CUT HOME HEATING BILLS
For most of us in the northern hemisphere this time of year means one thing for certain - higher heating bills. It's great football weather but that's little comfort if you're trying to stay warm watching the game on TV. The good news is that experts are predicting a slightly warmer winter this year. But there's more you can do to cut your heating bills. Today on MoneyWise, Kingdom Advisors President Rob West has some tips! -Nearly half of US households heat with natural gas. The US Energy Information Administration says the average household using gas will spend $580 this winter which doesn't sound too bad. This is down about 1% from last winter. -Heating oil prices are expected to be slightly lower this winter. -Better to hope for the best and plan for the worst - predictions aren't perfect! -Consider a home energy audit. Many utility companies offer this at little to no cost. -Install a programmable thermostat. For every degree you lower your thermostat for 8 hours you cut 1% on your heating bill. -Change your furnace filter monthly during the winter. -Run your ceiling fans in reverse to draw down the warmer air. -Learn how to reduce drafts under exterior doors. -Turn down your water heater temperature. -Use the budget billing program from your utility company. In today's show we also answer your questions: -I have a hospital bill I've been paying on (I had two forms of insurance) but they still may send me to collections. What do I do? -What advice do you have on paying off my mortgage more quickly? -Should I try to consolidate my loans or transfer them to another account? What do you think about personal loans for this? -I have some extra money I want to save. Should I consider a money market account or a capital market account? What's the difference between these two? To ask your questions, call (800) 525-7000 or email them at [email protected]. Also, visit our website, moneywise.org, where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, purchase books, and even download free, helpful resources. Like and Follow us on Facebook at MoneyWise Media for videos and the very latest discussion! And remember that it's your prayerful and financial support that keeps MoneyWise on the air. You can help us continue this outreach by clicking the Donate tab at the top of the page.