A few years ago when I decided to exit the workforce and stay home with my children, we started watching our utility bills very closely. At the time, we were living in a home that been built in the 1960’s and we were looking to do anything we could to even save $20 per month. Although replacing our old single paned metal windows was not an option, we found all sorts of places we could improve. First, we just decided we were keeping the house unrealistically warm 24/7 during the winter. We found that we slept better and would save a few dollars if we simply lowered the thermostat a few degrees while we were sleeping. Another spot where we paid attention was our front door. The house had shifted some and left small cracks in between the door and the doorway. We identified everywhere we could see light and applied foam insulation. We used the type of insulation that has adhesive on the back and is usually referred to as weather stripping. This stuff is cheap and is an easy way to prevent air from entering or escaping your home, particularly if you have an older home with some quirks. Any local hardware store or big box home center has this stuff. It’s not expensive at all. We found that we were saving several dollars a month in no time. Remember that saving $5 a month comes out to be $60 a year.
