Brrrrr! Baby, it’s cold outside! But instead of cranking up the old thermostat to stay warm and cozy indoors this winter, grab an extra sweater and a hot mug of cocoa. Then try a few of these trouble-free tricks that won’t cost you a dime:

• Lower your thermostat by 1 degree each day for a few days. When you find a temperature that’s still comfortable, make it your permanent daytime setting. You’ll notice a savings of as much as 1% per degree on your heating bill.
• Open south-facing window shades during the day to let the heat from the sun warm up your house. Then close the shades at night to keep the heat in.
• Seal up any gaps around windows and doors with a good quality caulk or weather-stripping.
• Install a programmable thermostat and turn the temperature down while you’re sleeping and anytime you’ll be away from home for more than a few hours.