As the temperatures rise, so do our electric bills. The bigger your home, the more likely you will see your usage go up dramatically. Budget-busting increases can make summer stressful – unless you find ways to manage keeping your home at a comfortable temperature. A little ingenuity goes a long way toward keeping you as cool as a cucumber without forking over your hard-earned cash to the utility company.

If your idea of staying cool on the cheap does NOT involve walking around in your underwear until Labor Day, read these tips.

Maintain Your A/C Unit

A unit that can’t work at full capacity is far less efficient, making it work harder and costing you more. Get your unit checked out and repaired at the beginning of the summer and set a schedule to change your air filter every month. Also get your duct work cleaned out, so the air can flow freely.

Update Your Insulation

Your costly air-conditioned air may be escaping through your uninsulated attic. Add new insulation to help keep your cool air in and the hot air out. You can hire someone to do it or tackle it as your next DIY project. Plug your chimney while you’re at it so air can’t escape through it, either.

Add Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans can work in place of your air on days that aren’t too hot, and can work with your A/C on blazing days. Install fans in areas where your family spends a good chunk of time, like the den and the bedrooms. Choose fans based on the size of your room and keep in mind those with fewer blades are more efficient. Run them counterclockwise so they push the cool air down into the room for you to enjoy.

Block Drafts in Your Doors and Windows

Doors that don’t fit snugly and windows with missing weatherstripping are letting cool air escape, and it’s costing you money every day. Add new stripping around your windows and doorways, and buy some draft stoppers to install under your exterior doors.

Buy a Programmable Thermostat

This is another great investment to help cool your home in a cost-effective way. There’s no reason to keep your house as cool during the day when nobody’s home. Set the thermostat to let the temperature increase during the periods of time when your home’s unoccupied and then cool it down again before you get back from work or school.

Draw Your Blinds

Direct sunlight can heat up your rooms and make your A/C unit work harder, which adds to your electric bill. During the hottest time of day, draw your shades to block out the sun on the side of the house where it’s the brightest.

Switch to No-Heat Light Bulbs

Since the days are longer, you can get away with not turning your lights on until later in the evening, saving on costs. But, while they may look small, regular light bulbs can put off a significant amount of heat. Replace them with no-heat light bulbs so your rooms can stay cooler easier.

Cook on Your Grill

The stovetop and oven both put off lots of heat that can make your kitchen and dining room sweltering for the next few hours. Avoid this by going outside to grill up dinner instead. You can grill both meat and vegetables in a variety of recipes that you and your family will love and keep your house cool at the same time. If you don’t have a grill, make your meals in a slow cooker several nights a week.

Make Up for the Air Cost in Other Ways 

Help offset the increase in your electric bill from your air conditioner by cutting your energy use around the home. Unplug your big appliances, computers, and TVs when you aren’t using them. On laundry day, hang your clothes outside to keep from using the dryer (which uses tons of electricity and heats up the house). Turn your water heater down several degrees, so it isn’t sucking up energy. Even small things can save a few dollars on your monthly electric bill.

Cooling your home during the hottest part of summer can set you up for an eye-popping electric bill if you aren’t proactive. Put a few, or all, of these tips in place now, and you won’t have to choose between being cool or on-budget this summer.