Easy Ways To Warm Up in Winter When You’re on a Budget

It’s absolutely freezing at the moment, there’s no denying it. We’ve seen snow on more than one occasion here in the UK over the past couple of months, and things aren’t likely to look any brighter until at least mid March- so it’s a case of wrapping up warm and riding it out until the sunshine decides to make an appearance again. In the meantime, here are some of the ways you can stay warm (and sane!) until then!

Make Your Bed Cosy

Getting into bed after a long day should mean comfort and cosiness all round. But if you lie in bed shivering for ages you might struggle to get to sleep. Having the heating on all night is seriously bad for both your bank balance and the environment so it makes sense to get your bed as cosy as possible instead. Start with the bed itself, if it’s not quite as comfy as it once was but isn’t in need of replacement yet, why not purchase a mattress topper? You can buy these ready-made, or even just purchase the raw foam material they use to make them yourself. Pop on a fitted sheet to keep it in place, and then over that put a cosy throw for extra warmth. You can buy these from places like eBay, they’re not too expensive and they wash well. A new duvet will be able to trap air (and therefore keep you warmer) far better than an old flat one, so if yours is past its best then purchase a fifteen tog duvet for ultimate cosiness. An electric blanket will allow you to get the bed warm and toasty before you jump in, cheaper than running the central heating and you can easily control the temperature or turn it off without having to get out of bed.

Embrace Winter Fashion

Don’t be afraid to wrap up warm during the winter. Thick coats with fur hoods will keep you warm outside, and leather boots or wellies with thick socks underneath will keep your feet warm and dry. Bobble hats can look ultra cute, curl your hair and apply some lipstick and pop on your hat- not only will it keep your head warm but will also add an extra something to your outfit. Leather gloves and different coloured scarves are all great winter investments and you can even buy ear muffs with headphones inside. Whether you’re walking your dog, walking to work, working outside or exercising, make sure you’re wrapped up warm enough. Make your winter warmers part of your outfit rather than feel like you need to disregard them to look nice. When you’re at home, wrap up in fleecy or flannel pyjamas, cosy socks, slippers and a dressing gown. Invest in some good winter clothing and night clothes to wear and make the most of them!

Warm Up With a Hot Drink

When you’re feeling chilly, there’s nothing quite like wrapping your hands around a steaming hot drink and sipping away. A coffee machine is a good investment especially for winter, as you get perfect drinks every time with very little effort. Many have pods to make different flavoured coffee as well as tea, hot chocolate, malted drinks and more. If you spend far too much at coffee shops, why not purchase a nice flask and take your own with you, a decent flask will keep your drink warm all day and you can have a few sips whenever you’re feeling chilly. Whether it’s in the car, at work or waiting for public transport, having a hot drink in your bag can certainly make things more bearable.

Set Your Heating on a Timer

We all want to keep fuel costs down at the start of the year, after an expensive festive period the last thing any of us want is a huge gas bill falling onto our doormat. But staying warm is important too, of course. Instead of just whacking the heating on full blast whenever you feel chilly, set it to come on at certain times of the day. A hour while you’re getting up for the day and getting ready for work and a couple of hours on low in the evening can really do the trick to keep the chill off the air. If you have a smart home heating device such as Hive fitted, setting a schedule and turning it on and off is even easier as it’s all done through an app on your phone.