Nerds Republic

Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature during the winter can be a struggle…for every day that you’re warm, you’re paying out the nose through it. Thankfully, there are some ways that you can be toasty on frigid days without breaking the bank. Here’s how.

1. You could actually service your furnace.

Look, your furnace has been sitting unused for about eight or nine months. It’s a good idea to get it serviced before the worst weather hits, that way you know it’s heating your house efficiently.

2. Slap some bubble wrap onto your windows.

It sounds crazy, but a cheap roll of bubble wrap from a local packing / shipping store could save you some dough this winter. The plastic lets sunlight in and keeps the cold out. Cut bubble wrap sheets to fit your windows, then spray a thin film of water on the glass. The water will make the plastic stick to your windows (without leaving any residue behind).

3. Yep, that’s right: turn your fans ON.

Well, your ceiling fan that is. Warm air rises, so by turning on a ceiling fan in reverse, you can create an updraft that pushes the warm air to the walls and back to the floor. (The blades should be moving clockwise.)

4. Make your radiator more efficient by using foil.

If you use radiators, you can make them more efficient by placing a panel of aluminum foil behind each unit (and against the wall). Instead of heating the wall, your unit will heat the foil, which will reflect the warmth back into the room.

5. Stop running your exhaust fans in the bathroom.

Sure, the fan will remove all of the steamy air and will prevent mold from forming, wallpaper from peeling, and all that. However, it will pull cold air into your living space…which you will then need to warm up with your heater.

6. Get rid of drafts the best you can.

You can keep warm air from escaping under the door by using foam tubing, DIY draft eliminators made from socks, rugs, large fuzzy dogs, and basically anything else you can leave in front of your door. Keep your home cozy!

7. Make your water heater all warm and toasty.

If you insulate your water heater, you could reduce heat loss (about $20 a month, according to the U.S. Department of Energy). Touch your water heater — if it feels warm, you could cover it. However, just check your heater’s manual to ensure it can be covered. Otherwise, you may burn your house down.

8. Don’t abuse your thermostat, guys.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, for each degree you lower the temperature on the thermostat for a period of at least eight hours can cut your bill by 1 percent. So, if you don’t go hog wild with the heat, you should be able to save yourself some money.

9. Seal off weak areas with caulking or weather stripping.

Find a place that air could get in (windows, ducts, doors) and seal it off the best you can. The less you let cold air in and warm air out, the more money you’ll save.

These tips might seem like common sense…

(via Yahoo)

…but you won’t be scoffing at them when you see how much money you save this winter.

Ladies, unless you’ve got a handy computer program to tell you what looks good like Cher in Clueless (I’m still super jealous), getting dressed in the morning can be a daunting experience. There are so many different shapes, colors, patterns, and styles to sift through, and it’s hard to know what’s what. Luckily, these charts are here to help.

1. Don’t freak out if you have to size up at some stores; it’s not you, it’s them.

2. They told you the maths would come in handy someday.

3. I don’t believe in color rules…but I do believe in complementary and accenting colors.

4. Plaid = rad (we had to do it).

5. Ready to graduate to stripes?

6. Don’t be afraid to get bold with your patterns, just know some basic rules first!

7. Button-ups can be tricky; good thing there’s this chart:

8. Speaking of button-ups, know your collars.

9. So. Many. Rings.

10. Never question your necklace choice again.

11. Never wonder what to do with the extra length of belt, either.

12. If you’re small, you don’t need to look small.

13. There are lots of ways to tie a scarf, people.

14. I never knew what swagger meant as a noun before.

15. This is how you pack for a fall trip:

16. Bet you didn’t know there were the right (and wrong) earrings for your face…

17. If you multiply by two, we won’t judge.

18. Know what makes what kind of dress what:

19. Wedding season may be over, but this will always be helpful.

20. Finally, the one no one wants to see, but everyone needs to acknowledge:

(via BuzzFeed)

Feel armed and ready to face the fashion world now? Go out there and make your dream closet come true — there’s nothing stopping you!

No one ever said that being a parent was easy. It’s quite the opposite, in fact. And there’s so much conflicting information out there that looking for answers can be just as confusing as having no information at all. And don’t get me started on the well-meaning friends and relatives who insist that their way is the right way.

We can’t promise that they’ll solve all of your problems, but here are 18 clever tricks that might make parenting feel a little less daunting.

1. A laundry basket keeps toys — and kids — contained in the bath.

2. Attaching a hook to the back of the high chair will make mealtime so much easier.

It’s the perfect place to hang things like rags and bibs.

3. “Monster Spray” helps frightened children calm down before bed.

Simply place stickers on a spray bottle and let them take it to bed. Don’t fill it with anything. Just tell them that monster spray is a gas that humans can’t detect. They can spray their bedrooms with reckless abandon, and they’ll never make a mess.

4. Stretching a crib sheet over the play pen keeps insects from biting your baby.

It provides some nice shade, too.

5. Freeze a pacifier in milk or formula to soothe a teething baby.

Fill a small ice cube tray with milk or formula, insert pacifiers into each cup, and freeze. All you have to do after that is pop one out, hand it to your little one, and let them take care of the rest.

6. Soaking a washcloth in warm chamomile tea can help calm down babies who are feeling a little fussy.

Just let them chew on it a bit, and make sure the tea isn’t too hot!

7. Use a marker to make simple dosage tables on medicine bottles.

This will allow you to keep track of when you’ve given each dose. It’s especially helpful for sleep-deprived parents.

8. A sliced pool noodle keeps doors from slamming.

And the extra padding makes it difficult for kids to slam their fingers in the door.

9. Pool noodles are also great for keeping little kids safely in bed.

It’s also great for traveling with little ones who still aren’t used to sleeping in big-kid beds.

10. Keep kids from wasting toilet paper with the addition of a cute sign.

Using a road sign is a fun, friendly way to remind kids not to unravel the whole darn thing.

11. Make sidewalk chalk that fits inside old deodorant containers to avoid messes.

You can use this recipe.

12. Put a little bit of hot glue on the bottom of your kids’ slippers for some added traction.

13. Silicone cupcake liners prevent car cupholders from getting gross.

In fact, this trick is great for everyone.

14. Using BandAids can help keep tiny fingers out of electrical outlets.

Hotel rooms aren’t always safe, so sticking some BandAids over the outlets is a quick, easy way to keep your kids out of harm’s way.

15. Load small toys into a mesh bag and toss it in the washing machine.

It’s a great way to sanitize toys, because you never really know where they’ve been.

16. Use a lint roller to clean up craft spaces.

Glitter is a nightmare to clean up, but this trick makes it easier.

17. Attach an empty tissue box to a full one for easy disposal.

This will keep gross, germy tissues from piling up elsewhere.

18. For older kids, write laundry instructions on the washing machine with dry-erase markers.

Teach kids to do their own laundry with step-by-step instructions.

(via Wimp)

You’ll probably still have your fair share of issues, messes, and tears as a parent, but that’s okay. You’re doing better than you think.

Have you ever reached into your bag or pocket to pull out your headphones, only to find them tangled in a thousand knots? We’ve all been there, but this person just figured out an ingenious hack that will help you avoid that problem forever.

Once you master this technique, you’ll never have to deal with tangled headphones again!

Source: How to prevent tangled wire while wrapping headphones by GCVmedia on Rumble

It doesn’t get any simpler than that! Who knew that solving one of the most infuriating problems of all time could be so easy? I just don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner.

There’s no end to life’s nuisances, but that doesn’t mean you can’t handle them like a boss. These 15 little tricks will keep you sailing smoothly, ready to meet challenges head-on and look cool while doing it. They’re perfect for dads ready to tackle their children’s awful messes and hectic life at home, or anyone that needs a little more time to themselves.

(via ebaumsworld)

With these tricks, you can make life a little simpler. Although we advise you not to play too fast and loose with that parking ticket one — that’s just for emergencies!