HOME BUDGET TIPS FOR WINTER - WINTERIZE YOUR BUDGET TOO!

With winter fast approaching and below freezing temps even popping up in Hawaii it’s no doubt that now is the time to winterize. But did you know you can winterize more than just the usual things like your car and home? Here are some tips to winterize the usual suspects but also look at alternatives to saving MONEY too.

The market can cool down for Agents and Brokers as well. We all know this. For many parts of the country, Real Estate markets simply are too seasonal to expect that your crack team of marketers, agents, and relationship builders will overcome Mother Nature. You need to focus on saving MONEY at the business and the home. Another thought is topass along these tips to past, present, or future clients and that will bring repeat business after the long dark winter is over.

Winterize Car & Home

We all know that winterizing your home is essential and your car too – for safety purposes. These are the basics when it comes to winterizing your home and auto. There are dedicated resources which provide in depth information as well, but this summarizes a great deal of the important points with winterization.

1. Keep freezing pipes from bursting, including in attics and basements most importantly. Fit pipes with insulation,disconnect garden hoses and turn off the water supply to spigots, keep cabinet doors open during cold spells to bring in warm air and allow a slow trickle of water to flow through faucets connected to pipes that run through an unheated space.

2. Protect your roof and gutters from ice dams by keeping your attic well ventilated, keeping your attic floor insulated and eliminating recessed lighting near your roof.

3. Check your tires and make sure you replace balding tires or those with severe wear as they won’t grip ice and snow safely. Check all your car lights and tune up your car, including your radiator to have it properly filled with anti-freeze. Think about updating your vehicle with paint protection film to prevent scratches and nicks from rocks flying up off the road during winter months.

Winterizing Your Budget

Saving MONEY is always appealing, especially with impending doom of high heat bills. Now this is where you can start having some fun, because the time you take now will save you in the long run in your pocket. Think of all the things you can do with the extra savings!

Turning down your thermostat to 68 degrees can inevitably help cut down on costs. If you’re use to keeping the thermostat higher try bundling up, keeping blankets in the house, keeping your blinds open during the day and letting natural light draw in as much as possible. Cleaning your furnace filters is one way to help save a slight amount as well. Reducing your hot water temperature might be the way to go too, sure those hot showers are nice in the winter but they are a pretty penny.

Reach out to your utility companies and ask what tips they can provide to help you save during winter months. Have an expert look at your account and see if you’re on the right plan, you’d be surprised how many times we sign up for plans that aren’t the best for us in winter months.

Sealing up leaks in your home with low budget plastic and wrapping available at most home improvement stores is one option. Fixing any air leaks in doorways with door protectors is worthwhile as well. Programmable thermostats also prove to save much more MONEY, as much as 30% over manually setting your thermostat. Have you upgraded lately? Seal off rooms that aren’t in use and buy energy-efficient appliances, you might even get a break on your taxes!

These are just a few of the tips available to help you winterize both your budget and your home and auto in the process. What budget tips do you have to provide? Share with us here!