winter season Archives - Everday Resources

Winter is cold for a lot of the United States. Winter is known for its snow and ice and below-freezing temperatures. While it can be a beautiful time of year, it can also become expensive.

Utility bills sometimes skyrocket during the cold months. If you want your home to be at a cozy temperature, your furnace may have to work extra hard, raising your bills to all-time highs.

But what if you are on a budget and cannot afford higher winter utility bills? Continue reading below to find out our top ways to save money on your utility bills this winter.

Insulate Your Home

Having a well-insulated home is crucial to keeping your utility bills low. Insulation will keep warm air inside and the cold air outside. Your furnace won’t work as hard to heat up your home when you have well-insulated walls, doors, and windows.

Open Curtains This Winter

This may sound inaccurate, but it is true. Having open curtains in the winter can allow the sun to shine through. The sun is a natural form of heat and can allow your home to warm up during the day. Be sure to close them at night when the sun goes down.

Keep Your Thermostat Lower

If you want lower utility bills you can try keeping your thermostat a degree or two lower. While it may not be as warm as you would like, it will reduce the amount you are spending.

Replace Furnace Filters This Winter

Replacing your furnace filter regularly, especially at the beginning of winter, will help your furnace work properly. You will know when to replace your filter when it has a layer of dust or dirt covering it.

Add Weatherstrips To Doors And Windows

If you add weatherstrips to your doors and windows it can be a great way to lower your utility bills. Weatherstrips will block and breeze or cold air from coming into your house.

Buy A Smart Thermostat

Buying a smart thermostat can help reduce your utility bills as well. The new technology in these thermostats is more accurate and precise than older thermostats. They will regulate your temperature and allow you to set them from your phone.

Check Your Vents This Winter

Sometimes people forget to check their air vents and don’t realize that they are blocked. A blocked air vent won’t allow the warm air from the furnace to be disbursed into your home. Your furnace will have to work double to accommodate the blocked vent.

Turn Down Your Water Heater

During the winter you may enjoy a hot shower. But having your water heater set too high can also mean a higher utility bill. Adjust your water heater’s temperature a few degrees to help save money.

The Take-Away

Although winter can be a more expensive time of year for utilities, it doesn’t have to be. With some adjustments and quick fixes, you can help alleviate the high bills and still be just as cozy and warm.

You probably don’t like to leave the house other than for household essentials and work routines during winter, right? Well, that’s the case with most of those living in chilly regions around the world. However, life can easily become boring inside the house, and old habits can get uninteresting. Whether you’re on holiday or taking a break from work, here are 8 of the best indoor winter hobbies.

1. Listening To TED Talks

If you’re a lover of information in the sense that you seek knowledge about anything at any given time, TED talks are the perfect indoor hobby for you. You can check out the most famous talks and discussions to enhance your perspective.

2. Sewing and Tailoring Hobbies

This idea doesn’t need an introduction since, at some point in your life, you must have seen someone knit or sew a clothing item. Being as versatile as indoor hobbies get, you can sew your own scarves, socks, or even sweaters to try on.

3. Scrapbooking Hobbies

If you’re really stuck inside the house due to extreme winter conditions, don’t let yourself down. Try to make a scrapbook and track your journey through family photos. Remembering nostalgic and enjoyable times can surely regulate the production of “stress” hormones in the body.

4. Painting Hobbies

Why let your thoughts and words go to waste? Try out the best oil and watercolor paints at your disposal to express your thoughts onto a bright and ready canvas. Instead of thinking in terms of words, emotions, and facial expressions, try to focus on the flamboyant color combinations present on your color palette.

5. Household Restorations

It might be time to take care of that broken chair or loose sink in your house. This way, you can avoid the morning frustration of stubbing your toe on the broken furniture.

6. Plan and Workout

Did you previously have trouble starting and sticking to a fitness plan? Winter’s the perfect opportunity to work on your stamina and explosive power. Use a well-ventilated space to create a home gym and start working out by taking tips and guidance from professional trainers.

7. Practicing Fighting Techniques

If you want to let go of your emotions and calm your frustrated mind, try practicing martial arts or jiu-jitsu. Meditation techniques can help you become more focused and concentrated, provided there’s a given task at hand.

8. Start a Healthy Diet

Being indoors gives you an ample amount of time to take care of yourself, whether emotionally, mentally, or physically. Surprisingly, taking up a healthy and planning your foods in advance can offer physical as well as mental issue relief.

Conclusion

The abovementioned hobbies aren’t the only ones you can pick up during your time indoors this winter. You can start cooking, working on your fashion, house improvement, learning new languages, and making new online friends. There’s a wide variety of hobbies and difficult tasks that you can perform.