they can be a fire hazard.
• Don't keep your house so cold that your pipes freeze. Having frozen pipes and water damage will cost you a lot more in the long run!

Resources

• Personal Money Management

[chasingthebull]

on 12/24/2008 These are some really good suggestions to stay warm in your house AND save some money at the same time!

[TFMiser]

on 12/6/2008 Good advice. It is more efficient to warm yourself than to warm your entire house.