Winter can get cold in Delaware, with temperatures averaging around 20 ⁰ F to 30 ⁰ F. You may need to put on the heat in your home to keep the cold away when trying to sleep or after just escaping the snow, sleet, and hail from outside. This can increase the cost of your utility bills, especially when using your heater is not optional.
In this guide from Delaware Title Loans, Inc., we will explain how to cover the increased cost of your utility bills through smart budgeting, passive income, and more. We will also review how to get Delaware emergency cash for utilities with title loans.
5 Methods To Cover Increased Utility Bills During The Winter
Using more heating in your house will drive up your electricity bills. Delaware's average monthly electricity bill cost is about $145, but you can expect that to increase during the winter. Heating accounts for about 30% of your electricity bill, so more reliance on it when it gets cold will majorly increase your utilities.
While you may try to avoid using too much heat, that won’t be sustainable when frigid temperatures arrive. Rather than depriving yourself of the heat you need just to save money, you should consider ways to cover the increased cost so you can afford to heat your house.
Here are five ways to manage the increased cost of utility bills during the winter:
1. Make Your House Energy Efficient
One reason electricity costs skyrocket in the winter is that people use more heat, but don’t make changes around the house to keep it in. The more heat that escapes, the more you’ll need to pay for. This leads to higher costs that you can keep lower by making just a few changes around your house.
By handling your heating system and home with energy-efficiency in mind, you can heat your home without breaking the bank.
Here are some methods to help reduce the cost of your electricity bills:
- Schedule regular maintenance on your heating unit – The older your heating unit is, the more broken down it will be. Older or broken-down units will have to use more electricity to work properly, costing you more money. Get regular maintenance checks to see if there are any issues that need to be fixed. This can keep your heating unit working more efficiently and save you money.
- Clean or replace air filters – Just like with a broken-down heating unit, your air filters need to be replaced often to make sure they work efficiently. We suggest replacing these filters every month or so to reduce the energy consumption in your home. This can also help during the summer when you need to use your air conditioning.
- Seal leaks around your house – Cold air can filter into your home through gaps in your doors or windows. Use caulk or weather-stripping to seal these gaps and keep cold air out. This can save you up to 15% on eating costs.
By making these changes around the house, you can save hundreds of dollars. Along with making changes around the house, you can also change the way you operate to reduce electricity costs.
2. Conserve Energy With Tips For Cold Weather Living
One way to conserve energy is to keep your thermostat below 68 degrees, since this can save you 5% on heating costs. However, once the freezing temperatures come, this may not be feasible. We suggest that, even when those temperatures come, never raise your thermostat by more than two degrees at a time.
By increasing your home’s thermostat by more than two degrees at a time with central electric-based heating, you can trigger auxiliary heat. This uses your air conditioning running in reverse to pump more heat into your house. Leaving this running can cost you a ton of money on your electric bill, so avoid raising your thermostat by too much at a time.
You can also use electric blankets and space heaters to stay warm without raising your heat too much. Letting in sunshine through your windows during the day can also heat your house. While you can reduce costs with these methods, you may still have increased bills and need to make more money, which is where side hustles can help.
3. Begin Working Side Hustles
Your regular salary may not cover the increase in utility costs during the winter, especially when you still need to cover your rent, food, gas, etc. If you need to make more money, you can do so with side hustles.
Freelance gigs allow you to use your skills to make extra money during your time off. You can get side hustles that are in-person or remote that let you make money quickly when your electricity bills increase.
Here are some side hustles that can help you make extra cash:
- Writing or editing
- Graphic design
- Driving for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, or Instacart
- Social media management
- Dog walking
- Selling items online
- Renting out a room in your house
- Landscaping/yard work
- Photography
Those who need extra cash can also seek financial assistance from government or state programs.
4. Get Government And State Assistance
Low-income families who cannot afford the increased cost of electrical bills during the winter can seek financial assistance from government and state programs. As long as you meet their income requirements, they can help you pay your bills to keep your heat on.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides assistance with energy bills, weatherization, and home repairs. This program helps low-income families between October 1st and March 31st by dispersing funds to pay for energy bills. Contact your local branch to see if you can get approved.
The Delmarva Power Customer Relief Fund can help those struggling with utility bills pay up to $300. You must have an income below 60% of the state median income and a past-due balance of at least $250 to get approved. If you don’t qualify for these programs or the above-mentioned methods can’t get you money fast enough, you can seek emergency financial assistance through title loans.
5. Seek Title Loans To Cover Increased Utility Costs
Title loans are a last-resort emergency funding option that lets you borrow up to $15,000 based on your vehicle’s value. You can only get approved if you have fully paid off your car, truck, or van and have a lien-free vehicle title. Title loans for bill payment in Delaware can help when heating increases your electrical costs, and you don’t have enough to afford them yet.
Approval requires you to prove your identity, age, vehicle value, and full vehicle ownership, which you can do with these required items: a driver’s license, a lien-free vehicle title in your name, and a vehicle for a quick inspection.
The following is how to get approved for title loans in Delaware:
- Submit an online request form on this website
- Receive a phone call from us to discuss title loan terms
- Bring your required items to our nearest Delaware store location to get verified
- Have your vehicle inspected to determine how much you can borrow
- If approved, sign the loan agreement to finish the process
- Receive Delaware emergency cash for utilities later that day or by the next business day
Get Title Loans For Delaware Emergency Cash For Utilities – Receive Up To $15,000 Today!
Do you need title loans for bill payment in Delaware? We at Delaware Title Loans, Inc. can help while you adjust your finances to afford the costs in future months. Title loans are available to anyone who has paid off their car; you can even get approved with no credit or income. Get started today by filling out our online title loan form and visiting us in person to get approved within 30 minutes!
Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.
