Your Mid-Month Dose of Home Wisdom: May

1. Beat the Heat Without Blasting the A/C

Cut your cooling bill by up to 30% with these simple moves:
🧊 Set Ceiling Fans Counterclockwise: In summer mode, ceiling fans push cool air down, making it feel 3–4°F cooler — without lowering the thermostat.
🧊 Close Blinds from 11am–4pm: Blocking direct sun during peak hours can reduce indoor temps and cut cooling costs by up to 30%.
🧊 Unplug Heat-Producing Devices: Electronics like TVs, chargers, and laptops give off heat even in standby mode — unplug them to avoid warming up your space.

2. The $20 Shower Head Swap That Saves Water and Hydro

Upgrading to a low-flow shower head (≤ 1.75 GPM / 6.6 LPM) cuts water and energy bills:
🚿 A family of 4 can save up to 44,000+ litres of water per year.
⚡ That also reduces the energy needed to heat all that water—cutting your hydro or gas bill.
🧰 Easy DIY install in under 10 minutes, and many qualify for rebates in provinces like BC, ON, and QC.
🔗 Check out the entire list of small changes that add up, here: https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/home-energy-efficiency/make-small-changes-add

3. Stretch Your Grocery Dollars with Smart Price Matching

Get the best prices without driving store to store:
🛒 Use the Flipp app to browse local flyers from over 2,000 Canadian retailers.
🛒 Screenshot or save lower-priced items to price-match at stores that allow it (like No Frills, FreshCo, and Giant Tiger).
🛒 Stack savings by combining this with cashback apps like Checkout 51 or Caddle.
🔗 Flipp – Weekly Flyer App

Why Flipp is a Game-Changer for Grocery Planning?

Forget loyalty cards—Flipp saves you money just by planning ahead:
📱 Browse flyers by item, store, or category and make your list in-app.
📌 Tap and save deals so you don’t forget them at checkout.
🧾 Add in digital coupons and cashback for a layered savings strategy.

4. Make Produce Last Twice as Long

Food waste = money waste. Here’s how to stretch your groceries:
🥬 Line crisper drawers with paper towels to absorb moisture.
🍓 Wash berries in a 1:3 vinegar-water mix before storing.
🥕 Store carrots and celery in water-filled jars for weeks of crunch.

5. This One Fan Setting Could Lower Your Energy Bill

Most people forget this one:
🌀 Set your HVAC fan to “Auto” instead of “On.”
🌀 “On” runs 24/7 = constant electricity use.
🌀 “Auto” only runs during heating/cooling cycles = less wear, lower bills.