DRB Capital Blog: Tips for Heating Your Home on a Budget

3 Great Tips for Heating Your Home

Your air conditioner is the major culprit in increasing your electricity bill. One of the greatest opportunities to lower your utility bill is during the times of year when you can open the windows and let the breeze come in. However, what happens when the temperature gets too cold? Making the decision to turn on the heater could be a costly one and your biggest house expense during the winter months.  By following these tips for heating your home you will be able to save money and still be warm.

1. Change Your Air Filters

The dirtier your air filters are, the more work your heating system has to do. The more work your heating system has to do, the more you will pay in your heating bill. Give your heating system a hand and change your air filters about every three months to keep it working at its best. The less your heater has to run, the more money you save.

2. Use Your Ceiling Fan

When people think of ceiling fans, they mainly think about cooling their house down during the summer months. Just as they can cool your house down, they can help heat it up! In a warm house, you can set your fan to a low speed, clockwise spin (updraft). This will force the warm air trapped in the ceiling to mix with the cooler air at the base of the house, which results in a warmer room. With this tip, you might see up to a 15% savings on your heating bill. For those that already have a ceiling fan in their home, this comes with no cost. If you do not have a ceiling fan, you may buy one at a home improvement store for around $100, an investment that will surely pay off.

3. Bundle Up

It is believed that for every one degree you set your thermostat back, you can save 1-3% on your annual heating costs. A good way to weather the cold is to wear lots of heavy clothes and to wrap yourself up in a lot of blankets. Blankets that are made with feathers are great natural insulation and keep us warm just like feathers help keep birds warm. If you already have a lot of blankets, this is an easy fix to lowering your electricity bill. If not, you can purchase a feather comforter from anywhere between $100 and $500. While that may seem like a lot, this expense will be seldom in comparison to the amount you will be saving. You may also have the option to buy these items at a discount especially during January when retailers tend to heavily discount bedding. Another option is to purchase heavy, dark curtains to keep the cold air out of your house. This will help maintain the cold outdoors with minimum penetration into your house.

If you are having trouble keeping up with the bills and have a structured settlement, you may be able to get cash for your structured settlement as a lump sum to get ahead of the bills. We want to wish each and every one of you success in 2015. If you or your independent advisor have any questions about how you can get structured settlement cash, please call us at 877-894-4541.