4 Ways to Save Money This Winter

Winter conjures up images of cozy nights in front of the fireplace and Saturday mornings sledding with the neighborhood kids. But for a lot of us, it also means hefty heating bills and holiday shopping debt that can leave our monthly budgets with a touch of frostbite.

4 ways to offset pesky seasonal expenses and save money this winter.

1. Turn down the heat

The simplest way to cut your heating bill is to turn down the heat. Instead of keeping the thermostat at 72°F degrees during the day, try cutting it to 68°F. At night, you can drop it even further. While the optimal sleeping temperature is highly debatable, both the National Institutes for Health and the UK’s Sleep Council agree it’s somewhere between 60°F and 66°F.

2. Winterize your home

Insulating windows and doors can dramatically cut down on heating bills by blocking drafts that suck out the heat. There are a number of simple, do-it-yourself (DIY) ways to block drafts and winter-proof your home, whether you’re a renter or a home owner. For example, consider putting weather stripping on windows and doors, recaulking leaky spots outside, hanging insulating curtains, applying window film, or using a door snake against a drafty door.

3. Eat in

The temptation to order out can be strong, especially when the days are shorter and running to the grocery store requires braving the cold. But preparing meals at home is a big cost saver. You can even make it fun by planning your meals through the countless food-dedicated sites and blogs online.

4. Try Billshark

When your heating bill skyrockets, you might be able to reduce some of your other utility bills through third-party negotiating services like Billshark, which can lower monthly bills from service providers such as cable, internet, satellite radio, cell phones and home security. These expert, third-party negotiators are typically able to lower bills 85% of the time. Billshark is free to use; they operate by taking a percentage of the savings they negotiate on your behalf.