When the temperature drops unseasonably but you know it will only last a few days, you may not be keen to turn on the central heating for the whole house. So what can you do to avoid the chills when cold snaps bite? Here are a few ideas to keep you cosy without increasing your energy bills.

Keep Warm at Night

Don’t get the chills at night, and instead follow a few simple tips to make sure you stay warm under the covers.

The classic way to warm up a cold bed is to use a hot water bottle, so make sure you have one of these handy for when the cold nights cause problems. Another great option is to get yourself an electric blanket. You can buy electric blankets from a local store, or you can shop for one online and get it delivered to your door. And of course, you can always throw on an extra blanket or two, so make sure you have one of these ready in the cupboard.

Block the Drafts

Even a small draft can make a room seem a lot colder, so when the temperature falls, get ready to block up the gaps. Close the doors in your house so that the colder air from the rooms you are not using does not transfer to the warmer rooms that you are using. You can also use draft stoppers underneath the doors to block the cool air from entering. Other areas to block up with something include keyholes, the letter box and the cat flap if you have one. Get them all covered and it can make a big difference.

Let the Sun In

Sunlight is a free and effective source of heating, so make sure that during the day you open all of your curtains and let as much light into your home as possible. Then remember to close your curtains as soon as the sun goes down to trap the cold air that forms next to the windows.

Don’t Use the Bathroom Fan

If you normally use a bathroom fan to get rid of the build up of steam, turn it off when the temperature drops for a few days. The humidity in the air will make it feel warmer, which will make your morning shower more comfortable.

Double Glazing

Installing double glazing is a more expensive option, but it can help to trap the heat in your home as soon as the temperature drops, saving you the need to turn on your heating until it is really necessary and improving window efficiency.

Put On a Jumper

The simplest way to stay warm when a cold snap hits is to wear more clothes inside the home.

If you have your winter clothes stored away, get some of them out early and have them on standby so you can wrap up warm in the evening and avoid turning on the heating.

And of course, there is nothing like a hot chocolate or bowl of soup in the evening to keep you cosy whatever the weather outside.

Stay Warm Without Using Heating

It can be a nasty shock when the weather suddenly takes a turn for the worse. If you are not ready to turn the heating on just yet, follow these tips to make sure you stay warm and snug even without turning on the heating, which will help you to save money on your bills.

Maddison Wilhelm runs a budget-minded household. From couponing tricks to saving on bills, she often blogs about ways to live well on a tight income.

One of the main forces driving innovation in modern building design is the need for homes to be energy efficient. Increasingly, homeowners demand properties that function on both aesthetic and environmentally friendly levels. Fortunately, it is possible for homes to simultaneously look beautiful whilst using energy wisely.

A modern eco-friendly home has efficient insulation that keeps the interior warm in winter and cool in summer. Drafts are a thing of the past in today’s house designs, as are huge heating and energy bills. Modern home designs use double glazed windows, which allow light to flood in and keep cold air out. Other eco-friendly behaviors we can adopt that reduce the carbon footprint in modern homes include low energy light bulbs, aerated faucets to lower water usage, using paints free of Volatile Organic Compounds and sourcing goods and furnishings fashioned from recycled and natural materials.

But what about those of us living in older homes? Can we make our traditional dwellings more energy efficient? The good news is, ‘yes, we can!’ For those considering a move to an older home and the typical issues that go with the territory, it is good to learn eco-friendly living is still attainable.  A historic, characterful home can be a joy to live in and if refurbishment is planned, it presents the perfect opportunity for making improvements to its eco-friendly rating.

Old houses are commonly criticized for their poor insulation and drafts, however it is possible to cure an old house of the cold. The choice of a period or historic home is frequently based on appearance, so it’s likely that any refurbishments will need to be in keeping with the taste and style of the architecture. Old, wooden framed sash windows are often found in older properties – and whilst undoubtedly good-looking, they are terrible draft magnets. A quick trip to the DIY store for some insulating strips to fill the gaps in the window frames will be time and money well spent.

One of the more attractive and sympathetic solutions to poor window insulation in older houses is fitted shutters. Not only do custom made interior wooden shutters look the height of elegance, they offer good insulation against cold, shield interiors from fading due to bright sunlight and are fully adjustable for light levels and privacy. For a solid investment in the future for an older property, wooden shutters are hard to beat.

Other areas to focus on in older houses include heating and plumbing systems that consume less energy. If an antiquated heating system is being overhauled why not replace it with one of the more energy efficient options now available? Good research pays dividends in this crowded area, but those who take the plunge enjoy impressive savings and clean environmental returns.

Get free power from the sun with solar panels! Those ubiquitous rooftop panels are now easy to source for domestic premises. Affixed to south facing roof elevations, they are the perfect energy source for hot water and lighting circuits – and once the initial investment is paid for, they keep powering the home for years, for free!

Energy efficient homes are clearly here to stay and it’s good to know that whether modern or traditional, we can take practical steps to reinforce these ideals within our own four walls.

Receiving compensation after an accident at work can be a huge relief, finally bringing closure and providing the financial support necessary for recovery.  But while there’s lots of help available when you set out to win it, you might find yourself short of good advice on how to spend it.  Most people actually spend all their compensation money within just a few weeks, with vacations and automobiles among the most popular acquisitions.  This can leave them in financial difficulties later on, especially if the accident is still taking its toll and further medical expenses have to be met.  It may also mean that they end up paying more tax than necessary, as well as missing out on opportunities to earn interest on the money.

For those who want to make sure they get the most out of their compensation, it helps to understand a few simple principles.

What is compensation for?

Most compensation packages actually contain several elements.  First are general damages, money given to make the victim feel better and compensate for the stress of the experience.  Then there may be money to make up for lost earnings, and potentially, money to live on if working is not going to be an option in future due to the injuries sustained.  There can also be money to cover things like travel expenses associated with the claims process, medical expenses (including the cost of treatment likely to be needed in the future), and adaptations to the victim’s home or car in order to accommodate a lasting disability caused by the accident.

When the money is spent, it’s important to consider these matters.  Nobody will check up and demand to see proof of how it’s being used, but neglecting to take account of accrued debts or ongoing expenses could easily lead to problems.

Compensation payouts average around $3,500 but can vary considerably. For instance, attorneys Brown & Theis recently won $185,000 for a construction worker who suffered a severe shoulder injury due to a fall.

Tax and welfare

When winning compensation, people are sometimes told that they can choose whether to receive it in a lump sum or in installments.  Some people will need it all straight away, for instance because they need to pay for major home adaptations.  In many cases, however, it’s better to opt for installments as this minimizes the amount of tax that needs to be paid on the money.

Receiving compensation in installments is also a better idea for people in receipt of welfare payments, including those who have just had to apply for them because of a disability caused by their accidents.  Having access to a large amount of money may mean that welfare payments are stopped or reduced, potentially leading to all the compensation being lost.  This is a lot less likely to happen with installments.

Where the body paying compensation does not offer installments, one option is to engage with a solicitor who can set up a trust fund to achieve the same effect.  Money held in trust doesn’t need to be inactive.  It’s a good idea to seek independent financial advice (many banks offer this for free) so that it can be wisely invested and earn interest or dividends to increase the overall amount.

The differences between health insurance and a health savings account are not always clear. In fact, this murkiness is likely responsible for the relatively low adoption rate of health savings accounts even though they offer a number of benefits over traditional health insurance. The differences between the two types of health care coverage are explained below along with some reasons why a person might choose one over the other.

What Is a Health Savings Account?

A health savings account (HSA) is really just another name for a high-deductible health plan (insurance plan) that has special tax-advantaged status. The basic premise is that high-deductible plans have lower premiums and so are more affordable. However, because they have high deductibles, people tend not to use these plans for routine health maintenance. To encourage people to undergo preventive care while keeping a handle on overall health care costs, it was decided to allow people to create tax-advantaged savings accounts from which they could pay medical expenses and the deductible of an HSA plan.

The savings account is really the heart of the HSA. It allows individuals (not companies or the government) to set aside a certain amount of money in a savings account each year. As long as that money is used for medical expenses, it is never taxed. The idea is that the government is making more of an individual’s income available for health expenditures by not taxing income contributed to an HSA.

This approach differs dramatically from standard insurance, which has high premiums but usually provides immediate, full coverage. For many people, traditional insurance premiums are financially untenable. The idea of the HSA is to provide an option that prevents people who cannot afford traditional insurance from going without insurance or from falling back into government safety nets, which tend to be a burden on taxpayers.

What Are the Benefits of an HSA Over Insurance?

For healthy individuals, HSAs, like those offered by HSAforAmerica.com, can reduce health insurance premiums and decrease the overall cost of health care. They are particularly advantageous for young individuals who see a doctor less than once per year. Money put into a medical savings account rolls over from one year to the next with the idea that people are continually saving for future health care costs that may arise in older age. In general, HSAs are beneficial because they

.   allow individuals to decide how much money they set aside for health care costs,

.   allow individuals to control how health care dollars are spent (no PPOs or HMOs),

.   ensure that the money belongs to the individual and not the employer (it follows the individual wherever he or she goes),

.   allow unused money to roll over each year, and

.   provide a tax benefit that improves health care savings as well as quality of life.

What Are the Benefits of Insurance Over an HSA?

HSAs aren’t for everyone. If a person needs health coverage to begin immediately and cover relatively large expenses (child birth, surgery, etc.), then the high deductible of an HSA will mean that the such a plan is too costly, in the short term, than a traditional health insurance plan. Health insurance is beneficial to those who

.   need immediate coverage,

.   find it difficult to navigate the complexities of health care systems,

.   find it difficult to save money each month, and

.   would take money from the HSA for non-medical expenses.

Right or Wrong?

The decision between traditional insurance and an HSA is a personal one. If you are young, relatively healthy, and able to set aside a bit of money each month, then give strong consideration to an HSA. Remember that if you have traditional health insurance, you cannot carry an HSA (though you can purchase a small catastrophe policy to cover you during the first few years of an HSA while you accumulate savings). Choose the plan that is right for you by following the tips above.

Ron Sheffer has worked in healthcare for many years. He frequently blogs about common questions everyday people have about navigating the healthcare system.

Everyone wants to get the best possible deal when it comes to paying for their car insurance but the problem is knowing what to ask and what to look out for in order to get the best rates.

There are so many small details or aspects that could change your quote and also where you get your insurance from will also make a difference to the price you pay.

Here are some simple and easy ways to help you cut the cost of your auto insurance.

Shop around

If you have ever paid for something at first shop you see and then find it is cheaper somewhere else, that hurts.

It pays to shop around for most things and that is certainly the case when it comes to motor insurance where the difference between quotes can sometimes not just be a few dollars but quite often, a few hundred dollars, which is money that would better staying in your bank rather than needlessly giving it to someone else.

Comparisons sites can be a bit tiresome to use for some but it makes sound sense to type in your details and let the various search engines come up the best quotes in a quicker time than you could.

Think about bundling

An area of insurance that many people fail to take advantage of is bundling. Very often, your insurer may be able to offer a premium discount if you take out more than one policy with them.

Having your car and home insurance with the same insurance provider despite the fact that they are separate policies may well be a good route to extra savings, but be careful that you don’t end up paying too much for one of them in order to get what looks like a better deal on the other one.

Bundling is worth thinking about and if you don’t ask you don’t get, so it is always worth posing the question to see if your existing insurer is prepared to reward your loyalty with a discount.

Use a broker

There are several advantages to using a broker rather than trying to do all the work yourself.

Experts like BrokerLink have the knowledge and access to deals that may not be available anywhere else and they can do the research needed to find the best rates they can for you without having to always be biased towards one particular insurance company, which is important if you are trying to get the best deal.

It also makes sense to build a relationship with a broker as they can help you out and advise you if you have any problems or need to make a claim, so you get a more personal service than you would do if you bought your policy online.

Always ask about special discounts

Most insurers offer discounts even if some of them don’t like to advertise the fact. It is a competitive environment and they are competing for your business so many will try to entice you to take out your car insurance with them by offering some sort of discount.

An area that is also worth exploring is special discounts, which is where you get even more money off your renewal quote if you meet certain additional criteria or conditions.

Examples of where you might be able to get a further special discount include having VIN etching in automotive glass, the fact that you are an alumni of a local college or university, even having good grades can make a difference.

You can earn special discounts by taking a defensive driving class or fitted your car with an alarm system, so whatever you do that will enhance your personal profile or the security of the vehicle, make sure you mention it as you might get a special discount.

Check the deductibles

Deductibles are the amount that the insurance company will hold back from your insurance claim payout and you should always check the level of deductibles on your insurance quote as this is the easiest way that your insurer can make their price look more attractive.

The general line of thinking is that low premiums will mean that there is probably a high deductible involved and if you choose to lower the amount on request, then the premium will rise accordingly.

There is nothing wrong with a high deductible to get the premium down but only do it if you have the spare cash available to make up the difference if you have to make a claim.

There are savings to be had out there on your auto insurance, you just need to know what to ask and be sure to tell them if you think your circumstances or qualifications mean you might be entitled to an even better rate.

John Wilber is a retired insurance broker and grandfather of five. When he’s not visiting with his grandkids, he likes to write about what he learned in the insurance business in order to help others.