When Using the "Write" Words Matters

As the leaves begin to change color and the days grow shorter, thoughts turn to winter.

Getting your home ready for the weather change is one of the tasks that every homeowner must take on. Even if you rent an apartment instead of owning, you can make some changes that will help you save money.

For some older women who may find it challenging due to health and/or finances to prep their homes for winter, there are solutions out there.

Working on the Outside

While the days are still somewhat warm, you want to work outside.

The first job to get done is cleaning out gutters if you live in a house. If you fail to do this task, you could end up with leaks inside. Ask a friend or hire a handyman if the thought of getting on a ladder scares you.

This is also a good time to have someone check out the roof for any damage from summer storms.

Have repairs made before the weather gets too rainy and cold.

If you have a fireplace, hire a chimney sweep to make sure it is clean and doesn’t need any repairs. You don’t want to skip this step or you could end up with a costly chimney fire.

Spend Time Inside

Now that you have taken care of the outside work, you can focus on the inside.

Look at all of your windows to see if they allow any air to come in. They may need to be resealed.

Don’t forget to check all electrical outlets that are on outside walls. You’d be surprised at how much cold air gets in. This is any easy DIY project; just buy what you need from any home improvement store.

You may want to consider updating your windows before winter if you can afford to.

If your windows are old, they may not be very energy efficient. If this is too costly, you do have other options to help you save money on your heating bill. 

Save Money on Heating

Purchase insulated drapes or shades that keep the warm air in and the cold air out. You can find them at large retailers like Walmart.

Open them up on sunny days to allow the heat in, but keep them closed at night and on cloudy days to keep the warmth inside.

You can also purchase clear plastic to put over your windows for extra insulation.

Since the majority of a home’s heat escapes through the window, you can reduce the amount it costs to keep your home nice and warm.

Use door stoppers around the bottoms of your outside doors to keep air from coming in. This makes it easier to heat your home without losing it to the outside. It can reduce your heating costs over the winter months.

Close off any rooms that you don’t use and only heat the area where you spend your time. This may include a guest room or a formal living room or dining room.

Use the bright and sunny days of autumn to get your home ready for winter, making for less care during those shorter days of light.

Taking the time to do fall maintenance can help you save money all season long and keep you nice and warm even on the coldest days.