Finance Frame

This past winter was the coldest I have suffered through in a long time. Not only was it unexpected and severely different from previous winters, but the cold seemed to cut right through to the bone.  Because of this, I was forced to use my gas heater more than I ever had, just trying to keep from freezing. I was very strict in my usage and even tried to layer up most of the time at home in order to cut down on the bill. I thought that all of my efforts to lower my monthly bill were working, and I continued to use my heater. At the end of the first month I got the bill and was shocked more than the freezing cold. My bill was wel over $300.00. I was so strapped for cash that I was entertaining the idea of taking out an Advance payday to cover the cost. After paying the bill I scoured through information to better help me lower my bill and to not have another repeat of the previous month.

A lot of people make the mistake of setting their thermostat and then leaving it alone and never making any adjustments. I know people do this because I was a prime example of this horrible decision.  If your apartment stays the same degree the entire day then you are pumping a lot of money right into the garbage.  If you are not home, then who are you heating the house for? I don’t think the dog really cares too much. I know that my little dog just lies on the bed anyways, wrapping herself up in the covers. I’m sure she doesn’t even feel the cold during her naps.  So if no one is there, why do I waste money on nothing? Instead, I could regulate the temperature when I’m home and save more money in the long run.

Nature can be a great tool to heat your house. Sky lights and other windows can provide the biggest, free heater in the world… the SUN! Open those curtains and let the sun warm your house, lowering the cost of your heating bill. When you close them at night, you conserve the warmth that natural light and your home’s heating elements have supplied during the day.

Fixing air leaks and adding insulation is just another way to cut the cost of your heating bill. Windows and doors that let heated air escape are just sucking your money right out the door. Go to your local hardware store and get some piping/tubing and fix those leaks right away. Adding proper insulation can help heated air from rising up from your floors. In addition make sure that your attic has the proper insulation and that you are not loosing coveted air through the roof.

These simple tips can help you save hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year. Just take the time and look around your house and see what can be altered or fixed. You never know what you can stumble onto that will will help you save more money.