How to Save Money on Utilities this Holiday Season

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Duck brand for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

The leaves have fallen and snow is on it’s way. The extra expenses of the holiday season are not far behind. That is why it is so important this time of year to cut energy costs. Fortunately, there are some very simple things you can do that can make a huge difference in your winter utility bills. Winterizing your home does not have to be complicated or stressful.. Very simple changes can provide you with huge returns.

Here are 7 ways to cut your energy costs.

Turn off  and unplug things that aren’t being used. Vampire energy can still use quite a lot of energy. This is an easy task to have your kids help you with. I know families who have made it a challenge to see how much they can save by simply turning off lights and appliances when not in use. They were then able to take that money and use it for something fun.

Inspect your windows. When it is cold outside, windows and doors become a prime spot for energy loss. This is especially true if you have an older house. Many times you can put your hand next to windows or doors and feel where cold air is coming in. For windows, a really simple solution is Duck® brand Roll-On® Window Insulation Kit.

I don’t have a lot of time to devote to projects around the house, so I love how simple this is. We took a few of our draftiest windows and had them covered within just a few minutes. The windows still have great visibility and let lots of light through. They are easy to pull off once the weather warms up too.

Install dimmer switches or smart light bulbs. With it getting darker in the evenings, electricity use tends to go up. Lower your electricity usage by installing dimmer switches. Smart light bulbs can help automate your electricity usage a bit by scheduling lights to go off at certain times, especially your front porch light, so they aren’t on longer than they need to be.

Don’t frequently adjust the thermostat. Buy a smart thermostat and leave it alone. This is especially important in the fall, when the weather seems to be all over the place. It’s much more cost effective to throw on a sweater than to heat up your entire home by a few degrees.

Cook strategically. During the summer months, we often avoid using the oven, whenever possible, because it heats up the house. This works in our favor during the winter months. If your house is cold later in the day, cook dinner earlier to warm up the house a bit or throw in a breakfast casserole at night. You’ll have breakfast taken care of the next morning and heat up your kitchen After turning the oven off (provided young kids are asleep), you could take this a step further by leaving the oven open when you are done as it cools.

Seal any cracks around doors. We have a few doors in our house that aren’t totally sealed and when it is cold outside, you can actually feel the cold air coming in. That not only makes the temperature in your house harder to regulate but it also increases your heating costs. We like Duck® Brand MAX Strength Silicone Weatherstrip Seals as an easy fix.

Replace your furnace filter. This is one chore that often gets forgotten but it can have such a huge impact. Your heating system will have to work harder if your furnace filter is dirty. As a general rule, if it looks dirty, change it. If not, aim for replacing it every 2-3 months, depending on the needs of your home.

Enter to Win

Want some help getting your home ready for winter? Enter to win a fantastic prize pack from Duck® Brand that includes:

• 1 Duck® Brand Roll-On® Window Insulation Kit
• – 1 Duck® Brand Socket Sealer®
• – 1 Duck® Brand MAX Strength Silicone Weatherstrip Seals
• – 1 Duck® Brand MAX Strength Clear Triple Draft Seal
• Brand must include appropriate trademark symbols on the first mention (Duck® brand Roll-On® Window Insulation Kit)

Duck Brand Weatherization Prize Pack giveaway!