Frugal Tips for Winter

© Cyndi Roberts

Cold weather is coming... for some parts of the country it's already here! These warm tips will help you stay comfy and cozy, and hopefully, save on heating and repair bills.

1. Before using your furnace the first time this winter, check furnace filters to make sure they are clean. Replace if needed. And vacuum vents.

2. Open your drapes during the day to let sunshine in and close them at night to keep cold air out.

3. Insulate your hot water heater and any outside pipes.

4. Install insulating kits behind electrical plugs that are on outside walls.

5. Lower your thermostat at night.

6. To help prevent frozen pipes, open the cabinet doors under sinks and let the warm room air circulate around pipes.

7. Make sure your fireplace damper is working properly. Use a screen to keep children and pets from getting too close.

8. Make sure your chimney is clean... dirty chimneys are a fire hazard.

9. Also be very careful if you use space heaters. They may not be very energy efficient and it's easy for children and pets to get burned by them.

10. Reverse the switch on your ceiling fans to they blow upward, toward the ceiling so heat that naturally rises is forced back down into the room.

11. Outdoors, make sure your shrubs and perennials are mulched. It can be expensive to replace these plants in the spring.

12. Your outdoor dog uses more calories in cold weather in order to keep warm, so he needs to be fed more.

Helping you live the good life... on a budget! Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly e-newsletter and founder of the website of the same name.

Visit http://www.cynroberts.com to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the e-newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".