Winterizing Your Home on a Budget

Winter is here. That means it’s time to prepare your home so that energy costs don’t bust your budget. Remember: The holidays are right around the corner — would you rather spend money on gifts or heating bills? Here are some ways to affordably winterize your home.

Plug It

One of the most affordable ways to help winterize your home is to plug any drafty doors and windows. For doors, you can simply roll up a towel and place it at the base of your doors. You can also buy a “draft snake,” but it’s essentially the same thing as a rolled-up towel. For windows, tape plastic over them to prevent drafts. These two simple fixes can save you plenty. According to the Department of Energy, drafts can waste anywhere from 5 to 30 percent of energy per year.

Spin It

If you have ceiling fans, use them to your advantage. Yes, you usually associate fans with hot weather, but they can help reduce costs during the cold months too. During the summer, have the fans spin counterclockwise to produce cooling breezes. During the winter, set your fans to spin clockwise to help circulate warm air throughout the house. Using ceiling fans during the winter can help reduce heating costs by up to 10 percent.

Drop It

Make sure you are lowering your thermostat when you’re at work during the day and when you’re sleeping at night. The Department of Energy says that lowering your thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours per day can save you about 10 percent annually on your energy bill.

Do One Thing: Check for drafty doors and windows and plug them up. Doing so will save you heaps on energy costs.

Original article by Chris O'Shea and adapted in partnership with SavvyMoney.