Smart decorating can help improve the natural flow of a home and make use of every inch of space. But decorating also can help you keep your home warmer in the winter months. Older homes often have no sidewall insulation, and the result is walls that absorb cold air from outdoors and bring the chill inside the house. Insulating the walls can be expensive, but you can provide some DIY insulation by placing bookshelves or other heavy furniture like sofas against the walls to block cold air. Hanging decorative quilts can look good and insulate, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Take the time today to walk around the house and notice where the vents, registers and heaters are in your home. Over time, people may move furniture, rugs or other obstacles that can block your vents and heaters, preventing air from moving freely in rooms. Simply moving obstructions out of the way can help tremendously to improve the heating and cooling efficiency of your home. And as you locate your vents, give them a good cleaning to remove dust and debris, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Cooler temperatures are just around the corner, and now is a good time to take a simple step to help save money and improve the efficiency of your vehicle. So do just this one thing: Check the air pressure of your tires. As temperatures dip, so does the air pressure in your car’s tires. Lower pressure means a decrease in your car’s fuel efficiency. Regularly checking the pressure and adding air if needed can help you save fuel and money.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION