Day 30: Prepping for Winter

As winter is fast approaching here at Chez Stoneford, it is time to start prepping the house. How can we make our house warmer without having to shell out some major dough? I have been researching and seeking out rebates. Well, most of the rebates that I have found on our power company's website will cover up to 1/2 of the cost. Guess what, we are like your typical american family...so who really leaves extra cash like that laying around in wait for them to send a rebate? Not us. We of course have the Oh Sh*t money stashed away incase say the air conditioner or heater dies, but any further than that...nope. So what can we do to save that extra cash over the course of the winter, so we can possibly do the upgrades for next year?

The Recommended for not having to shell out some real $$$:

Recaulking your windows. Check.

Changing your air filters every month. Got to stock up.

Avoid having anything stacked or blocking your furnace. Check.

Reverse Fans. Check.

Do your laundry in multiple loads instead of letting the dryer cool down. Check

Use your microwave and toaster oven more than your conventional oven. Check.

What we do and have done in the past to save $$$ over winter besides the free stuff:

Layer up clothing. Duh.

Change out the bed blankets and comforters. Hey they all need to be rotated every once and awhile!

Reverse our dryer vent to blow back into the house.

   You'd be surprised how much heat you lose to the outside elements!

Change our curtains, light ones for down stairs and dark for up. Brings in more heat up stairs.

Fill the Attic and Storage room with summer stuff!

   Get it gone and live like a minimalist. Less space to lose heat.

Make sure the roof isn't cluttered with debris. More feet to draw heat in!

Use the crockpot to make big batches, so we don't have to cook!

The Recommended Investments that you have to shell out some $$$:

Get your furnace and air con serviced. Maybe.

   We can blow out our own ducts thank you and well we have gas heat.

   Save for Spring.

Get energy efficient curtains. More Do-able. $20 a set.

Keep your Thermostat set at 70. Right, seriously to save money? Then a few paragraphs down "they" mention to keep it about 25-30 degrees higher than what it is outside when it is stifling cold. But 60 is plenty comfortable for us when it is cold.

Layer up if you're planning on visiting us, because it won't be their recommended 70 degrees! Hopefully these tips and tricks help lower your heat bill as well as ours!