Late December marks the beginning of winter, and as temperatures drop, many people are tempted to crank up the heat to stay warm. While this will help you keep warm, you better be prepared to pay a hefty heating bill at the end of the month. If you want to fight back the cold this winter while also saving some money, there are a few simple adjustments you can make.
When the Sun Comes Out, Use Natural Light
The natural light offered by the sun is very effective, and it can create heat on its own. A great way to keep heating costs down during the winter is to let some of that light into your house when the sun shines directly outside your window.
When the sun is shining outside, open the blinds to let some of the light into your house. This light will create a sense of warmth that can help increase the temperature in your home. If the sun is not directly shining at the windows, keep the blinds shut to help create insulation.
Turn Down the Heat at Night
Turning down the heat to a lower setting will help you save some money during the winter. However, heating systems do exist for a reason: it gets unbearably cold in some regions late into the year. To get around this problem, try turning down the heat during a period where you know you can deal with some colder temperatures, like at night.
Keeping the temperature down for eight-hour periods can help you save a substantial amount of money on your heating bill. Reduce the heat down a few degrees before you go to bed. Use some extra blankets when you go to sleep to keep warm.
Bundle Up with Heavy Clothes & Blankets
If you are planning to stay home for the day, try bundling up with some warm clothes. By wearing multiple layers of clothing, you can increase your body temperature and stay warm. Consider wearing sweatpants or a hoodie.
If you decide to take a nap, use some blankets to add warmth. The materials they are made with keeps the cold air away while you sleep. With these items, you can keep your body temperature from dropping, which means you shouldn’t have a reason to turn up the heat.
Cook at Home More Often
Are you the kind of person that likes to eat out? If you are, you might want to consider doing more cooking at home during the winter. Besides keeping you away from the cold air outside, using the oven in your house or apartment can warm the place up, reducing the need to turn up your heat.
Stoves and ovens are not able to perfectly trap all the heat they produce, and some of that heat will end up in your living space. This is especially the case when you open the oven door after a hot meal finishes cooking. As a result, you can heat up your home by simply doing some of your own cooking. Besides, it can be fun to try out some new recipes every once in a while.
Use Space Heaters
To keep heating bills down, many people rely on space heaters to increase the temperature in their homes. Though one space heater cannot heat an entire building, it can be used to keep a single room warm. If you live in small house or apartment, try to buy a single space heater for each room so you can keep them all warm for a lower cost.
Just remember to turn space heaters off when you go out. Not only does this keep energy costs down, but it also keeps them from becoming a safety hazard.
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