Get rid of mold
One thing that de Lys emphasizes as a big reason why homes get cold in the winter is something you wouldn’t think about: mold.
Mold grows because of moisture in the air, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mold thrives in damp places and will bring more moisture into your home. Not only will this keep your house cooler in the winter, but can hurt the integrity of your home’s structure and harm your health.
If you want to inspect or renovate your house to make it more heat efficient, you may want to check out the home renovation subsidies available to you, courtesy of the Biden administration. You may just be able to make your home warmer for much less money this winter.
Scammers are smarter than ever—are you protected?
The average American gets 2 scam calls and 3 scam texts every week. Think you can spot them? AI is making scams harder to detect, and in 2023 alone, Americans lost $12.5B to cybercrime. Don’t be next—learn how to protect yourself now!
Learn moreWear lots of layers
"Get some wool socks now," de Lys advises in her video, acknowledging that layering up is a big heat hack for her family.
From fingerless gloves to thick socks, generating your own warmth can be helpful if you decide to keep the heat on, but at a lower temperature. The U.S. Energy Department says that lowering your heat temperature by seven to 10 degrees can save you 10% on your annual heating and cooling bills.
De Lys recommends wearing natural fibered layers, like cotton. She says this allows sweat to release and keeps moisture off your body and clothes so you can trap heat more easily. If you want to shell out some extra money, you can invest in a Merino wool sweater to be even more cozy and warm.
Light candles
One of de Lys’ top tips is “candles, candles and more candles.” She says that even little tealights can provide massive relief in the wintertime without heat.
You can buy packs of 50 tealights at your local dollar store for very little money. Just make sure they burn for six hours (not one) so you’re getting your money’s worth, de Lys advises.
Candles are especially useful if you’re only turning on your thermostat during off-peak hours, which usually occur in the early morning or late evening on weekdays and all day and night on the weekends. If you work from home, you can burn your candles during the day and put the thermostat on to sleep.
An affordable heating bill doesn’t need to dampen your wallet. Even a few small changes can make a big difference.
This 2 minute move could knock $500/year off your car insurance in 2025
OfficialCarInsurance.com lets you compare quotes from trusted brands, such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO to make sure you're getting the best deal.
You can switch to a more affordable auto insurance option in 2 minutes by providing some information about yourself and your vehicle and choosing from their tailor-made results. Find offers as low as $29 a month.
