In most parts of the country, autumn is when the temperature starts to lower. For this reason, a lot of people end up spending a lot of money trying to stay warm. There are a few different ways to cut these costs without making much of a change to your current routine.

Blankets – Instead of cranking up the heater, try bundling up under a lot of blankets. While it’s not necessarily an ideal way to stay warm, it will save you a lot in your energy bill. Most people have a surplus of blankets tucked away in closets or folded up in bedrooms, so use them to your advantage during the winter months. When the weather calls for you to turn on the heater, try turning it on a low setting. Keep in mind this advice may not work in the dead of winter, but during certain parts it may be better to practice this instead of turning the heater on full blast. Simple can save you money.

Fireplace – Depending on the type of fireplace you have, you may save money by sitting by it for part of your cold nights instead of turning on the heater. Other fireplaces are gas, which costs you money, but wood burning fireplaces could warm you up. Some people have made the argument that fireplaces actually make your house colder, but that may not necessarily be true. People have been keeping themselves warm by the heat of a fire for centuries, so why stop now? You should always have a backup heating source for when using a fireplace is not practical.

Check Your Seals – Check the seals on windows and doors. If they’re dry or loose, they are letting your warm air escape to the outside. They could also be letting cold air into your house, making your home colder and harder to keep warm. Replacing seals is usually a simple task, and inexpensive. The amount of money that you could save by replacing these seals is definitely worth the expense and effort.

Some places of the country may get too cold to really take advantage of these tips, but if you live somewhere where it gets chilly but not below freezing on a daily basis, these tips may be for you. Energy costs continue to rise, and finding ways to cut these costs can really save you money in the long run.

Simple Tips To Stave Off Old Man Winter was created by and is property of American Consumer News.