If you recently moved this year, you may have no idea what to expect when it comes to heating bills in your new digs. But you can be sure of one thing: the price of home heating is rising. That's one reason we're seeing so many electric space heaters, including ones that look like fireplaces or wood-burning stoves, for sale in big box home improvement stores.

Today's electric space heaters are nothing like the electric heating systems of old. They are safer than ever before (see 10 Space Heater Fire Safety Tips) and energy efficient. Some are even EnergyStar rated. Space heaters permit you to turn off your main heating system and heat only the rooms you're in. You can't do that with forced hot air, steam or radiator heating systems, because you could create too much pressure in the system and eventually cause pipes to burst.

Beyond space heaters, there are more ways you can enjoy lower heating bills this winter while still staying toasty warm. Use the following tips for saving money on heating your home.

Saving Money on Heating: Bundle Up

Really. Putting on a sweater, adding another blanket at night and—most importantly—wearing slippers to keep your feet warm make a huge difference in how you feel in your home during the winter. Your fur-lined Ugg slippers will pay for themselves since you won't have to keep the heat on 78 degrees during the day to be comfortable.

Use Passive Solar Energy to Your Advantage

Passive solar energy has no start-up costs, requires no fancy equipment (other than a few south-facing windows) and can also improve your mood! Passive solar is just a fancy way of saying, "Using sunlight to heat your home." On those sunny fall and winter mornings, pull back the curtains, open the blinds and let the sun do its thing. Close the blinds—or better yet, energy-efficient drapes—as the sun goes down to lower heating bills from warm air leaking out of the house at night and cold air blowing in.

Turn Down Your Heat at Night

You don't need the thermostat set above 58 at night when you're in bed under the covers. If you like sleeping in a really warm room, consider investing in a space heater for your bedroom only.

Mr. Electricity, Michael Blue Jay, recommends other ways you can stay warm at night, like using a hot water bottle under your blanket.

Invest in Programmable Thermostats to Lower Heating Bills

If you have a few extra bucks to spend, make an investment in programmable thermostats so you don't have to remember to adjust the heat before bed. You can set the thermostats to turn up a little while before you wake up in the morning or come home in the evening, and keep the temperature set low when the house is empty all day.

Update the Insulation in Your Home

If your home still has its original insulation, consider improving the insulation in walls and your attic with spray foam insulation. This can be applied with minimal disruption to your home's sheetrock or wall coverings. Today's energy efficient spray foam insulation has twice the R-value as conventional batt insulation. The R-value is an insulating material's resistance to heat flow, which means it will retain heat or cold in your home better and lower your home heating bills.