Some of us enjoy warm weather and tropical temperatures all year round, but for the rest of us, bundling up and keeping warm for the colder months of the year can be a challenge.

It’s often an understatement to say that these can be the most expensive few months out of the year. Between snowstorms, gas bills for transportation, and frigid nights, the amount of money you spend staying warm can burn right through your bank account. Check out a few of these tips and tricks to keep your costs low and your home comfortable this winter.

Change Furnace Filters – To help keep your furnace running at peak efficiency, its best to remember to replace or clean your filter every winter. This can also keep a lot of loose dirt and dust out of the air in your home!

Reverse Your Fans – Its pretty common knowledge that hot air rises, but that’s not where we want it to be during the colder seasons. Most fans come equipped with a reverse switch, so winter is a great time to put that into action!

Washing Machine – Many individuals heat their homes with hot water during the colder months, and hot water is also used to clean dishes. Cutting down on usage by only cleaning full loads can help lower costs.

Washing Machine – Similar to cutting back on the amount of times you run your dishwasher, limiting your laundry to full loads can also decrease hot water usage.

Open Shades and Blinds – The greatest heating source of all is also completely free: the sun! Allowing some sunlight into your home on brighter days can noticeably increase room temperatures.

Reseal Windows – Very often over the lifespan of a window it can be opened to air leaks around the sealing. Caulking or closing off leaks these can help keep drafts and cold air out.

Insulate Hot Water Heater – Most of heat is lost via simple dispersion through the air. Insulation around your hot water heater is a great way to keep from constantly reheating the same water.

Fireplace Damper – If you have a home with a chimney that is ventilated to the outside, you probably know that sealing your chimney is an absolute must for the winter.

Lower Thermostat – One of the most obvious and effective solutions for cutting down costs is to decrease your thermostat gauge.

Insulate Bare Pipes – Wondering why your shower takes so long heat? A lot of what it boils down to is heat dispersion through your pipes. Insulating them helps them retain more heat as they pump through your home.

Weatherize Windows – Lets be honest, we don’t usually have our windows open in the winter. Insulating the seals during the winter helps keep that much more heat from leaking out.

Cut Down On Shower Times – Most of us spend too much time running hot water just to get to the temperature to a reasonable heat, which runs up your water and heating bill. Get in, get clean, get out.

Home-made Radiant Space Heater – Space heaters can be very expensive to run regularly and are often a fire hazard. This simple space heater is made of materials we bet you already have, and has an awesome ambient feel.

Turn Off Humidifiers – If your winters are the driest season of your year (especially from non-conditioned heat), you might consider leaving the bathroom door open after showers, or taking your towels to dry in a main room.

Cover Mail Slots and Pet Doors – Our doors leak fairly high amounts of heat around the trim, but not nearly as much as door flaps. Try making a stylish cover that can double as an insulator and a functional pocket!

Plastic Film or Bubble Wrap Windows – We all know that windows can be a major part of heat loss in the winter, but as glass ages it tends to sag, which can cause thinner portions of glass for more heat loss. Cover it with bubble wrap or plastic wrap!

Outlet Insulation – Another space often overlooked as a gap between your insulation to the outdoors is your electrical outlets. These can often leave big gaps in your insulation throughout several rooms. It all adds up!

Draft Guard – If you have hardwood or linoleum floors in your home, you most likely have a gap between your door and floor that can cause a draft. Leftover pipe insulation can be a quick and inexpensive fix.

Insulate Attic and Basement – The single largest loss of heat from your home is your roof and basement. How long since you added insulation? Is it still effective? Check the roof of your home for bare snow spots to find where you heat is escaping the most.

Buy Warm Winter Clothes – You might not have much control over your home or the ability to fix it, but you can always bundle up and use blankets to keep your thermostat low and yourself nice and toasty!