How to Stay Warm and Toasty Without Ruining Your Budget

The wind is crisp, the leaves are changing color, and Starbucks has pumpkin-spiced lattes again. Yep, Autumn is definitely in the air! However; regardless of whether you’re a fan of Fall or Winter, staying warm and toasty throughout these cooler months should undoubtedly be a top priority for you and your family. Unfortunately, opting to use a heater continuously throughout the day is certain to increase your utility bill. So, if you want to avoid being broke at the end of the month, here are some budget-friendly tips you can use to stay warm and cozy during this holiday season.

Change up your drapes

During Fall and Winter we see an amazing display of decorations outside the home. However, if looking to save money from high heat costs you may think about redecorating inside your home. For example, changing your drapes. While this can cost a bit up front, changing up your drapes to thicker options can help preserve the warm air inside your home for longer so you don’t have to switch on the heating system as soon as the temperature drops.

Avoid showering for too long

Honestly, nothing is more relaxing than taking a long hot steamy shower and just letting all of your troubles melt away. Now, while it is acceptable to take a nice hot bath or shower every once in a while, if you’re trying to save money-you might not want to make it a habit this winter. This is because it takes a nice amount of energy to heat up your water tank. And if you have many people living in the home that energy usage just increases your bill. Unfortunately, if you have an older less energy efficient water tank you’ll likely see your prices increase even higher.

Pile on the comforters

Another way to ensure you stay warm is to have ample bedding. If you’re prone to getting cold at night; instead of turn up the heat, simply try piling on the sheets and comforters. Maybe wear socks to bed or a thick pair of fleece pajamas Either way, by easily adding more layers, you won’t waste unnecessary money heating your entire house at night.

Invest in rugs and carpets

Certainly, it’s easy to feel the cold quicker if you have wood or tile floors. This is where investing in rugs and carpets could help to keep your home warmer for longer, as they provide the insulation you need to keep your feet and body warm.

Use your fireplace

There’s nothing better than warming up in front of a crackling fireplace. Besides saving on energy, having a fireplace creates a certain ambiance that is difficult to replicate otherwise. So, be sure to stock up on enough wood to last you throughout the season by researching the best types of wood for lengthy burning, such as maple and birchwood, for example. Of course, also check out the prices of the various types of wood so you can do a cost analysis to ensure this expense fits well within your budget. Additionally, you may want to consider purchasing out of season, as this may be cheaper in the long run as well as keep an eye out for local firewood sales in case you come across a bargain or two.

Use a space heater

Suppose the cold is just so unbearable that you don’t foresee any other solution than using some form of heat. If this is the case, consider using a room heater. With a room heater, you’ll only heat up sections of the room instead of the whole house. This will work out more affordable in the long run but you’ll be able to enjoy the heat quicker since its’ a smaller area.

Maintain your heating systems

If none of the options above seem realistic and you are planning to use your heating system; have it maintained regularly to ensure that you aren’t losing energy because of leaks or clogged air filters. As touched earlier, having an older or less energy efficient heating system can costs you huge. So, even though it can be easy to ignore things, keeping up-to-date on your maintenance can save you money from huge expenses in the long run.

These are just some of the things you can do to avoid the dreaded cold of winter from getting to you as well as your pocket. So, stock up on firewood for your fireplace during the off-season, invest in some cozy rugs or carpeting, and hang up energy-saving drapes — all of these can help ensure you stay comfortable without breaking the bank.

For fun check out this electricity usage calculator to see the cost of water heating.