Posts made in December 2016

Disclosure: While winter is a great time of the year it is important to be prepared. While this is a sponsored post, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

With all of the money spent on presents during the holidays, everyone is always on the lookout for new ways to save a little extra money. Here are a couple of simple ideas that could help you save some money this winter. 

Control Your Heater – If you have a Smart Thermostat, you can use WeatherBug, the leader in free weather apps, to adjust the temperature in your house, even when you’re away. Run it cooler, in the low 60’s while you’re not at home, and turn it up about an hour before you are set to return. You will have a toasty house, without the extra wasted expensive of running it while you are gone. 

Check For Drafts – If you inspect your windows and doors for drafts, you can take steps to prevent warm air from leaking out of your house. You can use window treatments and plastic coverings for your windows and get insulation strips for your doors. The best way to do this is to use any one of the popular weather forecast apps and look for a day that has a moderate amount of wind. The wind gusts make it easier to tell which windows and doors are creating drafts, and how bad they are. 

Make Lists – When you take the time to make lists, you can eliminate extra trips out of the house. This is going to save on gas, as well as eliminate the desire for impulse purchases, which can quickly increase the money you spend. $5 here and there every time you go out may not seem like a big deal, but when you go out an extra 6 or 7 times a month, it quickly adds up. Take a day and make a list of all the groceries you need, items from you need from other stores and errands that need to be run. Let others know what you are going to be doing, so they can chime in with anything they need. This reduces how often you have to go out, saving money on gas and avoiding impulse shopping.

 (All posts may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy) 

On my little section of the web, I love telling people how and where to save. I even provide coupons to make sure you guys can get the best price on any product that you buy. However, there is one area I suggest that you don’t try and save and that’s home security. Saving here could result in you losing more than a lot of money. It’s true to say that break-ins turn violent more than we would like to admit. That’s why you should be investing in some of the best security features for your home. 

CCTV

If you can, you may want to think about installing a CCTV system around your home. This will ensure that every area of your property can be seen by you inside the house. Or, it could just act like a deterrent. Research shows that burglars won’t try and break into a home if it looks well guarded. They always look for the easy target.

Smart Locks

You may also want to think about investing in smart locks. Smart locks are fantastic because they can not be broken through in the typical ways. Instead, they are completely digital. If you think this means they stop working when the power goes off, think again. Instead, they lock down tight and won’t open until the power returns.

Alarm System

Finally, you do need to invest in an alarm system for your home. Reports show that an alarm will make a break in 85 percent less likely. Alarms can cost quite a lot of money, but with that type of effect, I think you’ll agree it’s worth it.

Infographic Created By Home Security Reviews