3 Home Improvement Projects that will prepare your home for winter and save you money

Installing a Programmable Thermostat

If you’ve still got an old mercury thermostat, it’s hard to remember to adjust it when you leave the house or go to bed. Electronic programmable thermostats allow you to adjust and set target temperatures for each day of the week and each period of the day, depending on what kind of air/heat you desire to run. According to the Department of Energy, you can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill by turning your thermostat back 10° to 15° for 8 hours (a savings of as much as 1% for each degree, provided the setback period is eight hours long). And if you are a confident DIYer, you may be able to install the device yourself.

Here is what the Department of Energy suggests a schedule might look for a family with adults and children that are out of the house all day for work and school:

• 6:45 a.m.: The family wakes up to get ready for the day. The temperature of the house is 68°F; the heat automatically turned on a bit earlier so it would hit this temperature by 6:30.
• 7:45 a.m.: The family leaves the house and the thermostat is set to 56°F. By turning their thermostat back 10° to 15° for 8 hours, the family can save 5% to 15% a year on their heating bill — a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long.
• 4:30 p.m.: The family starts returning home from work and school. The heat turned back on a bit before this so the house would again be 68°F for their return.
• 10:30 p.m.: The whole family has gone to bed (bundled in warm pajamas and snuggled under blankets), and the thermostat is again set to 56°F.

Department of Energy says, “How can a programmable thermostat keep you from temptation of producing a higher electric bill this winter? By allowing you to “set it and forget it,” a programmable thermostat allows you to adjust the temps based on the times you’re home and your habits! ”

Add Insulation

Adding insulation will lower your utility bills, and help make your home more comfortable and eco-friendly. Crawl up into your attic. If you can see the floor joists, then you need more insulation. Since heat rises, you could save quite a bit of money by adding another layer of insulation in your attic. If you’re all about doing everything you can to save a little cash, you can also add insulation in your basement and in crawlspaces to prevent heat loss.

Change up your flooring

Are your hardwood floors freezing your feet every single winter?

Putting in carpet is a great winter project that will give your home (and feet) a new look and feel. However, if you’re not one for carpeting, there are plenty of other home flooring ideas such as tile and laminate that you could also consider. Just make sure to bundle up with thick socks this year. If your flooring is a little out of date, this is a good opportunity to add value and a chic look to your home.

Home Improvement Financing

Your savings are important and if you don’t want to empty your emergency cash stash, a LendingPoint loan may be a great option.

Even if your credit score is lower than you would like it to be, you do have personal loan options. LendingPoint is dedicated to serving the NearPrime consumer with credit scores in the 600s. A personal loan can even help improve your credit score. By taking out one of our personal loans. you can make affordable monthly payments and build your credit story by making on-time payments each month. As you continue to make your payments on-time, you build your credibility and your credit history.

We offer decisions in minutes and funding as soon as the next business day to help make your home-improvement dreams a reality. There is no time like the present to start your home-improvement project.

At LendingPoint we offer affordable personal loans from $3,500 to $25,000 with a fixed APR and simple interest. We would love to help finance your home-improvement project. LendingPoint does not require equity or collateral so you can continue building equity in your most valuable asset—your home. Apply today and talk with one of our representatives about making your home improvement dreams a reality.