It got cold last week.  I had to scrape ice off my windshield before driving to work.  The heat in my house is running all the time now.  And any way you slice it, winter is expensive in the northeast part of the country.  So I like to take some time to think about things I can do now, before the snow flies, to make things more affordable.

This weekend I took the first step by putting air in the tires of my cars.  You likely remember from high school science classes that gasses expand in the heat and contract in the cold.  The air in your car’s tires is a gas, so when the temperature drops, the air pressure in your tires also drops.  If you are driving around on under-inflated tires, you not only will get fewer miles to the gallon, you also can end up with uneven wear on your tires.  Uneven wear will require you to need to replace your tires sooner.  So stop by your local Sheetz, where the digital air pumps are free, and air up those tires.  Air is free.  Tires are not!

Now is also the time to focus on warming up life inside the house.  The easy way to do that is by cranking up the heat.  But the smarter way to do it is with insulation.  Do you have windows that leak a lot of cold air?  Cover them with plastic.  Do you have a wall that is particularly cold?  Hang a blanket on it.  Add flannel sheets and an extra blanket to your bed so you can turn down the heat at night.  Bundle up with sweaters and hoodies so you can keep the heat lower when you are awake.  Keep some cozy blankets on the couch for bundling up while you read or watch TV.

I actually get excited about the start of winter.  I love the crisp air and the look of a fresh blanket of snow.  I enjoy having a cup of hot coffee with a warm cat on my lap.  I like wearing a lot of layers of clothing.  I love soups and stews and casseroles—the low cost meals that fill my winter.  Many people dread the winter.  But I think it’s my favorite season.

Are you ready for winter?  If not, now is the time to start preparing for it.