They say the only certain things in life are death and taxes, but I think they could add another: high energy bills during the Upper Midwest winter! Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep both your budget and your energy bill on track.
Perhaps the best thing you can do is take advantage of your energy company’s budget plan. The budget plan takes your yearly usage and spreads it out over twelve months. Your payment remains the same every month of year. Consistency is a key to budgeting, and this plan allows you to be consistent. There seem to be many arguments against the plan, but in the past ten years as a budget counselor I’ve found none to be true. I’ve also found that people on the budget plan are less likely to be disconnected. Please do yourself a favor and call your energy provider today to take advantage of this opportunity.
I have to admit that this year I became an energy savings fanatic. I explored the energy calculators at www.wisconsinpublicservice.com and plugged in some numbers. I found that by making small changes I could save between $15-$26 per month! I then learned the simple art of caulking and weather-stripping. I got the blow dryer out and installed plastic film on my windows. My husband vacuumed the dust out of our registers and made sure the furnace filter was changed regularly. Check with your energy provider as they often have free kits with all the supplies you’ll need.
These are only a few suggestions, and many more exist. Take the time to look at your home and see where you may be losing not only heat but precious dollars. Good luck and stay warm!