12 Ways To Keep Warm for Less This Winter

Some people dread the coming of winter because of the cold, stormy weather. Other people dread the coming of winter because they have to work in the above-described weather.

But many people this year will be dreading the cold winter because they know how expensive home heating is and they simply can’t afford it.

Here are some ways to keep warm without breaking the bank this winter:

1. Look Into Free Winterization Programs

Check with your local community service agency or electricity provider to see if any free winterization programs are available in your community. These programs often target the elderly and low-income and can provide everything from insulating strips for your doors to plastic to seal out the drafts around your windows to a full-fledged insulation package that adds extra insulation to your attic and wall spaces.

2. Gather Around the Fire

Use a wood stove or fireplace to heat the main room of your house and have everyone gather there.

Fireplaces are much less efficient than wood stoves, but both can be an option if you have no other source of heat.

3. Harvest Free Firewood

If you have a wood stove or fireplace, check with your local national forest office for free or low-cost permits that allow you to go and harvest your own firewood at no charge.

Please note that this can be dangerous if you have never chopped up your own wood, so go with a knowledgeable friend the first time and be careful with chainsaws and other tools used to harvest firewood.

4. Go Old-School

Do like the old timers used to do before central heating was common.

They would open the curtains to let in sunlight during the day, then close them as soon as the sun went down to keep the heat in.

They would gather in one heated room to watch TV, sew, and read together, rather than each person going to their own room, thus limiting the number of rooms that needed to be heated.

They would drape heavy blankets over the windows to keep drafts out, and over doorways leading out of the heated room to keep the heat contained to that room.

5. Look Into Veteran Discounts

If you are a veteran, check with your local veteran’s services program to see if they provide similar assistance programs that cover everything from your utility bills to winterization services for your home.

6. Seek Short-Term Assistance

Check with your community service agency to see if programs are available to pay your utilities during the winter.

Some communities offer programs where, if you are a senior citizen or qualify as low income, they will pay one month’s worth of your electric or gas bill in order to help you keep your heat on during the winter.

7. Try a Budget Payment Plan

Check whether your electric or gas utility offers a “budget” payment plan. Instead of sky-high bills in the winter and minuscule bills in the summer, the utility company will average out your usage over the course of a year, and you pay a set price each month so that your budget won’t take a hit from high swings during the coldest months.

8. Bundle Up

Wear extra clothing so you can keep your thermostat lower. Just putting on an extra sweater or sweatshirt will let you keep your thermostat a bit lower than usual, saving on heating costs.

Also, when you are sleeping or watching TV, you can lower your thermostat considerably just by tossing on an extra blanket to keep you warm.

9. Mind Your Space

Only heat the space you’re in. Instead of heating your whole house, consider turning down the thermostat and using a space heater to warm up just the room you are using.

10. Don’t Neglect Your Filters

Change the filter on your furnace and consider having your furnace tuned up. This can help your furnace work much more efficiently and economically.

11. Leave the House

Spend more time out of your house so that you can keep your home’s thermostat at a minimum. The library and the mall can offer warm places to hang out if you have limited or no heat at home.

12. Seek Warmer Shelter

During the coldest days of winter, many communities provide “warming shelters” for those without heat to come in and warm up.

And a few reminders:

• NEVER use outdoor appliances (barbecue grills, outdoor kerosene heaters, etc.) indoors to provide heat or to cook. The carbon monoxide from these appliances can be deadly.
• If you are using a space heater to keep warm, be sure the cord is not frayed and that it is plugged directly into the wall, not into an extension cord, to prevent fires.
• Candles are fine for the occasional special dinner or to light your way during a power outage, but they shouldn’t be used to provide heat and should never be left unattended.
• Make sure your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector are in good working order. Both of these devices help prevent injuries and deaths commonly associated with heating your home during the winter.