How do I winterize my home on a tight budget?

Focus on the biggest heat losers first: air leaks and insulation. Buy weatherstripping and caulk to seal gaps around doors, windows, and where pipes enter walls — this costs under $30 and makes a noticeable difference. Add door draft stoppers, which you can make from old towels or buy cheaply. Put plastic window insulation film kits on drafty windows for about $5-10 per window. For heating efficiency, reverse your ceiling fans to spin clockwise to push warm air down, and keep your thermostat a few degrees lower at night using extra blankets. Insulate your water heater with a blanket kit if it's older. Check your furnace filter and replace it if dirty — a clogged filter makes your system work harder and costs more to run.