Money Saving Tips
Money Saving Tips
Winter is here, and as your trusted heating oil provider, Sheller Energy is here to help you stay warm while keeping your heating costs in check. We understand that everyone wants to save a little extra during the winter months, and that’s why we’ve put together a list of our top money-saving tips. Follow these recommendations, and you’ll not only stay cozy but also have more dollars in your pocket. Let’s dive in!
1. Regular Maintenance:
The first and most crucial step to saving money on heating this winter is regular maintenance of your heating system. Schedule a professional inspection and tune-up to ensure that your system is running efficiently. A well-maintained system consumes less fuel, which means more savings for you.
2. Adjust Thermostat Settings:
Consider lowering your thermostat settings when you’re away from home or at night when you’re snugly tucked into bed. Programmable thermostats are a great investment as they allow you to automate temperature adjustments, ensuring your home is warm when you need it and cooler when you don’t.
3. Seal Drafts:
Inspect your doors and windows for drafts, and seal any gaps using weatherstripping or caulk. Keeping the cold air out and the warm air in is a simple yet effective way to save on heating costs.
4. Insulate Your Home:
Proper insulation is key to preventing heat loss. Check your attic, walls, and floors for insulation gaps or wear, and make necessary upgrades to keep your home cozy and efficient.
5. Upgrade to Efficient Equipment:
If your heating system is outdated, consider upgrading to a high-efficiency model. Newer systems provide the same or better heating performance while consuming less heating oil, which translates to significant savings.
6. Replace Filters Regularly:
Don’t forget to change or clean your furnace filters regularly. Clogged filters restrict airflow, making your heating system work harder and less efficiently. A clean filter ensures optimal performance.
7. Utilize Curtains and Drapes:
Heavy curtains or drapes can act as insulators. Keep them closed during the night to trap warmth and open them during the day to let in natural sunlight, which provides free heating.
8. Close Unused Rooms:
Concentrate warmth in the rooms you use most frequently by closing doors to unused areas. This prevents heat from spreading to spaces that don’t need it.
9. Regular Oil Delivery:
Sign up for our automatic oil delivery services to ensure a steady supply of heating oil. This helps you avoid emergency deliveries and may qualify you for bulk purchase discounts.
10. Check for Government Rebates:
Explore available government rebates or incentives for upgrading to energy-efficient heating systems. These programs can help offset initial costs and lead to long-term savings.
11. Oil Buying Strategies:
Consider purchasing heating oil during the offseason when prices are typically lower. Alternatively, ask about budget plans to evenly distribute heating costs throughout the year.
Conclusion:
At Sheller Energy, we’re committed to helping you stay warm and save money this winter. By following these money-saving tips, you can enjoy a cozy, cost-effective season. Remember, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Contact us for all your heating oil needs, and let’s make this winter a warm and budget-friendly one!
Stay warm and save big with Sheller Energy
. Your comfort and satisfaction are our top priorities.
Maintaining your car is one of the most important things that you need to do every few weeks and one of the things that you will need to do is to schedule regular oil changes for your car. While oil changes are usually not too expensive, knowing how to save money on oil changes is something that everyone should know how to do. Even little bits of savings can make a big difference in your budget.
How to Save Money on Oil Changes
Stop getting oil changes every 3,000 miles –
The first thing about saving money on oil changes that you should know is that the mileage for oil changes typically recommended is 7,500 – 10,000 miles, not the 3,000 miles that most oil change shops put on your dash window sticker. Make sure and check your vehicles owners manual and see what is recommended. I have asked my oil change company to make my dash sticker say 7,500 miles until it needs it again. They also will do free top offs anytime if you feel you are getting lower on oil too. So by not getting your oil changed so frequently you can save up to 50% off.
Look for coupons –
Tire and lube places often put out coupons in the newspaper or your local weekly free ads. These coupons can often help you score your oil change for as little as $14.99. Before you take your car into have the change done, be sure to scour around to look for a coupon. Doing so can save you 50% or more off of the work that you need done. Most companies also have online coupons that you can just pull up on your phone and show them to save money. Here are a few online coupons:
Jiffy Lube Coupons
Pep Boys Oil Change Coupon
Firestone Coupons
Oil Can Henry’s Coupons
Use Groupon –
The last time that I had an oil change done on my car, it was done at Sears for $9.99. How? I used a Groupon. While Groupon is usually more for fun activities and eating out, occasionally you will find something such as an oil change to really help you save money. It never hurts to check and you may just find yourself getting lucky with a deal.
Stay away from the dealership –
I know that this sounds like a bad idea, but hear me out for just a moment. Dealership repair sites are great for specific repairs that your car might need such as a major fix with your engine. For smaller repairs though, like an oil change, they are usually much more expensive than other places.For these types of repairs, going to the local chain business or a mom and pop business will generally save you quite a bit.
Skip the Do it Yourself Oil Change –
Now I’m usually an advocate for doing things yourself. And when I was growing up I changed my own oil all the time. However, if you do a cost comparison for doing it yourself vs at an oil change shop, the price is usually only a few dollars different. For example my van takes 5 quarts of 5W-20 Synthetic blend ($25 at Walmart) plus $10 for the filter making it around $35, not including the basic equipment you need to get started, your time and labor and disposing of the old oil. Most oil changes at a shop you can get for around $30-$40 depending on your location, and with a coupon you can almost always get the price even lower than doing it yourself.
Prepare yourself for the Add-Ons
Have you ever been to an oil change shop where they haven’t tried to up sell you something, like your air filter needing replaced? Yeah, me neither. They always try to up sell me something. So keep track of when your car actually does need to be serviced or when the last time you replaced that air filter was. You can always say “maybe next time” if you know you don’t need it.
Got any other tips for saving money on oil changes? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear!
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...