Although winter officially begins in December, you don’t have to wait until then to prepare your home for the colder months. (Okay, South Floridians, you can stop laughing now.) This article from U.S. News offers some helpful advice for preparing your home – and your family – for the winter season.
If you want to make sure the upcoming winter season is one of your best ones yet, there are a few steps you can take as early as this month to save money and be better prepared for cold weather. As we all know, the cooler temperatures bring with them potential money drains, including for heating and snow removal. We might not be able to control the weather, but we can control our preparation for it!
If you know there are a few things you will need this winter, whether it’s warm apparel or snow removal equipment, you don’t have to wait until the first snowfall to make a purchase. Start searching around to compare prices and see if you can find any off-season bargains. You have the luxury of time to wait until you find a great deal, and you can avoid the marked-up prices during winter when everything is in high demand.
As we enter another shopping season, many states have tax-free holiday weekends during August. Use this to your advantage if you’re in need of a new winter coat or boots, as these holidays usually are limited to apparel, computers and back to school supplies.
The summer is a great time to make sure your home is ready for cold weather. Check for air leaks around doors and windows, as these can be a major drain on your energy costs, and seal them with caulk. Make sure you have draft stoppers for any doors that are letting air into the house.
You can also prepare for winter by cleaning out your furnace, replacing air filters and getting the chimney cleaned out. If you need to outsource any of these tasks, it’s a good time to do so – you can get a jumpstart on the experts’ busy seasons, and maybe even bargain for a discount.
