Ah, here we are back to the cold weather months for much of the US.  Those who live in the deep South do not have the added burden of heating their homes in the winter.  But it is an annual jolt to many budgets which causes us to look for ways to save money and still keep warm.

The same tips that come out each year are sound and will help you save on your heating bills.  Also, if you use these suggestions to keep your house warm in the winter, you will also see a savings of electricity during the warm weather months as well.  So here we go:

Weather-stripping Works.  Make sure all of your windows and doors have adequate weather-stripping which seals up when they are closed.  This keeps the cold from coming in and the heat from going out.

Seal Cold Air Spots.  If you feel cold air coming in around electrical outlets, you need to seal these off with inexpensive foam gaskets found at most hardware stores.  Fill any and all cracks in the dry-wall or other wall sub-structures.

Programmable Thermostats.  These used to be a luxury item on more expensive houses.  Not any more.  They are now an important part of managing the energy usage of your house.  The recommended temperature settings are 65˚ during daytime hours when no one is home.  Then, 68˚ when you are home, and finally 55˚ to 60˚ at night when you sleep.

Ceiling Fans Help.  Since heated air rises. Most of your heat is hovering at the ceiling level of your rooms.  Install ceiling fans in the most used rooms, and then set them to push air down on the lowest setting.  You will be surprised at how much this helps.

Have Your Furnace Checked.  Do not forget to have your furnace checked for efficiency.  All of the other savings from the above recommendations can be washed out by not having a penny-pinching system in place.

Wear More Clothing.  When you are in your house during the winter months, wear heavier clothing to cut down on the cold feelings from a lowered thermostat.