Featured Links

Other Topics






Quote of the Day

"The future will be better tomorrow."

Dan Quayle








 




 
Featured Money Articles

Ideas for Making Money Online
There are numerous ways to make money online. If you own a computer and hook up to the internet then you can make money online. Millions of people use the internet to make money everyday. Some may make a little extra spending money while others are making ...

Learn All About Feng Shui Money Trees
A feng shui money tree is an indoor plant used in order to attract prosperity and wealth into any space. The feng shui money tree's botanical name is Pachira, and its care requires the average sun light and watering that any other indoor plant would ...

Money to be made online
Money to be made online Millions of people go online every day, looking to make money. Some are just looking for a little extra cash, others want to turn a hobby into an additional source of income, and there are those who are looking to build a home ...




10 Easy Tips To Save Money On Your Home Heating Bills
 
With energy costs higher than they have ever been in recent history, it pays to find ways to reduce your home heating costs. I put together some tips that are easy, cost effective and will all add up to reduce your home heating bills by a significant amount! You don't need to be Bob Villa either. Some take just a minute or two. Even small changes will add up to big savings over the course of this cold winter!

Here are the 10 tips that I have personally used to save on my home heating costs:

1. Head down to the basement and reduce the setting on your hot water thermostat by about 10 degrees. I wouldn't go below 120-115 degrees. The adjustment dial is typically a red knob towards the bottom of the water tank.

2. While you are downstairs, make sure you have clean filters for your central air-heating unit. A dirty and clogged filter will force your unit to work much harder and stay on longer as it struggles to fresh air through the clogged filter to heat the rest of your house.

3. Check your air ducts for gaps, leaks or disconnects. If you have any disconnects or leaks in your ductwork, your heating bills could be 25% higher than they need to be if these gaps were sealed. If you can't do this on your own, hire a professional. This expert can also clean your ducts for added efficiency.

4. Adjust your thermostat a few degrees lower. Believe me, this really adds up. It may not seem like much of a difference to you, but you will notice the difference when you get a lower bill each month!

5. While we are on the subject of thermostats, consider replacing yours if it is not programmable. The reason is, you can set the thermostat so the temperature setting in your house is lower at night than during the day, when you are awake. Also, if you are away at work during the day, you can set it for a lower temperature and have it programmed to start heating the house a little bit before you come home. These aren't too expensive and are easy to install and configure yourself.

6. Insulate your attic. Heat rises, right? If your attic isn't properly insulated, all of the heat in your house (and your money) goes right through the roof. Literally! This does require some effort on your part, but following through on this tip will save you a ton of money over the years. Measure the square footage of your attic and buy rolls of insulation, greater than R-13 but no higher than R-30. Wear a mask and gloves when working with insulation because it irritates the skin.

7. Find those leaks and cracks! If you were to add up all of the small cracks and holes in your house, they would probably add up to a small window, wide open, letting cold air in and hot air out. Take the time to find gaps in windows, doors, pipes, electrical and phone lines, your dryer duct and much more. Put weather-strips around your doors and windows. You can buy insulation foam that comes in a can with a straw at the top that allows you to fill in tight spaces. It expands to fill even the smallest cracks. Of all of the tasks, this was the most fun finding and filling these gaps all around the house.

8. Close the vents in rooms that you do not use. I have one room in my house that is not currently in use. I shut the hot air ducts and made sure the windows and doors were properly sealed to limit energy leakage. Why waste your money heating up extra square footage of your house that you don't even use?

9. Open drapes and shades for all of your windows during the day to let the sun heat your home. In the evening, pull them back down for added insulation. It is amazing how much direct sunlight streaming into your home helps to heat things up.

10. Your fireplace can help and hurt your heating costs. If you are not using your fireplace, make sure the damper is closed. When it is closed, inspect the damper and feel if cold air is still leaking in. If you are using your fireplace, make sure the heating in the rest of your house is reduced or turned off.

Taking the time to implement these tips will drastically reduce your home heating bills. You can get most of them done in just one day, but the payoff will last for as long as you live there! I followed through on each one of these tips and the following winter, my bills were about 25% lower, saving about $100 a month! So roll up your sleeves follow these tips and start saving money on your heating costs!

About the author:

Greg Quincy is the publisher of the website http://www.financialtipsforyou.com, offering his money saving tips and other personal finance advice that he has gained from working in the financial industry and the economic challenges of raising a family. Copyright © 2005 http://www.FinancialTipsForYou.com


Google


Money News


Las Vegas Journal Stimulus Money for a Mob Museum. Got a Problem?
New York Times, United States - 40 minutes ago
Instead, Mr. Summers said, the money is likely to go to federal agencies for disbursement based on criteria not yet decided. Slated to open in 2010, ...
Reid breaks news to Nevada leaders: Forget earmarks Las Vegas Review - Journal
all 7 news articles

New York Times

Your Money When Cash Is Scarce, There’s Comfort in Miles
New York Times, United States - 55 minutes ago
... annual report that’s worth viewing each January, and this one may offer happier news — of free beach vacations or extra money to pay your bills. ...

Bogus bidder: I've got the lease money
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 2 hours ago
By Patty Henetz The money's in the bank for Tim DeChristopher, who said Friday he has reached his goal of amassing $45000 to make his down payment on oil ...
Eco-activist raises money to buy BLM leases Deseret News
Bogus lease bidder reaches fundraising goal Salt Lake Tribune
all 88 news articles

San Jose defense lawyer indicted on federal money laundering charges
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 8 hours ago
By Sean Webby and Howard Mintz Embattled San Jose defense lawyer Jamie Harmon has been indicted on federal charges of laundering money for a client who was ...

To save money, Calif. state offices to close twice a month ...
USA Today - 53 minutes ago
Exceptions: prisons, hospitals, parks and some other agencies, mostly those that generate money for the state, The Associated Press reports.
Governor orders state offices to close 2 days a month Los Angeles Times
all 197 news articles

China Daily

Mackenzie Hedge Fund Loses Money With Madoff, Globe Says
Bloomberg - 13 hours ago
Mackenzie, a unit of IGM Financial Inc., wrote off the value of the money invested with Madoff after his alleged Ponzi scheme came to light, the Globe said, ...
How to avoid a Madoff fund San Francisco Chronicle
Madoff 'victims' do math, realize they profited The Associated Press
Investors seek more than $1 billion in fees paid to feeder fund MarketWatch
Financial Times - Reuters
all 278 news articles

Utah: Student Raises Money to Help Pay for Land Bids
New York Times, United States - 4 minutes ago
He ended up the winner of 22500 acres between Arches and Canyonlands National Parks but acknowledged he did not have the money to pay for the land. ...

New York Times

Sheriff jailed for pocketing money meant for inmate meals
CNN - 3 hours ago
Under the law, sheriffs are permitted to keep -- as personal income -- money left over after purchasing food for inmates. The state provides sheriffs with ...
Morgan County sheriff agrees to improve food, stop pocketing food ... al.com
A sheriff behind bars The Huntsville Times - al.com
As His Inmates Grew Thinner, a Sheriff’s Wallet Grew Fatter New York Times
al.com
all 926 news articles

CBS News

BRIEF-US House bill would require $50 bln TARP money for ...
Forbes, NY - 10 hours ago
Would require quarterly disclosures by TARP recipients about their use of federal money. * Would condition the release of the final $350 billion in TARP ...
Key lawmaker sees action on bailout bill The Associated Press
FACTBOX: Details of House bill to close TARP loopholes Reuters
Frank proposal would lend oversight to bank bailout The Miami Herald
Reason Online - Voice of America
all 351 news articles

Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap: Jan. 8
TheStreet.com - 12 hours ago
Jim Cramer recommended Caterpillar (CAT Quote - Cramer on CAT - Stock Picks) as the fourth of his "Top 5 Dow Stocks" on his "Mad Money" TV show Thursday. ...
Cramer's Mad Money - Madoff Is a Serial Killer (1/8/09) Seeking Alpha
Cramer's Dow Jones All-Stars CNBC
Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap: Jobless Report No Surprise TheStreet.com
TheStreet.com - TheStreet.com
all 19 news articles