Nov3

Johnny For A Day OOTD

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Johnny For A Day OOTD

Hello! Johnny and I had a wonderful Halloween weekend and I hope that all of you did too! On Friday, we had a game night with one of our friends and on Saturday, Johnny and I got dressed up in our Halloween best to pass out candy in my parents’ neighborhood. We had so much fun seeing all of the adorable trick-or-treat costumes and definitely plan on being the delegated candy passer-outers next year too!

The trick-or-treaters weren’t the only ones with good costumes and, while I hinted that I was going to wear my wedding dress in a previous post, I decided to go a different route. I took one of my other suggestions and created a costume inspired by my husband, instead! I freaking LOVE how it turned out and everyone in our friend group thought that I nailed it too. GREAT SUCCESS! Check it out:

How It Started:

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How It’s Going:

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Who? What? Wear?

Ever since Johnny and I began dating, I have been inspired by his personal style that is part glam rock part emo kid. Seeing the amazing outfits that he would put together while playing a concert or just hanging out would put my heart in a tizzy! While I am a lucky lady to have such a fashion forward husband, I am even luckier because his clothes fit me lol. This is not the first time that I have worn one of his fabulous button downs in his collection and it certainly won’t be the last. 😀

For my Halloween costume, I embodied “concert Johnny” because he always follows the same formula for showtime OOTDs: Killer shoes, skinny jeans, flashy button down, and a scarf. This was probably the easiest OOTD that I have ever assembled because straying too far from what he wears for a concert would have defeated the point of the costume! He has also never worn the button down that I selected for a show before so I was honored to give it a test drive. My consensus: It works!

When I started styling this look, I originally had on one of his snakeskin patterned tops in a more muted shade. However, it just wasn’t popping enough since I wanted to go full glam rock. I tried on the red velvet button down with glittery polka dots next and I knew that it was the one. Also, if you look closely, you will notice that the buttons on it are little skull heads – so cool! This button down by Phix was also the perfect one to pair with Johnny’s black and white striped scarf. The White Stripes themed color palette looked rock concert ready and I could picture Johnny wearing it and looking fantastico.

Skinny jeans were a must for this Johnny inspired costume and, while he has never worn distressed jeans, I wanted to show a bit of skin since everything else was covered up. I probably wouldn’t have worn these AEO skinnies if it wasn’t such a nice night for trick-or-treat but it was warm enough that I got away with it. I also have to take advantage of showing off my tattoos before it gets too cold to do so!

Finally, it was time for shoes and I knew just the pair. Although they are a far cry from Johnny’s signature pointed toe Chelsea boots, I just had to break out my devil horn platforms from Dolls Kill. I wanted to add some obvious Halloween flare to this outfit and what better way to do that than with some costume ready platform boots?! They are so cheeky and fun with the horns and devil tail going up the heels. These boots also tied together the whole outfit beautifully. The red of the boots and the top are an almost perfect match and a little extra glitter never hurt anyone. ❤

I am so proud of how this costume turned out and Johnny was very impressed, albeit a little weirded out, that his wife was dressed just like him! Lol, tune in tomorrow for bonus pics from this look as well as how Johnny’s concert moves inspired all of the pictures we took!

What did you dress up as for Halloween? How did you celebrate Halloween? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov2

The Pros & Cons Of Still Keeping Paper Documents

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The Pros & Cons Of Still Keeping Paper Documents

We’re constantly surrounded by digital technology in every aspect of our working lives. Most of your job is spent using a computer or another electronic device. You send emails instead of letters and deal with a lot of digital data. And yet, some workplaces still keep paper documents. These can be bills, contracts, or anything else that might be important for your company. Unfortunately, keeping paper documents comes with its fair share of drawbacks and problems. But, you could argue that it also has some advantages. Is it worth maintaining a collection of physical documents in your workplace? Let’s look at the pros and cons:

Pro – A fail safe for lost digital assets:

What happens if a computer breaks down that contains lots of key documents or data? It had a list of clients on there with their addresses and contact details. Or, it contained all of your bills for that quarter. You didn’t back anything up to the cloud, so it’s lost forever. Paper documents provide a fail safe in case of any digital issues. You have copies of important documents that you can now look at and use. This can be so helpful in situations when you’re trying to manage your books but can’t find the digital versions of bills and transactions.

Pro – Some customers/clients prefer physical documents:

Not everyone enjoys getting things digitally. Some of your customers may want actual physical copies of contracts and other key documents. If you only provide them with digital versions, it might lead to some annoyance.

Con – Easier to lose/damage:

The big problem with physical documents is that they are far easier for you to lose or damage. All it takes is some bad weather or an accident to spill water on a box full of documents. Immediately, they’re damaged almost beyond repair. Sure, you can use expert contents restoration services to try and bring them back to life, but it might be too late. Just like that, you’ve lost some truly important data or information that you’re unable to recover. When things are stored digitally or in the cloud, it is almost impossible to damage them. You can keep numerous copies on multiple devices to ensure that, if one copy does get damaged, there are many others to call upon.

Con – Harder to keep track of:

Keeping paper documents is a lot harder than keeping digital ones. You need a document management system that keeps everything neat and tidy at all times. Already, this poses some issues relating to your workspace. Is there physically enough space for you to have multiple filing cabinets to store all of these documents? Then, you have to consider how hard it is to keep track of all the documents. When you need a specific thing, how quickly can you find it among your paper documents? You’ll take a few minutes at the very least – and that’s if you have an awesome system. If things are stored digitally, they can be found in seconds by running a search.

Con – You use lots of paper:

Paper usage should be decreasing as we look to fight for a more sustainable planet. In fact, one of the simplest ways to make a business more sustainable is by becoming paperless. You drastically decrease the demand for the paper industry, meaning fewer trees get cut down and turned into paper. If every business went paperless, we might have a genuinely positive impact on the planet. So, keeping paper documents means you technically increase your carbon footprint by a tad. If you want to use less paper around the office, perhaps you should consider getting rid of paper documents and going digital.

All things considered, paper documents don’t really have that many advantages. It can be handy to keep some physical copies of important things – like supercritical contracts, licenses, etc. But, in the grand scheme of things, most businesses shouldn’t have a huge collection of paper documents anymore. Instead, the focus should be on taking your old documents and digitizing them! They are safer when stored on devices and stored in the cloud. The world is going paperless, maybe it’s time for your business to follow suit?

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov2

Sweet Surprises: Sister Gift Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Sister Gift Edition

Hello! This past week, I paid a visit to my sister and darling nieces at their place. Everything basically sucks and is crazy for yours truly right now but seeing my favorite lil ladies and big sister always puts a smile on my face. It’s hard not to smile when your nieces are literally the cutest people on planet Earth! Hanging out with all of them was a gift enough so I definitely wasn’t expecting this sweet surprise that my sister got for me:

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For those of you who don’t know, I am pretty much obsessed with Neil Gaiman and I consider everything that he does a masterpiece. Aside from Sandman, Coraline is one of my all time favorite books and I love the movie and graphic novel adaptation. My sister, Kristen, is well aware of this and when she saw the necklace with the key and seeing stone during some online shopping, she added it to her cart. It’s funny, because I actually just screenshotted something similar on my phone a few weeks ago – talk about sister telepathy!

During such trying times, it was so nice to receive a gift that I knew made my sister immediately think of me. It was such a thoughtful and much needed surprise and I was so flattered by it! I can’t wait to wear my new necklace as well as finally get Johnny to watch the movie with me because he fell asleep during our last viewing lol. Coraline is a perfect spooky season movie and, even though it’s November, Johnny and I are still in the Halloween spirit every day. 😀

If you haven’t seen or read Coraline before, then I can’t recommend it enough. While it’s a great book and flick for teens, I daresay that it’s even better for adults. Thanks again to my big sis for such a sweet gift! ❤

What is your favorite work by Neil Gaiman? Have you received any sweet surprises lately? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Be sure to tune in tomorrow for an OOTD shoot of my Halloween costume!

Nov1

Motivating Your Team To Do Better Starts With You

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Motivating Your Team To Do Better Starts With You

Putting together the right team is arguably one of the most challenging aspects of running a business these days. You can have all of the right ideas and strategies, but without a competent team to help you turn them into a thriving business, it’s going to be a daily uphill struggle. In order to help motivate your team, it’s important not to look at what they’re doing but how you conduct your business. You also need to think about how you speak to your team, how you interact with them through your work, and ultimately how you run your business:

Your actions and attitude will reflect in your team:

When people talk about company culture, they often think about how your team functions and acts as a whole. Things like ideas and attitudes tend to be quite infectious, and they usually spread throughout an office. But where does that chance come from? It’s certainly not just your employees!

The key here is you; the boss. When you run a business, your ideas and the way you behave often reflect on your team. You’re the person that your team looks to when they need guidance, so your personality and attitude will constantly affect the people around you. This is why a motivated team leader often leads to a motivated team. As such, you need to be more diligent about how you conduct your business. Stay motivated, be positive, and don’t forget to work with your team in order to run a better business.

Think about the future of your team:

Teams should be fluid. They should be able to change and adapt to market conditions and you should be open to trying new things in order to stay ahead of the curve. It’s a good idea to think about using brands such as STL to help you train your team and motivate them to learn new skills. New knowledge is great because it helps your team members be better employees, but it also provides them with a sense of safety and security knowing that you’re willing to invest in them. In short, think about how you want your team to be in the future. Think about the responsibilities you want them to have and consider the skills and knowledge they need to carry them out.

A healthy boss means a healthy team:

One of the most underrated ways to start protecting your business is to look after your health. When you pay more attention to your personal health, it leads to a much stronger business because you’re able to make decisions quickly and efficiently, and your focus on personal health will extend to your team members. A business can’t function correctly if it’s not healthy at the core. Think about how much you push yourself and your team, and always take frequent breaks to ensure that you’re not overdoing it. Look after your health and take note of team members who are stressed or struggling with their work.

A great team starts with a great boss so always strive to improve yourself so your business can improve too!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Nov1

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Maid By Nita Prose Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Maid By Nita Prose Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new month here on lifewithlilred! To kick start November, we will be discussing a delightfully charming read by Nita Prose called The Maid – without giving any spoilers away, of course. Both my mom and I read this book and we really enjoyed it. In fact, I liked it so much that I wouldn’t mind reading it again! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Maid as it deals with the death of a loved one and domestic violence. Now, let’s get to it:

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Molly simply loves her job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. She loves her uniform, the routine, and returning each room to a state of perfection. Her self worth fully relies on her employment now that her beloved grandma is deceased. So much so that Molly would rather be at work than in the small apartment that they used to share.

Molly sees the world differently than her coworkers and falls somewhere on the autism spectrum. Since the passing of her grandma, her life went from vibrant and rich to incredibly lonely. She does have a few friends, however. Every day, Molly tends to Giselle Black’s room. She is the wife of a business mogul and she is just as lonely as Molly in her own ways. Through this shared bond, a friendship forms. Molly cleans the room and Giselle teaches her about makeup and explains the things that Molly doesn’t fully understand – like when a coworker is making fun of her.

Of course, not all of her coworkers are completely awful and Molly also enjoys her friendship with kindly Mr. Preston, Juan Manuel, and Rodney, whom she has a huge crush on. Rodney is the perfect man for her and surprises Molly through his “thoughtfulness”. For example, after entering one of the rooms she was scheduled to clean, Molly stumbles upon Rodney, Juan Manuel, and two intimidating looking strangers who she assumes are their friends. Rodney explains that Juan Manuel’s work permit has expired and he has no place to live. He asks Molly if she can give him a key card to an unoccupied room every night, stow his overnight bag, and clean up every morning. And she does.

Every day, Molly looks forward to her visits with Giselle and her friends until something awful happens. During her usual rounds in the Black’s suite, Molly finds Giselle’s husband dead in his bed. Originally, she wasn’t a suspect to a possible murder. But, after doing a few favors for some of her so called friends, Molly is arrested for murder, drug charges, and having an illegal firearm. Desperate to prove her innocence, Molly and the people who only wish the best for her rally to fight the charges. But, it’s going to take Molly being pushed out of her comfort zone to do it. Can they pull it off? Read The Maid to find out!

I wasn’t expecting to like The Maid as much as I did but I literally couldn’t put it down to save my own life. I devoured it in three days and wish that it wasn’t such a quick read! This book tapped into every emotion possible in barely two hundred and ninety pages. It was equal parts heartbreaking, hilarious, enraging, and inspiring. If you don’t find yourself rooting for Molly with every turn of the page, then there is a good chance that you don’t have a heart.

Not only did The Maid have me emotionally invested but the plot was great too. There were so many twists and turns cleverly interwoven into the mundane life of a hotel maid. It was so different than anything that I have read recently and that was exciting. Throughout the book, Molly prided herself on being an invisible cog in the hotel machine. Or rather, what her boss describes as a bee in a hive. Being able to watch Molly develop and be seen for the first time in so long was an absolute joy.

I am going to award The Maid with an eight out of ten stars. This was an original and fun read that will make you want to cry as you stay on the edge of your seat. Highly recommend!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Oct31

How To Have The Best HR Department In The Business

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How To Have The Best HR Department In The Business

For any business, a fantastic HR department can do wonders for those who are looking to make improvements to the internal operations of the company. A good HR team should be able to manage and support all members of staff within the workplace while helping with recruitment drives, contracts, and remaining compliant. There’s a lot that a HR manager or team is responsible for, so here are some top tips that are worth implementing to get the best out of this team in the business:

Build an experienced and knowledgeable team:

Think about the team that’s needed for a company of your size. There will likely be more needed with larger businesses and perhaps only one staff member for a small boutique business. For any company that is looking to expand and grow its business, it’s worth adding an extra person to the HR team too. Think about what skills or experience levels might be lacking within the company and hire more staff where required to help improve the HR team.

Read up on laws and seek legal aid:

As a business, it can be helpful to clue one’s self up on the laws that are in place. It’s not only relevant to the company but it can be useful to those who are responsible for making important decisions and changes to business operations. For those that need more guidance, there are plenty of options to gather more information. From training opportunities to seeking legal aid for situations that relate to injury law, it’s all expertise and knowledge that a well rounded HR department can assist with.

Look at employee benefits:

Consider what employee benefits are being offered by the business currently. The benefits package is something a company wants to review often and make sure it offers everything employees need to keep them happy. Employees are known to appreciate a good benefits package, with 79% of workers saying they value benefits packages that are offered by their employer. Take a closer look at whether these could be improved for the future of the business and its employees who work hard for these rewards.

Remain compliant:

Being compliant in everything a business does is important, otherwise, it can find itself in hot water as a result. From ensuring fair pay and safe working environments to making sure contracts and documents are created in line with any laws or regulations in place. A HR department should be staying up to date with any changes in legislation that might influence how compliant the business is.

Get feedback from employees:

Employee feedback is always useful to have when it comes to a business. There’s a lot to learn from staff members who may need to express concerns or improve their working conditions. Make a feedback form or have an anonymous feedback box that can be utilized by staff regularly. Open hours to come to the HR department and voice any feedback would also be beneficial.

A strong HR department is essential to keeping your business on track and flourishing. Strengthen yours up with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Oct31

October 2022 Finishes

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October 2022 Finishes

Hello everyone!! October is drawing to a close, which means that it’s time to discuss my monthly beauty finishes! And by finishes, I mean “finish” because there is only one product that I used up this month. The current products in my bath and body and skin care routine are all bigger in size and have been taking forever to use up. I’m not complaining, though, because all that does is continue to lower my CPU or “cost per use”! Now, let’s discuss the lone body cream in one of my favorite scents that I managed to finish:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Bath & Body Works Body Cream in Gingham: YES!!!!

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Lotion: As you all know, Gingham is one of my all time favorite scents by Bath & Body Works. One of my sweet neighbors also knows it because this was a gift – an incredibly thoughtful one! I would apply this to my hands, arms, and trunk (lol) every night and it took me a little over a month to complete the bottle. This cream was thicker in texture but it applied easily and absorbed quickly without any greasy residue. That, in itself, is a huge selling point for me because I can’t stand when a lotion doesn’t absorb fully. Every morning, I would wake up to ultra smooth skin that both looked and felt healthy. And, oh yeah, it smells great too! I would definitely recommend this product.

Talk about a short and sweet post amiright?! Thanks for checking in at lifewithlilred and have a fabulous day. See you in November! 😉 ❤

Which beauty products did you use up this month? What is your favorite Bath & Body Works scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct30

New Deep Red & Black Nails

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New Deep Red & Black Nails

Hello!! October has been a crazy busy/stressful month for yours truly and it took me forever to find some spare time to get to Elysian Nails. My old nails were definitely reflecting the craziness because they were looking JANK – so grown out, dull, and some of them were lifting! Thankfully, the wonderful techs at Elysian are always there to get me right and my girl, Shelly, hooked it up:

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I have been going gaga over the gorgeous Halloween nail art that has been plastered all over my Facebook newsfeed. Ghosts, mummies, spiders, and dripping blood nails sent my Halloween loving self into a tizzy. While I would love to indulge in nail art, I just can’t justify the additional cost. Between my nails, hair, and a constant desire to treat myself, it is expensive being Lil Red! So, I decided to go for my old spooky season standby of black and deep red. Is it as exciting as a full Halloween set? No way. But, my nails look fabulous and, for that, I am grateful.

Because my go to nail tech wasn’t working during my appointment, I was treated by the fabulous Shelly doing my fill. It is always so nice to catch up with her and her sister because they work side by side. Shelly is also the literal fastest nail tech I have ever been to. Despite the fact that she had a lot of fixing up to do on my nails, I was still out of the salon in an hour and that blew my mind. At other salons that I have been to, the techs can be hit or miss. However, every single nail tech at Elysian is so incredibly skilled and kind so it is never an issue when I can’t be fit into my usual tech’s schedule. For that, I am also grateful! ❤

There is nothing like getting pampered at the salon after a long and trying month and I left Elysian feeling way better than I did before. As always, I can’t wait to go back already!

What color of nail polish are you wearing? Do you get nail art when you get your nails done? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct29

Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

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Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

Hello!! It’s Halloween weekend and if you are without a costume, then I feel it! I, myself, am store bought costumeless this year because I had literally no time to go shopping for one. However, I will be using one of my last minute ideas that we will be discussing today so it’s all good! If you need a costume for a party or passing out candy to trick-or-treaters, you might be surprised by what you can make from the pieces in your own closet. All you will need is some makeup to fully complete the look! If you are still completely stumped for ideas, you might want to Shop Halloween Costumes Online to see if they can do express shipping. Now, let’s get started:

Scarecrow:

If you have some ripped up blue jeans, a flannel, and a sturdy pair of work boots, then BOOM: You instantly have a scarecrow costume. For makeup, you can look up tutorials to do some patches on your face and hands for the full effect. You can also use the base of this costume to be a cowboy or cowgirl. Just swap the work boots for cowboy boots and add a hat and you’re ready for the rodeo. 😀

Decade Costumes:

Do you have a love for a certain time period with the clothes to match? Then you are all set! Decade costumes from the 70s, 80s, 90s, or whatever tickles your fancy are always a hit. You could put together the ultimate jazzercize costume or a look that’s worthy of the disco with flared pants, platforms, and a sleek button down. Easy peasy!

Undead Bride Or Groom:

When Johnny and I pass out trick-or-treat candy, I am just planning on wearing my black wedding dress and doing some undead makeup lol. No matter the color of your dress or suit, this is another quick fix if you are costumeless. If you aren’t keen on wearing your own wedding attire, secondhand shops tend to have a wide selection of weddingwear on the cheap.

Your SO Or Bestie:

Are you attending a party with your significant other or bestie? You can dress up as them! If I don’t feel like wearing my wedding dress, this is the route that I am going. All one needs to do is raid your costume inspiration’s wardrobe or find pieces that they would wear in your own. Since I already wear Johnny’s clothes constantly, it might be fun to style a look that he would wear when he’s playing a concert!

Sportswear:

Win the gold with your costume by dressing up as an athlete or just a super fan. If you have a passion for watching or playing sports and you have the gear to back it up, then this is the costume for you. Paint your face with your favorite team’s colors, get one of those hats that you can drink beer out of, and you are good to go!

Animal Attire:

Is dressing up as a cat, teddy bear, or bat the most original costume? Not by a long shot! However, it will have to do if you are crunched for time. You can pull a Karen from Mean Girls and be a mouse… duh! Either way, all you need is clothing the color of your animal, ears, potentially wings, and makeup and you will be ready for your Halloween plans.

Although I had a store bought costume in mind, I am a-okay with a makeshift one this year. Keep it posted to see what I end up dressing up as next week on lifewithlilred!

What are you dressing up as for Halloween? What are your Halloween plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct28

3 Ways To Save On Your Heating Bill

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3 Ways To Save On Your Heating Bill

Staying comfortable and warm in the winter doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are several tips and tricks to keep your energy bill as low as the winter temperatures outside! Let’s discuss a few ways to keep you cozy and snug all season without ruining your holiday shopping budget. Before we begin, it’s worth the reminder that maintenance appointments for HVAC fill up quickly as the weather cools. Get an appointment scheduled quickly by entering a search for “hvac service st louis mo” (or your local area) so your home has reliable heat when you need it most. This is not the time to wait till the last minute!

Consider How You Use Your Heating:

Prices go up and down because the oil market isn’t stable. This hurts many people who heat their homes with gas in the winter. Even though it’s feasible that rates will go down if the oil price goes down, it’s much more likely that they will go up. So, making the switch to electricity could save you money right away.

If you want to make big changes to your heating, you will need to buy a lot of new equipment. But saving money over time is a financial benefit that more than makes up for the cost at first. Electric radiator prices vary from shop to shop and don’t forget to add in how much it will cost to have a professional install them. Find out how to heat your house in the most efficient way. It may be tempting to choose a smaller heater because it costs less, but will it actually heat the whole room? Each size of the radiator can only heat a certain size of the room, so radiators for bigger rooms need to be bigger.

Looking After The System:

People who use gas furnaces or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems need to have them checked and fixed regularly. Making an appointment with your heating company every fall is the best thing to do. Technicians carefully check the equipment to make sure it is running as well as it can. Normal wear and tear is fixed, along with any basic maintenance problems that come up. This keeps them from getting worse and making future repairs more expensive. Make sure you call a company to arrange hvac maintenance before winter hits.

When you take better care of your heating system in advance, it will work when the first cooler fronts come. So, you won’t have to pay more for power stations because your hardware is broken or not working. Don’t wait until winter to try out your heating system because heating companies will be hectic and it might take a while to get a service call scheduled. To get an appointment in the books, simply enter a search for “HVAC contractor in Largo, FL” (or your local area) to get a professional in before inclement weather hits.

Check The Insulation:

To keep your heating bill as affordable as possible, it’s crucial to keep warm air inside and stop cold air from coming in. When there is too much airflow between the interior and exterior of your home, your heating system has to work harder to maintain the temperature. If the house has good insulation, this might not happen. A lot of energy can be saved when the roof and walls of a house are insulated. A professional installer can save you several hundred dollars on your energy bills when you use your heating or cooling system.

You can also keep your house warm with cost free fixes. First, make sure all of the doors and windows close tightly. Repairing cracks in the roof will also be most helpful. Glass also helps heat through so on sunny days, people should open their curtains and drapes to let heat into their homes. Close the curtains and drapes at night to keep warm air from escaping through the windows.

Keep your house warm with the tips above and save big when the dreaded bill comes every month!

Featured Image By: Mikhail Nilov at Pexels