I recently heard that the cost of heating your home is expected to rise drastically this winter.
Add that to all of the other rising costs such as gas and food, you’ll want to check out all of the easy ways to save money this fall below.
There are several little things that you can do today that will add up to big savings for you and your budget!
On Saving Dollars and Sense, I want to convey the message that we are Changing the Way you Save, and the most important part of the equation is change.
Take a look at the list below and see what areas in your life you can change today.
Ditch the Cable
One thing we did a while back was finally let go of cable service.
Gasp! I know.
It was the hardest thing to let go of for my family, especially my husband. But we replaced it with Amazon Prime which everyone LOVES!
Plus we found out something by accident.
My husband decided to reorder cable to watch the Superbowl last year, while on the phone with our internet service provider (who also supplies cable) he let him know that since we already had a cable line for internet and an HDTV we would get basic cable free.
It turned out to be true.
So I encourage you to reconsider paying a cable bill at all.
READ MORE: Budget-Friendly Cable Alternatives
Change Your Bedding
As soon as the chill is in the air at night, switch out your regular sheets for flannel sheets.
We also make sure to have an extra blanket or two underneath our quilts at night to trap our body heat.
Nighttime is a good time to turn down the thermostat and save some money on heating since everyone should be snug in their toasty warm beds.
Wear Appropriate Clothing
This might seem silly to have on the list.
But there are some in my family who would love to wear shorts and short-sleeved clothes all year long if they could.
Unfortunately, it can get pretty chilly here in the north which makes that clothing combination a bit uncomfortable.
Here’s a list of clothes to wear indoors to stay warm during the winter:
- Warm Sweaters or Pullovers: Thick, cozy sweaters or pullovers can provide extra warmth indoors.
- Thermal or Flannel Pajamas: Opt for thermal or flannel pajamas to keep warm when sleeping or lounging.
- Long-sleeve Shirts: Layer long-sleeve shirts under your sweaters for added warmth.
- Fleece or Flannel-lined Leggings: These can be worn under your pants or as standalone bottoms for extra insulation.
- Fleece-lined Lounge Pants: Comfortable lounge pants with a soft fleece lining are great for staying warm at home.
- Socks: Wear warm, woolen or thermal socks to keep your feet toasty. Thick, fuzzy socks are also a good option.
- Slippers or House Shoes: Insulated slippers or house shoes can help keep your feet warm on cold floors.
- Robe or Bathrobe: A plush, warm bathrobe is perfect for staying cozy indoors.
- Beanie or Knit Hat: Keeping your head warm indoors can help maintain overall body warmth.
- Fingerless Gloves or Mittens: These can be handy when using a computer or reading while keeping your hands warm.
- Warm Blankets or Throws: Wrap yourself in a warm, cozy blanket when sitting or lying down.
- Shawls or Wraps: A shawl or wrap can be draped over your shoulders for added warmth.
- Thermal Underwear: If it’s exceptionally cold indoors, you can wear thermal or long underwear as a base layer.
- Leg Warmers: These can be a stylish and practical addition to keep your legs warm.
- Layered Clothing: Just like when you’re outdoors, layering your clothing can help you adjust to varying indoor temperatures.
- Fluffy Socks or Slipper Socks: These are especially comfortable for keeping your feet warm.
- Turtleneck Tops: Turtleneck tops can provide extra insulation for your neck.
- Fuzzy, Insulated Hoodies: A fuzzy or insulated hoodie can be a perfect casual indoor garment.
The key to staying warm indoors during the winter is layering and choosing clothing made from warm and insulating materials like fleece, flannel, wool, and thermal fabrics. Adjust your clothing to suit your comfort, as indoor temperatures can vary depending on your heating system and personal preferences.
I actually look forward to the time of year when I can pull out my sweater and wool socks!
I have learned that if I am wearing cold weather clothing then I can stand for the house to be a little chillier.
We’ve been known to keep our thermostat at 62 degrees.
When dressed appropriately, with a fire burning in the fireplace, this is very comfortable for us and our wallets.
Weatherproof your Home
Now is the time to weatherproof your home.
Check all of your windows and doors for drafts and seal with caulk to keep the heat in and your bill under control.
We also use weatherproofing kits liike these and put plastic over our windows which helps a lot, and when done properly you can hardly tell it is there.
You could also add insulation to your attic to keep the heat in.
The less heat you lose, the less your heating bill will cost.
Save on Dinner
I would love to say that we eat every dinner at home to save since I know this is best for the budget and your health.
But the reality is that we eat out about once a week.
So I put together this post 5 Ways to Save on your Restaurant Bill.
It highlights all the things we do to make going out a little easier on our pocket.
Plan your Menu
I have found over the years that when I am actively menu planning each week I save so much more on my grocery bill.
It never fails, if I don’t have a plan I walk around the store trying to come up with 5-7 meals on the spot.
I add more and more to my cart because I haven’t taken the time to prepare and can’t remember what I have at home in the cupboard.
My bill always reflects if I have taken time to menu plan.
READ MORE: How to Begin Menu Planning
Use Coupons
Those tiny little slips of paper that I used to think were a waste of my time, are actually CASH!
You can search for all the coupons available for anything you need in the coupons database.
You can read this post Extreme Couponing 101 to learn more about how to coupon.
READ MORE: How to Save on Groceries
Shop Online
More and more I am convinced that I get the very best deals when I shop online!
Not only do I have a plethora of stores at my fingertips where I can search for the best price, but I can almost always find a coupon code to add to a sale.
I find that now that I know how to search for deals online I can get brand new, name-brand clothes for my family – for the same price I used to spend visiting thrift stores and garage sales!
READ MORE: Online Shopping Deals
Join Loyalty Clubs
Most of the stores, gas stations, and restaurants that you visit regularly have customer loyalty programs that you can join.
You can earn rewards for visiting them which you are already going to do anyway.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a cashier ask someone if they would like to sign up for a store card and the person declines.
Maybe they are tapped for time?
But it takes less than 5 minutes to sign up, and you’ll earn rewards from free dinners, gas, and even cash!
If you are planning to spend at that establishment anyway, why wouldn’t you want to get the most for your money?
Avoid Late Fees
It seems like no big deal.
You are a little late on a bill and have to pay a couple of extra dollars, you return movies late and the late fees get added to your account.
A couple of dollars here and there can add up quickly until you find yourself making an extra bill payment each month just in late fees or overdraft charges.
Be mindful of those dates, and get rid of the thinking that it’s just a couple extra dollars.
Reevaluate Everything
Every couple of months my husband and I sit down and look over all of our bills together.
We are looking for areas that have gotten fat and could use a little trimming.
Specifically cable, internet, and cell phone bills.
Take some time to call each of their competitors and see what is the best price they can give you for the service you need.
Then take the amount they give you and call your service provider to see if they can beat it.
We have never had our provider not try to beat the competitor’s price to keep us, but sometimes they just couldn’t do it and we had to make the switch to a competitor.
This is a great way to scale back on your utility bills and put that money back into your pocket!
Do you have any other tips that you think deserve to be added to the list?
Feel free to include them in the comments below so we can all learn to change the way we save!
And always make sure that you’re tracking your expenses.
This printable budgeting worksheet is super helpful for keeping track of everything in one place.
