Looking for ways to stay warm and cozy at home? For many of us, winter is a time when we discover a few more cracks and crannies for the cold air to find its way inside. Not only does that make it harder to keep your house warm, it sends money out the door as the electric or gas bill climbs.
So, what can you do to lower your heating costs? Don’t stay home shivering. Take advantage of these easy and inexpensive ways to stay warm in the winter.
As the chill of winter sets in, keeping cozy shouldn’t mean breaking the bank. Our guide, “30 Ways to Stay Warm, Save Money This Winter,” is here to help you strike the perfect balance between comfort and savings.
With the weather getting colder, your energy bills don’t need to go sky-high! If you’re looking for tips on how to save money during winter, you’re in the right place.
What raises the electric bill the most?
The biggest contributors to high electric bills typically include:
Heating and Cooling Systems: HVAC systems consume a significant amount of energy, especially if they are old or inefficient.
Water Heaters: Heating water for showers, laundry, and dishwashing can be a major energy drain.
Appliances: Large appliances like refrigerators, washers, dryers, and dishwashers can use a lot of electricity, particularly if they are not energy-efficient.
Lighting: Traditional incandescent bulbs use more electricity than LED or CFL bulbs.
Electronics: Devices like computers, TVs, and gaming consoles can add up, especially if left on or in standby mode.
Poor Insulation: Homes that are not well-insulated require more energy to maintain comfortable temperatures.
Improving energy efficiency in these areas can help reduce your electric bill significantly.
Why am I using so much electricity in the winter?
During the winter, electricity usage often increases due to several factors:
Heating: Electric heating can significantly increase electricity consumption. Heating systems work harder to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature as the outside temperature drops.
Shorter Days: With fewer daylight hours, you might use more lighting in the evenings and mornings.
Holiday Decorations: If you use electric holiday lights or decorations, they can add to your electricity usage.
Increased Indoor Activity: People tend to spend more time indoors during the winter, which can lead to increased use of electronics, appliances, and lighting.
Water Heating: Colder temperatures can lead to increased use of hot water for showers and other activities, which can raise electricity usage if you have an electric water heater.
Poor Insulation: If your home is not well-insulated, your heating system will need to work harder to maintain warmth, leading to higher electricity consumption.
Improving insulation, using energy-efficient appliances, and being mindful of heating usage can help manage electricity consumption during the winter months.
30 ways to stay warm, save money this winter
Discover smart strategies to keep your home snug while trimming down your energy bills, ensuring your winter is both warm and wallet-friendly. Dive in and explore how simple changes can lead to a more enjoyable and economical season.
Keep the cold air out
The number one thing you can do to stay warm this winter without cranking up the heat is to block the cold from getting in. Insulate your house from freezing temps outside with these tips:
1. Seal gaps. Gaps around windows and doors are the most common places for air to find its way inside. Use caulking or repair those gaps to avoid the loss of heat and eliminate cold wind blowing in. The U.S. Department of Energy says that between 10% and 20% of energy use is due to drafty doors and windows.
If an actual repair is impossible, you can purchase draft stoppers for doors very inexpensively on Amazon.
- PREMIUM MATERIALS - 2 counts in 1 pack, the Door Draft Stopper are made of silicone material, which can bend and deform. Draft stopper for bottom of door is very flexible and will not damage your floor. Door strip is also very sturdy and has a longer service life. Size: 2โ W x 39โ L
- WONDERFUL DESIGN - Door sweep for bottom of door triple design is adopted to effectively reduce noise, prevent dust from entering through the door, the door stoppers for bottom of door keeps the room quiet and neat. Self-adhesive door draft blocker is very suitable to cover the gaps of exterior/interior doors, rv doors, shower room, baseboard, threshold, windows, garage, basement and furniture
- SAVE MONEY AND ENERGY - In winter and summer, draft stopper is good home improvement item which can prevent the leakage of air conditioning and heating, make your room more efficient in cooling or heating, save electricity and money.
- Weighted door draft stopper: sandbags are specially added to make the product heavier
- Hook and loop fixation: hook and loop fixation is used on the door to prevent from moving with the opening of the door
- Large size: 36 inches in length and 4.5 inches in width (suitable for gaps up to 4.5 inch ) meeting the needs of most families
2. Add weatherstripping. If you have gaps in doors and windows, consider purchasing weatherstripping. It’s available in local home improvement stores so you can do it yourself and save even more. The Department of Energy helps you determine what kind of weatherstripping you need.
3. Insulate windows with clear film. This window insulation kit at Amazon, made by 3M, covers two 3-foot x 5-foot windows with clear film. Other sizes are available. The clear film helps keep cold out and heat in without blocking light. You can use it over blinds as well. Be sure to watch the instructional video on that page.
- Designed for interior use on windows
- Accommodates up to 4 standard sized windows
- Shrinks with hair dryer and applies with included double-faced tape
- This product adds a great value
- Product is highly durable and very easy to use
- This product is manufactured in China
4. Insulate your attic. Check to see if your attic has proper insulation. If it’s not insulated, youโll want to add some. If your home is older, inspect the insulation since it can settle over time, compromising efficiency. Bringing your attic insulation to recommended levels will save you money and keep heat from escaping. Find out if you have enough insulation.
5. Install drapes. Heavy or insulated draperies can help keep heat inside your house in very cold climates. Consider using blinds to help keep cold out and heat in at night.
- READY MADE: Package only includes 2 blackout curtain panels, each 42" wide x 63" long when fully spread, with 6 grommets. Due to handmade craftsmanship, size may vary by 1". No curtain rod included. The fabric is soft and heavy without a liner.
- SERVE WELL: Curtains impede 85%-99% light and UV rays(Dark color curtains work well). Noise-reducing, better TV viewing thanks to the innovative triple weave technology.
- ENERGY SMART: Triple weave blackout fabric balances room temperature by insulating against summer heat and winter chill. Protect your furniture, floors, and artwork from the ravages of the sun, the drapes will pay for themselves off over time.
- 100% blackout design blocks all light for restful sleep
- Made from linen blend for casual warmth and refined style
- Grommet top makes installation easy and allows curtains to slide smoothly
6. Insulate your outlets. Put draft stoppers behind outlets to keep air out.
7. Close the fireplace damper. If you aren’t using it to warm the house, make sure the damper is closed on your fireplace. (Remember to open it again before lighting a fire.)
Keep the warm air where you want it
Once you’ve stopped the cold from getting in, you have to find ways to avoid letting the warm air escape. You’ll see what we mean with these next few tips:
8. Turn off the bathroom fan. An exhaust fan is nice for pulling out steam from a shower in summer, but it also pulls warm air out of the room in winter. Use it only when needed and don’t leave it running when you leave the room. Better idea? If possible, leave the door open when you shower.
9. Minimize use of the stove vent. Like the bathroom fan, the vent over your stove also lets warm air out of your home. Use it as needed but don’t leave it running unnecessarily because it pulls warm air out.
10. Optimize your ceiling fans. Reverse ceiling fans to the clockwise direction. This helps push hot air down and is especially useful if you use a fireplace or other source of wood heat.
11. Rearrange the furniture. Move larger sofas and chairs away from drafty windows if possible to stay warm. To make your living areas even warmer and cozier, pile a stack of soft, comfortable blankets on a chair or in a basket in your living room, or even on the floor. They will be inviting for friends and family, offer warmth and make the winter season a little bit brighter.
12. Don’t close vents in unused rooms. Closing vents is a common piece of advice, but experts say it can actually cost you money.
13. Let ambient heat go where you need it. On the other hand, if there’s a room near the kitchen where the family hangs out, be sure to keep kitchen doors and passages open so the warmth from the oven or running dishwasher can permeate the spaces around it.
14. Prep your radiators. If you use radiator heating, use tin foil behind the radiators to reflect heat back into the room rather than allowing it to flow into the walls.
Donโt skimp on home maintenance
You can improve the heating efficiency of your house if you keep up with routine maintenance.
15. Replace furnace filters once a month. In order to keep your furnace working more efficiently and effectively, it’s important to change your furnace filters often in winter, probably once a month. A furnace filter traps dust, dirt, pet hair and dander, but if it gets too clogged, your furnace has to work harder. That can reduce the efficiency of your furnace, not to mention its lifespan. Change the filters frequently for a warmer house.
16. Get your chimney cleaned. Make a small investment in having a professional clean your chimney this fall. This will help avoid a potential fire from creosote build-up in the chimney lining and will make your chimney more efficient.
17. Consider insulating your hot water heater. Before buying an insulating blanket, read this article on the Department of Energy site for important safety warnings and advice. Make sure your hot water heater is well insulated, especially if it’s located in a cold attic, garage or basement. Wrap it in a water heater blanket to keep the heat from escaping. The less work it needs to do the heat that water, the less youโll pay and the warmer youโll stay.
- Vinyl backed fiberglass insulation blankets are designed for gas, oil or electric water heaters up to 60 gallon size
- Improves Heater efficiency
- 3โ Thick x 48โ x 75โ, R10
18. Check the roof. Do a quick check of the roof and replace or repair any loose or missing shingles. Not only will this keep cold air out,but it will prevent a nasty water leak surprise this winter.
19. Repair air ducts. Check your air ducts for leaks that let hot air escape. The EPA does not recommend routine cleaning of air ducts, however.
Make smart choices to stay warm
Find ways to keep your body warm without turning up the thermostat, and you’ll feel cozier while saving on winter utility bills.
20. Dress in layers. Focus on keeping yourself warm rather than your house. Comfy socks, flannel pants, layered clothing, even fingerless gloves can keep you warm without turning up the heat.
21. Eat warming foods. Swap your soda for a steaming cup of tea, coffee or cocoa, and put on a pot of soup for lunch. Cook a hot, healthy meal for dinner and leave the oven door open to allow the heat to escape into the room as you enjoy your meal. There is a reason we want to eat more in the winter; your body craves fuel to heat itself. Listen to your body and eat to stay warm. Oatmeal, starchy vegetables and protein will help.
- Our Taylors Tea Specialty Variety Box is perfect for gifting, businesses, home, office, or to simply try and find your favorite tea flavor
- Variety packs include six individually wrapped and tagged tea bags of each flavor.
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- CONVENIENT INDIVIDUAL BAGS: Each tea bag is individually sealed for freshness and convenience, ensuring you can enjoy a variety of flavors with ease.
22. Switch to flannel sheets. Change your sheets and use flannel in winter. You won’t need the room as warm, so you save on heating costs.
- EDDIE BAUER HOME: Expertly crafted bedding collections inspired by outdoor adventures. Our products combine durability and comfort for versatile and functional pieces that bring the spirit of exploration into your home every day.
- PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT: These ultra-cozy sheets make a wonderful holiday gift, offering warmth and comfort for a restful night's sleep while adding a touch of seasonal charm to any bed.
- FEATURES: This sheet set includes a fully elastic fitted sheet to keep the sheet in place with deep pockets; Fits mattresses up to 18" up to 15" for twin sizes; Made with 100% cotton flannel construction and brushed three times for added softness. Includes one flat sheet, one fitted sheet and two standard pillowcases. The flat sheet measures at 96"L x 81"W, fitted sheet at 75"L x 54"W, and pillowcase at 20"L x 30"W.
- EDDIE BAUER HOME: Expertly crafted bedding collections inspired by outdoor adventures. Our products combine durability and comfort for versatile and functional pieces that bring the spirit of exploration into your home every day.
- PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT: These ultra-cozy sheets make a wonderful holiday gift, offering warmth and comfort for a restful night's sleep while adding a touch of seasonal charm to any bed.
- FEATURES: This sheet set includes a fully elastic fitted sheet to keep the sheet in place with deep pockets; Fits mattresses up to 18" up to 15" for twin sizes; Made with 100% cotton flannel construction and brushed three times for added softness. Includes one flat sheet, one fitted sheet and two standard pillowcases. The flat sheet measures at 102"L x 90"W, fitted sheet at 80"L x 60"W, and pillowcase at 20"L x 30"W.
23. Layer on more coziness. Add extra blankets to the beds, so family and guests can pull up a layer of warmth at night instead of cranking up the thermostat.
- Thicker & Softer: We've upgraded our classic flannel fleece blanket to be softer and warmer than ever, now featuring enhanced premium microfiber. Perfect by itself or as an extra sheet on cold nights, its fluffy and ultra-cozy softness offers the utmost comfort all year round.
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- Versatile: This lightweight blanket is the perfect accessory for your family and pets to get cozyโwhether used as an addition to your kid's room, as a home decor element, or as the designated cozy blanket bed for your pet.
- Premium Fabric: This throw blanket is made from brushed polyester flannel fleece, offering a smooth and breathable feel on both sides. The antistatic finish reduces static and is gentle on sensitive skin
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- Versatile Use: Whether you're enjoying a picnic in the park, camping under the stars, or just cozying up on the couch or sofa at home, this throw blanket has you covered
24. Warm the bed ahead of time. Slip a hot water bottle or microwave a rice-filled heating pad to further warm up your bed before you get in. Pets are good for this too, if you don’t mind sharing your space with them! Just don’t use an electric heating pad, which can cause burns if used too long.
25. Keep floors warm with rugs. Put rugs on hardwood floors during winter, especially in bedrooms. This keeps floors warmer and your feet will be cozier, too.
Cheaper ways to warm up
Now that you’ve optimized your home for energy efficiency and you’ve cozied up to the idea of snuggling into warmer clothing and blankets, here are some ways to heat your home inexpensively.
26. Let the sunlight in. Open your curtains, shades or blinds during the day to let sunlight warm the rooms naturally. Close off unused rooms by closing doors, so you donโt waste money on heating empty spaces.
27. Warm the air with a humidifier. Add moisture to the air with a humidifier to warm it up. It also helps to keep the bathroom door open after a hot shower or bath to allow moisture to infiltrate other rooms and provide warmth. (A kettle of water for warm tea puts moisture in the room, too).
- ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ผ๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ: Runs for up to 25 hours on low thanks to its SUPER LARGE capacity of 2.5 liters. The soothing moisture helps quickly relief congestion and dry throat.
- ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ฅ-๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฟ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฃ: LEVOIT listened to feedback from humidifier customers and upgraded to a easy top-fill design. No need to turn the water tank over or spilling water all over the place. Just ONE-STEP to remove the cover and easily fill the tank.
- ๐๐ช๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ค๐ง ๐พ๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐: Easily clean the inside of the tank through its big opening. The detachable designs and simple construction of the base leaves no hard-to-reach corners when cleaning. Maintaining health has never been this easy.
- ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ช๐๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐ก๐: Still be bothered by congestion, coughing, or dry mouth when sleeping? With a 25W power rating, the impressive 3-liter tank provides 25 hours of moisture, helping you sleep comfortably for 3 nights with one single refill.
- ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐ง๐ข๐ฃ-๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ก: With Levoit's upgraded Top-Fill design, there's no need to turn over the water tankโno spilling water all over the floor. Just remove the cover and fill the tank with ease.
- ๐ฎ-๐๐ก-๐ญ ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ & ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ: Add 10โ15 drops of your favorite essential oils to the base chamber to create a fragrant at-home spa.
28. Turn down the water temperature. Hot water heaters are normally set at 140 degrees. Moving them down to 120 degrees can save as much as 5% to 10% on water heating costs without sacrificing warmth.
29. Lower the thermostat. You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7ยฐ-10ยฐF for 8 hours a day from its normal setting, says the Department of Energy. The percentage of savings from setback is greater for buildings in milder climates than for those in more severe climates.
You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68ยฐF while you’re awake and setting it lower while you’re asleep or away from home.
30. Use a space heater. You can save money by lowering the thermostat in your house every day and using a space heater to heat only the rooms you use most. Use only heaters with safety features, and if you have animals or small children, make sure they are unable to get to the space heater. Also, make sure you have some way to remind yourself to turn it off when you leave the house or you’ll be wasting money on your electric bill. Some space heaters have timers, tip-over shut-off protection and remote controls to make your life easier.
- Powerful heat that fits everywhere: Dreo space heaters for indoor combines Hyperamics 1500W advanced PTC system with a new heat funnel design to deliver heat within seconds and enhance warm air circulation for up to 200% farther reach than traditional heaters.
- Unbreakable safety: Dreo goes beyond the unexpected to deliver peace of mind with every room heater. The innovative tilt-detection sensor improves accuracy and reliability for better tip-over protection, and built with V0 flame retardant materials, overheat protection, and safety plug, all certified by ETL.
- Ultimate temperature control: The enhanced NTC chipset brings more precision to turn your space heater with thermostat into a smart heating powerhouse, allowing you to set heat on a wider range from 41-95โ with 1โ increments, saving you energy while keeping you comfortable.
- 2 in 1 heater fan: This ceramic heater provides two heat levels, 1500W or 750W and one cool air fan, you can use it both for winter and summer. Thermostat control of the heater will turn the heater off when it reaches a preset temperature and turn the heater back on when the temperature dips below the thermostat setting
- Multi protection safety system: These heaters are made of flame retardant material avoiding any fire hazard. Automatic safety shutoff system will shut the heater off when the heater overheat. The tip over protection system will also shut the heater off when the heater was knocked over by accident and it will come back on automatically if it is up righted
- Compact and powerful: This Portable mini heater with build in carry handle helps to reinforce the potential of rather low electrical bills by using at the place where you need when you don't want to warm the full house with other centralized heaters
More energy-saving articles from Living on the Cheap:
- Home improvements to help you save on your heating bill
- Save big on winter utilities with these tips
- Tips to reduce your energy costs
- Ways to save water and reduce your water bill
The home I used to own had an attic fan, which I used in the summer to reduce the heat. However, in the winter it caused heat to escape into the attic. So I made a covered box for it which I closed in the fall and re-opened in the spring. The box top also had some insulation batting covering it.
In the summer, I turned it on mid-afternoon when the heat in the attic got quite high, and started radiating down into the living area. (I put a thermometer in the attic with a read-out in the living area)