Frugal Tips for Winter
by Cyndi Roberts
Cold weather is coming...for some parts of the country it's already here!
These warm tips will help you stay comfy and cozy, and hopefully, save on
heating and repair bills.
1. Before using your furnace the first time this winter, check furnace
filters to make sure they are clean. Replace if needed. And vacuum
vents.
2. Open your drapes during the day to let sunshine in and close them at
night to keep cold air out.
3. Insulate your hot water heater and any outside pipes.
4. Install insulating kits behind electrical plugs that are on outside
walls.
5. Lower your thermostat at night.
6. To help prevent frozen pipes, open the cabinet doors under sinks and
let the warm room air circulate around pipes.
7. Make sure your fireplace damper is working properly. Use a screen
to keep children and pets from getting too close.
8. Make sure your chimney is clean...dirty chimneys are a fire hazard.
9. Also be very careful if you use space heaters. They may not be
very energy efficient and it's easy for children and pets to get burned by them.
10. Reverse the switch on your ceiling fans to they blow upward, toward the
ceiling so heat that naturally rises is forced back down into the room.
11. Outdoors, make sure your shrubs and perennials are mulched. It can be
expensive to replace these plants in the spring.
12. Your outdoor dog uses more calories in cold weather in order to keep
warm, so he needs to be fed more.
About the Author: Helping you live the good life...on a budget! Cyndi Roberts is
the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly e-newsletter and founder
of the website of the same name. Visit
http://www.cynroberts.com to find creative tips, articles, and a free
e-cooking book. Subscribe to the e-newsletter and receive the free
e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".