With the hustle and bustle of the holidays in full swing, it can seem like your money flies away as quickly as Santa’s reindeer on Christmas Eve. While there are always expenses associated with the holidays, we want to help you reduce costs and spend less time stressing about your budget. These must-know holiday money-saving tips can help!
Save Money with these Holiday Tips
#1: Schedule an AC Maintenance Session
Schedule air conditioner maintenance now with qualified professional technicians, and you can save money throughout the season and all year long. Here’s why you should schedule a visit before the holidays are in full swing.
- AC technicians have more availability to assist you during the off-season.
- Maintenance service includes an AC inspection. You have time to make repairs if parts are failing so that your air conditioner won’t break down during a large family gathering.
- The blower components are cleaned to improve airflow, which can reduce energy consumption by up to 15%.
#2: Exercise Restraint with the Thermostat
During the winter in Florida, you can often get away with opening up windows (if it’s not raining) and using fans to cool you off. Otherwise, exercise restraint when you are using the thermostat. If it’s warm out, keep the temperature at no less than 78°. And if it’s cold where you live, try setting the heating to 68° or lower.
If you don’t already have a smart thermostat, this may be a great investment for the holiday season. You can control the thermostat remotely and make sure you’ve shut off the heater and AC before that big holiday trip.
#3: Cook Cautiously
Turning on the oven adds a lot of heat to a home, especially when the sun is shining and the house is full of friends and family. We know that holiday meals are a tradition in many homes. Still, if you live somewhere warm like Miami, Florida, we recommend that you plan to cook during the cooler parts of the day such as early morning or late evening when the sun isn’t blazing down, especially if you are baking something that takes hours to complete.
Our ideas for avoiding overusing the oven this holiday season?
- Assign potluck dishes.
- Consider the microwave as a backup plan for reheating dishes.
- Make sure pots and pans fit the burner on the stove top so that it doesn’t generate too much heat.
- Use a slow cooker.
#4: Set Lights on a Timer
Christmas lights are a lot of fun, but your festive display can use a whole lot of energy, too. Put the lights on a timer so that the lights turn on when it’s dark, but only for a period of a few hours—when people will be awake to see them.
Use LED Christmas lights if you have them. If not, consider it an investment in future holiday savings. LED lights can use 25% less energy than incandescent lighting. Although it costs more upfront, the savings are worth it.
#5: Don’t Wait to Finish Your Shopping
Finally, do not wait for too long to finish up your holiday shopping. When you wait until the last minute to purchase gifts, you may end up spending more than you initially planned. It’s almost like going grocery shopping when you’re hungry, we go for toilet paper but come out with a rump roast and 5 bags of chips. Give yourself enough time to compare costs online and in stores.
Contact Air On Demand for air conditioning services in Miami, FL.