1. Make socks your friend: Even with the room heater on, the floor can get really cold during the night, and especially in winter. Having socks on when walking around the house, instead of turning the heat all the way up can save lots of energy in the long run.

2. Tap on the available heat: Simple household activities such as cooking, taking a shower, or even ironing the clothes generate reasonable amounts of heat. You could tap on these to keep the house warm during winter. One way to do this is leaving the bathroom door open when taking a shower, and not turning the ventilation fan on. This should allow heat from the bathroom disperse to other rooms.

3. Turn down the heat by 5 or 10 percent: Turning the heat down by a few degrees can save you lots of energy (up to 10% of heating bills) in the long run. Your body won’t notice the difference, but will instead re-adjust to the temperatures. Consider turning down the heater when leaving the house for a few hours.

4. Lower water heater temperatures too: Turning down the water heater thermostat by 20 degrees say from 140 to 120 degrees can contribute to lower heating bills as well.

5. Upgrade to a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat works a lot better than the old ones. The thermostat makes it possible to adjust heat levels at predetermined times, as well as turn off the heater completely when no one is in the house. Although you may have to part with $80 for one, you’ll most likely save so much more in a year and more to come once it is installed. If you want more tips on cheaper heating, consult this blog at Ethanol Fireplace Pros.

6. Seal the house to prevent unnecessary heat loss: Doors, windows, and air vents can let warm air escape leaving the heater to work harder to maintain a constant temperature. Ensuring these are correctly shut, and the vents well sealed however creates an envelope of warm air, thus minimizing heat loss. This also means the heater won’t have to work as hard to keep the room/house warm.

7. Call for regular service and maintenance: Both oil and electric heaters should be serviced by an experienced technician at least once a year. It’s by having the unit serviced that it can run more efficiently with little to no breakdowns. You also ought to ensure the air filters are clean and clear to facilitate proper air movement.

8. Ensure windows are covered at night: Having curtains over your windows at night not only improves privacy in the house, but also reduces heat loss. This is particularly crucial for older homes with old windows. You however should draw the curtains to let daylight in during the day. Daylight brings warmth – allowing sunrays into the house helps heat the house.

9. Ensure the outdoor unit is well-taken care of: Most people tend to overlook the outdoor unit forgetting it is equally important as the indoor unit is. Checking the unit for condensate, blocked pan, or overgrowth on the same, and ensuring everything is clear will enable it to continue functioning optimally throughout the cold season. Be sure to get rid of twigs, grass, leaves, and overhanging branches around the same.

10. Look out for air leaks: Air leaks in the house can be the biggest cause spikes in your home energy bill. Inspect the house for air leaks using a candle. Hold a candle flame next to windows, air vents, the door, and anywhere you suspect there’s a leak. If the candle flame is blown to one direction, then that’s a clear sign of a leak. Inspecting the area farther should help you determine the exact spot, then use weather-stripping or caulk to seal it off. Adding some insulation may help too.

One of the best moments in a couple’s life is when they start a family. It adds more pleasure and happiness when you have a baby and you will hold it in your arms. Before you plan for a baby, it is important that you know about all the costs and if you will be able to afford it. After you have a baby, your expenses will go up for the long term. So you must check your income before finalizing this decision.

It starts from regular appointments with the doctors, then going for medical checkups and routine investigations, and then you make the final bookings for the day of delivery. It can be quite heavy on your wallet. And these expenses will keep on increasing even after the delivery, because you now have three heads to look after. You have to buy all the necessary things for the baby. Starting from diapers to pieces of cloth to pram, the number is uncountable.

When the time comes and you know that you are going to become a parent, you feel very excited and many parents waste a lot of money in this excitement. They start buying all sorts of toys and clothes when they don’t even know when the baby is going to come. Hence it is important to keep your emotions intact and not waste money like this. You should save this money for prenatal care. It can be used for all the doctor’s appointments, ultrasounds and regular health checkups. It can cost up to $2000 on an average.

When you are approaching the delivery date, you have to make bookings in the hospital. A normal delivery can cost up to $15000 and a cesarean operation can cost up to $20000. It is important to have an insurance cover before you start your family as these expenses can be included in it. Once you have the baby, then it is time to buy clothes, diapers, feeders, milk, sleeping bed, pram and toys. It should not cost you more than $5000 on an average.

Have you set up any financial goals for your future or is most of your time gone daydreaming thinking what would have happened if you had some extra money in a month? There are so many people who are living from paycheck to paycheck and are never able to figure out how they spent their money in a month. It is important to make a personal budget and take full control of your money.

If you want to regain control of your cash flow, it is important to do a personal budgeting. This will help you to start meeting your financial goals because you have got a plan for yourself and how you are going to spend your money.

By following the simple budgeting strategies, you will be able to save a lot of money for paying off the existing debts or for making a down payment on a home or to buy a new car.

Every successful person or business have a perfect plan of how they will be using their money and keep a constant watch on it. They are able to control their finances and make smart decisions with their money. You can use the same strategies for your personal finances and become successful. You need to follow three personal budgeting strategies in order to create a good cash flow

Income: There are many people who really do not know how much they actually earn in a month. It is important that you know exactly how much you are earning in a month because money is your most valuable wealth budgeting tool so that it can be allocated properly.

Expenses: This is the part that everyone hates. It’s always a good idea to track down all expenses from your mortgage to the soda you bought at the convenience store. Keeping a track of all the expenses will help you to understand where your money is is going in a month.

Set your financial goals: When you have the perfect understanding of your income and expenses, prioritize your financial goals. You will come to know exactly how much you can earn in a month and how much expenses you can do in a month. You can always find ways to tweak your expenses in a month so that you are able to create more savings and this can be used to pay off your existing debts, save for a rainy day and start investing in your retirement and future.