If you are like millions of Americans, you are likely on a tight budget each and every month. Moving to and from a new apartment can be costly, which stretches your monthly budget even tighter than it is normally. Here are a few helpful tips to keep your heating and cooling bills down now that you’ve found a new apartment.

Try to time the sun during the day with the times that you have your blinds open. This is especially important in the summertime, as direct sunlight into your apartment can raise the temperature several degrees in an instant. If you are in a home that faces west, you’ll have the sun in the afternoons, so make sure your blinds are open in the morning and closed later on. You will notice a significant improvement in your heating and cooling bills.

During the wintertime, try to turn down your thermostat a few degrees and, instead, wear a sweater around the house. It may take a little bit of adjustment and getting use to, but that five degree difference in heat can translate to big money saved on your heating bill over the course of a winter.

Finally, try turning your air conditioning down a little bit when you sleep at night. If you normally have it set to 72 during the day, turn it down to 75 or even 80 at night when you won’t notice it as much. You’ll save a lot of cash over the summer by changing the way you live just a tiny bit.