The holiday season is in full swing. The season brings with it a time for family and friends, a time for gifts and giving, and for many, it is a time for bundling up and traveling. It can be a happy time, but it also brings a bit of stress. One can find themselves on the go for much of the time. Attending parties, shopping, and heading out of town can leave one without much time to sit around and relax in front of the television. Most of us, but especially budget conscious holiday revelers, will any want to find any way to save money during this time. Here are a few ways to save some extra bucks this holiday season and for the ones to come.
1) Put your holiday lights on a timer. Holiday light displays can really ramp up the electric bill during the season. If you’ve put time, money, and effort into turning your house and yard into a holiday wonderland, you surely want people to appreciate your display, but don’t want the lights to be blinking the whole month of December, and certainly you could do without the hassle of turning the lights on and off all the time. Plugging your lights into timer socket can save you time and effort. And you know the old saying, “Time is money!”
2) A programmable thermostat is a big time year round money saver, but especially during the cold winter months when you may not be at home so much. Learning how to install a programmable thermostat will pay off in the long run as you will be able to set the temperature of your house to coincide for times when you will and will not be there. The lower you keep your thermostat when you’re away in the winter, the more money you will save.
3) Change the filters of your heating and/or air conditioning system. You will need to make sure to change the filter every 2 or 3 months to keep your system working at it’s peak.
4) Weather stripping your doors and windows will go a long way into saving money on your energy bill. A 1/8 inch crack in a door or window, letting cold air in, can really cause your utility bill to rise. Installing weather strip on all parts of your house will help keep the warm air in, cold air out, and money in your pocket.
Making sure your house is energy efficient is an obvious way to save money during the holiday season, and throughout the years. Keep your faucets from dripping, use CFL light bulbs, and install energy efficient appliances if you can, and keep your home working well for you and your wallet, and enjoy the holiday season!
