by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: January 20, 2010

Depending on where you live in the world, in some places, an electric bill can be as high in winter as it might be for someone who lives somewhere else in the summer months. Cold winter weather can wreak havoc on a utility bill, and the only way to keep that expense from really stretching your financial limits is to look for ways to save money on electricity.

Here are some simple things you can do to save money on your electricity.

*Turn your hot water heater down -

Turning your hot water heater down won't reduce the amount of hot water you have. It simply prevents the heater from using electricity all the time. Instead, it will use the electricity to heat the water only when it needs to heat it. The rest of the time, you'll use what's already in the hot water tank.

*Change to CFL light bulbs -

Changing from incandescent light bulbs to CFL or Compact Fluorescent Lights will save you considerable money. CFL light bulbs don't get nearly as hot, and they use less energy and last longer. They may cost you more to buy, but you'll save money in the long run because you won't have to replace them very often.

*Put lights on timers -

If you normally leave lights on so that you don't have to come home to a dark house, put your lights on timers. You can set this up so that the lights will go on just before you come home. Not having to have your lights on all day will definitely save you money.

*Purchase a programmable thermostat-

Purchasing a programmable thermostat will be a very worthwhile investment. A programmable thermostat will allow you to set your heat so that it stays at a certain temperature. Programmable thermostats also allow you to lower the heat at night, and you can choose the time at which you want the thermostat to turn the heat down.

*Lower the temperature in your home -

Even if it's wickedly cold out, you can put on a sweater, or bundle up in layers to keep warm. At night, you can add an extra blanket or use a down comforter to keep warm. Those extra layers will keep warmth in your bed and you won't need to turn the heat up so high.

*Seal your windows and doors -

Your utility bill will go up a lot when warm air escapes from your home and cold air comes in because if improper insulation or improperly sealed windows. Weather stripping and other inexpensive products can help minimize the loss of warm air.

*Replace windows -

If you can afford to do so, replace your windows with double pane or thermal paned windows. The cost to purchase them may seem very high,

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