A lot of us are trying to save money—and cutting monthly expenses to reduce energy costs at home is a great way to do that. The average U.S person spends a couple thousands of dollars a year on gas, electric, and water bills, but there are ways to cut down home utility costs.
Small upgrades to your heating, cooling, and water usage can make your home more energy-efficient.
Upgrade Your Lighting
Using energy-efficient lightbulbs is an easy way to pinch pennies around the house. Incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs use more energy than LED lights. Making the switch from older bulbs to LED lighting will give you better lighting while expending less energy.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Adjusting your thermostat even by a few degrees can help cut costs. Try to limit the use of your air conditioner, and when you’re not home it’s a good idea to set the thermostat higher in the summer and lower in the winter. But don’t turn your HVAC off and on to save money. This will make it work harder and use more energy.
Make sure your thermostat is regulating your heating and cooling efficiency. If you hear it running constantly, it could have a problem.
Monitor Water Usage
Installing flow meters to monitor your home’s water usage might seem counterintuitive to saving money. However, over the years, you’ll earn your investment back along with the reduced costs in your monthly water bill. Flow meters can spot leaky pipes and help to uncover problematic leakage that would have gone undetected otherwise. Not only will you save money in utility costs, but you’ll also prevent costly water damage to your home by catching leaks early.
There are so many ways to cut down home utility costs, from washing larger loads of clothing, unplugging appliances when you’re not using them, and taking colder showers. Implementing simple hacks along with investing in items that monitor or cut down on energy use will help you reduce household bills.
Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday sit side by side on the calendar, but they feel very different.
One is full of color, music, and celebration. The other is quiet, simple, and reflective.
Together, they form a powerful transition from feasting to fasting, from Carnival to Lent.
Ramadan 2026 is expected to begin on the evening of February 17, 2026. The first day of fasting will likely fall on February 18. The month will end around March 19, 2026, depending on local moon sightings. These dates may be changed, depending on the country.
A red robin watches a Ramadan family prayer with warmth and wonder.
Ride into the rare Year of the Fire Horse with legends, dragon dances, lucky foods, and a fiery red robin salute to Lunar New Year. The Year of the Fire Horse is one of the most dramatic and culturally charged cycles in the Chinese zodiac. It appears only once every 60 years, and when it does, it ignites stories of passion, rebellion, creativity, and change.
From ancient legends to modern festivals filled with dragon dances and lanterns, the Fire Horse gallops through history
as a symbol of both risk and possibility.
Quick Fire Horse Snapshot:
Rare 60-year cycle • Fiery passion • Bold change • Artistic energy • A time to move, create, and transform.
Fire Horse-inspired lantern art at a Lunar New Year celebration.
As mid-February settles in, Presidents' Day arrives as a welcome pause in the winter season, a moment when
communities across the United States step outdoors for parades, visit historic sites, and reflect on the
leaders who shaped the nation. The holiday blends civic pride with the comfort of a long weekend, creating
a unique mix of celebration, education, and family time.
In 2026, the holiday on February 16th carries added significance as the nation enters its 250th anniversary year,
inspiring expanded programming, special exhibitions, and renewed interest in the country’s founding era.
From record spending to instant downloadable gifts for couples, pets, and families. For late shoppers, these ideas make a great solution for finding meaningful gifts.
Valentine’s Day 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet. Recent retail surveys show
that total Valentine’s spending is expected to reach record levels, with average budgets per
person climbing close to the $200 mark. Consumers aren’t just buying for romantic
partners anymore; they’re also celebrating kids, pets, friends, and themselves.
At the same time, how people express love is changing. Instead of defaulting to last‑minute
flowers and generic chocolates, many are looking for gifts that feel personal, meaningful,
and easy to deliver, especially when they’ve left things a little late. That’s where
downloadable, print‑at‑home, and digital gifts step into the spotlight.
