When you keep your AC from working too hard, youre putting a little extra change into your pocket.
That spare change can add up to significant savings.
Now theres no reason to sit home and sweat when its 95 degrees outside.
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Drowning in Expenses?
Maybe youre scrambling after your car broke down.
Or you got a medical bill you werent expecting.
Or inflation has finally pushed your budget over the edge.
You dont need to go it alone.
When money is tight,these resourcescan help you manage unexpected expenses without stress.
But sometimes its the only way to get your electric bill under control.
If you need other ways to save money, check out some of our favorite ways below.
But there are severaloptionsstarting as low as $12.99.
you could install these yourself by mounting them to your door frame with Velcro or a similar process.
Make Your Own DIY Air Conditioner
Feeling creative?
you’re free to learn how to cool down a room without AC.
Bring the temperature down by circulating cooler air through a window, door or fan.
Push out Hot Air by Placing Box Fans in Windows
Say goodbye to hot air.
Get it out of your house by putting box fans facing out of the windows of rooms youre using.
Then turn on a ceiling fan to keep the cooler air moving.
Close Doors to Unused Rooms
A smaller space is easier to cool.
you’ve got the option to roll up a towel to block the space under the closed door.
Blackout curtains are extra effective at keeping cold air in.
Close them when the temps rise and the sun gets brighter.
Eighty degrees will feel like 76 degrees.
Theres a switch on the center module of most ceiling fans that changes the direction it turns.
The less you open them, the more of a draft youll create.
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Or head over to check out thesetop-rated cooling sheets, perfect for hot sleepers and hot summer nights.
Make them your summer fashion choice when you are trying to keep cool without AC.
Some families have summer lunches and dinners in the basement.
And its definitely where the kids should play.
(Dont crowd too closely or youll experience too much body heat.)
If you have a two story house, sleep on the first floor.
Turn off Unnecessary Lights
Again, no need for your summer to be all dark.
Use Appliances at Night
Run your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer at night when its cooler.
Cook in the morning and just heat it up in the microwave before dinner.
Or serve more cold options such as sandwiches,fruit and salads.
Unplug Electronics
Electronics generate heat, so unplug them when they arent in use to keep your house cooler.
They also draw small amounts of power around the clock, even when not in use.
Ever heard the term energy vampire?
They could be sneakily adding to your electric bill as well.
Many of the tips above will allow you to keep your thermostat and power bills lower.
Here are three more ways to use less air conditioning while keeping your home cool.
Generally speaking our recommendation is to turn it up, but not off, said Thelen at Duke Energy.
It will work much harder from zero to cool an entire house.
Check out thesenine energy-efficient home improvementsto reduce your electric bills even more.
3. wrap up the Damper
wrap up the fireplace damper.
Can You Survive 10 Days of Budgeting?
If it’s crucial that you wrangle your budget, it may be time to consider a savings challenge.
Katherine Snow Smith is a former senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
