12 Easy Ways to Keep Warm & Stay Warm Without Breaking the Bank

Here are a dozen ways to stay warm and keep warm the easy way. I'm currently staying in a friend's drafty older house and it's a challenge to keep warm & stay warm. Rather than crank up the heat or engage in handyman projects like installing a programmable thermostat, here are over twelve different ways to keep warm and stay warm.

#1 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

Wear A Scarf Around Your Neck Inside. Sounds simple, almost too simple. But this easy trick has been keeping me warm and toasty. My aunt pointed this out that her neck gets cold at work in the winter and also in the summer with the air conditioning. Just adding a scarf helps prevent arthritis and a stiff, achey neck. Try it, you'll be surprised how it helps you stay warm.

#2 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

Wrap a T-shirt Around Your Neck When You're Outside. I discovered this tip to stay warm by accident. It's been one of the snowiest winters on record and I find I get quite the workout. I didn't want to have to get my scarf all covered in sweat. So I ended up taking a white t-shirt and wrapping it around my neck, shoulders and upper back underneath my turtleneck sweater. It ended up being a great sweat absorber but also an unconventional wide scarf that seemed to prevent the cold from penetrating and keeping the heat and warmth close to my body.

#3 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

Shovel Snow. You would think going outside in the cold would have the opposite effect of staying warm. But after a bout of physical activity if you're bundled up warmly, you'll find yourself warmed up. This physical exercise gets the blood circulating which in turn warms the body and even when you return inside, it helps you to keep warm and stay warm for many hours later.

#4 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

Do the Dishes, Do the Laundry -- more physical activities to help you stay warm. Sometimes when I'm working at my desk, I find my feet get cold from sitting in the same place for hours on end. If I force myself to get up and walk around, if only for a quick 15 minutes, it's a great way to get a few chores done and take a break at the same time. Doing the dishes the old fashioned way, by hand, warms the hands which ultimately helps you to keep warm and stay warm.

#5 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

Keep Your Heart Center Warm. Whether outside or inside, invest in one of those down filled puffy vests. It's amazing how this inexpensive piece of clothing keeps the body warm. What makes it warming is by keeping the central part of your body warm and it seems somewhat counter intuitive that you can stay warm even though your arms are not covered as well. But it works and by having your arms free from too much clothing helps you to write or do activities without feeling like the Michelin man.

#6 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

Wear a Night Cap or Toque. A knitted ski cap goes a long way to staying warm. We turn our thermostat down at night to save money. To prevent cold ears or waking up with a cold nose, try wearing a knit cap. At first it seems silly but when you think about it, it's a tip that's lifted straight from the depression era when people had little money for heating. It's that trick of staying warm by not letting heat escape through the equivalent of your body's chimney, the top of your head. You'll find wearing a hat or cap inside during the day will keep you warm as well.

#7 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

Wear Two Pairs of Socks and Slippers. Why not wear two instead of just one pair of socks. My latest winter warmth secret I discovered at Target -- over the knee socks. Practically leotards, these ridiculously long socks help keep my legs warm. Plus my husband once bought me joke socks - fluffy, acrylic blend footies which keep my feet amazingly warm. Worn over these long socks when walking around the house, that along with slippers, helps to keep my toes from freezing and keep me warm.

#8 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

Use a Space Heater or Electric Fireplace. I wondered if it's cheaper to use a space heater. I just learned in an article about Michael Bluejay's Energy Guide that this is one of the best ways to save money on your heating bill. For not a lot extra, you can now get space heaters that heat and look like a fire. There are inexpensive electric fireplaces that start at around a hundred dollars that will help you keep warm and stay warm with the look and feel of a cozy fire as easy as turning on a switch

#9 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

Keep Doors Closed to Unused Rooms. The other dead easy tip that my friends advised on keeping warm in their older house is to simply close the vents and shut the doors on some of the unused rooms. Some of this helped to redirect heat from the hallway. But I also kept doors closed in the master bedroom we were staying in to help keep the room warm instead of having the heat dissipate into the hallway.

#10 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

Take a Hot Bath. If you're used to taking a shower, try a hot bath instead before you go to bed or even when you wake up on a cold morning. A bath is also a great way to warm-up your muscles. Nothing heats your inner core more effectively than a good old fashioned bath. You'll find your body keeps radiating warmth and heat long after bath time is over.

#11 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

Pre-warm Your Bed With a Hot Water Bottle or Magic Bag Reusable Microwaveable Heating Pad. Here's another tip that people who come from chilly bed sits in London are all too familiar. Use a hot water bottle to preheat your bed sheets. Nowadays, the latest update on the old fashioned hot water bottle is a "Magic Bag" microwaveable heating pad. Many are made from organic material and can be used to not only heat your bed but as a heating pad to warm and soothe aching parts of your body like your neck, shoulders and lower back.

#12 Tip to Keep Warm & Stay Warm

A Shot of Whiskey. There's a reason why people would take a night cap in the good ol' days. My husband came around when I was writing late into the night with a glass of scotch. I'm normally all bundled up. Within minutes my cheeks were flushed and my whole body was warm. Not only was it good for helping me to keep warm and stay warm but it warmed my soul as well.

Sources:

"Cheap Ways to Stay Warm This Winter", Get Rich Slowly, December 14, 2006