Winter brings longer nights, more time indoors, and often a few extra electricity users. Holiday light displays, heated blankets, extra lamps and electronics left on standby can all add to your bill. Individually they may seem minor, but together they can create a noticeable bump during the darkest months of the year.

Switch holiday lights and any remaining older bulbs to LEDs, which use far less electricity and last longer. Put outdoor displays and indoor lamps on timers so they turn off automatically late at night. Smart plugs or power strips can cut standby power to game consoles, televisions and chargers when nobody is using them.

Pay attention to appliances, too. Run the dishwasher and washing machine only with full loads, wash clothes in cold water when you can, and clean the dryer lint screen every time. If your utility offers lower rates at certain times of day, shifting these chores to off-peak hours may help further.