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How to Save on Utility Bills Without Sacrificing Comfort
Trivia: What material is traditionally used to make Venetian masks?
RetireHub
January 12, 2026
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On this day in 1932, Hattie Caraway of Arkansas became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate, winning a special election and breaking a major barrier for women in American politics.
How to Save on Utility Bills Without Sacrificing Comfort
As energy costs continue to rise, finding ways to lower utility bills without giving up comfort has become a smart priority for many households. The good news is that small changes—both behavioral and practical—can make a noticeable difference without making your home feel chilly in winter or sweltering in summer. With a mix of mindful habits and inexpensive upgrades, you can enjoy savings while staying comfortable year-round.
Start with Heating and Cooling Efficiency
Your HVAC system often accounts for the largest portion of energy use in your home. One of the simplest ways to reduce costs is by adjusting your thermostat by just a degree or two. In winter, lowering the thermostat a bit and layering clothes or cozy blankets can keep you comfortable while trimming your bill. In summer, raising the temperature slightly and using fans to circulate air can help you stay cool without overworking the air conditioner. Upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat can automate these adjustments and reduce energy use when you’re asleep or away.
Seal Leaks and Improve Insulation
Drafts around windows and doors let warm air escape in winter and let hot air in during summer. Sealing gaps with caulk or weatherstripping is inexpensive and can improve comfort instantly. Adding or improving insulation in attics, basements, and crawl spaces also helps maintain a consistent indoor temperature, reducing the need for constant heating or cooling.
Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Lighting and Appliances
Swapping out incandescent bulbs for LED lights can cut lighting energy use significantly, and LEDs last much longer. When it’s time to replace appliances like refrigerators, washers, or dryers, look for ENERGY STAR® certified models that use less electricity and water. Even small kitchen and laundry habits—like washing clothes in cold water and air-drying when possible—can contribute to savings.
Mind Your Water Use
Water heating can be expensive, especially if your household enjoys long showers or frequent laundry. Lowering the water heater temperature to around 120°F and installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators can reduce both water and energy costs, all while still providing satisfying showers.
Practice Smart Daily Habits
Little behavior shifts add up over time. Turning off lights when leaving a room, unplugging chargers and devices not in use, and running full loads in the dishwasher or washing machine all reduce energy use. In winter, letting sunlight in during the day and closing curtains at night helps naturally warm your home.
Saving on utility bills doesn’t require drastic measures or sacrificing comfort. With intentional tweaks to your routine and home, you’ll enjoy a cozier, more efficient household—and more money left in your budget.
Which Tip Would Help You Most With Lowering Utility Bills? |
Yesterday’s Poll Results: Which kind of Celebration Circle sounds most meaningful to you?
Family clearly sits at the heart of how people want to celebrate. Over a third of the votes went to family milestones like anniversaries, reunions, and welcoming new grandchildren, making it the top choice by a wide margin. Birthdays and age milestones came in next, showing that growing older is still something many want to mark out loud. At the same time, a meaningful number of readers leaned toward simpler or quieter celebrations—whether that’s a “just because” gathering or something private—reminding us that joy doesn’t always have to be loud to be real.
TOP COMMENTS
“All of them! Each milestone is important.”
“In my family, we have what we call a cousin's party due to the fact that our family is spread across the country. Every time we get together or part of the family gets to one area, we all collect and have a great time. This is especially important because my last 2 living senior relatives are in their 90s, and I make a point to go, because I might not be able to see them again.”
“I love to celebrate anything and have parties at my house. The last two years have been difficult. Family members fight with each other and some do not come if others are coming. It makes me sad. Where I used to have around 50 family members now I am lucky to have 15-20.”
“I believe each one is important, but it's also an individual preference. Personally, I prefer the quiet, private celebration, at home, but occasionally my wife and I will go out to eat, somewhere nice, for each other.”
Speak Instead of Type: A Simple Guide to Using Voice-to-Text on Your Phone
If typing texts and emails is tiring your eyes or hands, using your phone’s built-in voice-to-text (dictation) feature can make messaging and note-writing much easier—just tap the microphone icon in your keyboard and start speaking to have your words converted to text. While it may take a little getting used to and sometimes gets words wrong (especially with background noise), you can improve accuracy by speaking clearly, controlling noise, and proofreading before sending. The tool works in most text fields, and adjusting settings like microphone permissions or dictation preferences can help ensure it shows up when you need it.
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Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: Smooth sailing
Meaning: Smooth sailing (slang) means that something is going easily, without problems or difficulties.
In a sentence: “After I got my new tablet set up, using it to video chat with the grandkids was smooth sailing all afternoon.”
Good News of the Day
Couple Spends 30 Years Reviving Historic Train Station into Charming Lodgings
Mark and Carol Benson dedicated three decades to transforming the long‑closed Ebberston train station in North Yorkshire, England, from a derelict relic into The Old Station, a beautifully restored destination where visitors can stay in vintage train cars or a converted ticket office cottage. Purchasing the property in 1996—nearly fifty years after it shut down—their painstaking renovation preserved historic details, renewed the platform canopy, and turned the former station master’s house into their family home, earning a blue plaque for its heritage value. Now a unique spot for tourists and rail enthusiasts alike, the project celebrates both architectural history and the Bensons’ passion for preserving the past while giving the site a new, welcoming purpose.
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RetireHub Trivia
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What rare phenomenon occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking sunlight? |
Which U.S. state is home to Carlsbad Caverns, known for its large underground chambers? |
What material is traditionally used to make Venetian masks? |
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