AD | Collaborative post
Winter has well and truly hit us this month and I am particularly feeling the cold. We live in an old Victorian semi which has floorboards with gaps and draughts everywhere so staying warm can be a little bit tricky sometimes. If, like me, you’re struggling with the lower temperatures then here are some ideas for how to stay warm through a British winter!
Stock up on firewood
If you have an open fire like us, or a wood burner, then you’ll know that you can end up going through quite a lot of firewood at this time of year. We know a few local people who sell and deliver firewood but after Christmas they tend to have less available and of course, these are the months when we’re starting to get the colder weather.
Around here, firewood starts to be sold towards the end of August or beginning of September. It’s worth saving up a bit of money each month throughout the year and stocking up as soon as you can. Next year we’ll be investing in a wood store so we can get a couple of loads to really be prepared just in case and so we don’t run out!
Central heating maintenance
One of the easiest ways of heating your home in winter is to have gas central heating. It might seem like something that every house has now but there are a lot that don’t. There are a lot of houses where I live that have electric storage heaters instead and they are not as efficient and they cost an absolute fortune to run. If you don’t already have it, meet with a central heating installation expert to talk through your options.
If you do already have central heating then something you should look at is keeping your system maintained. Sometimes temperatures can drop quite suddenly and the last thing you want is to find out your heating is no longer working!
Alternative heating
Not all houses have central heating, ours included. It’s important that you have some kind of heating in place and there are a few options that are quite easy to instal, without having to move your whole house around! Electric radiators are a really easy option if you don’t want to mess around with gas central heating. They can be plugged in anywhere and mounted on the wall so they look lovely in any room. There are various sizes and colours available so you’re bound to find something to suit your needs.
Hot water bottles
Hot water bottles might seem pretty old school but I swear by mine. Snuggling up on the couch on a cold evening with a hot water bottle really makes me to feel cosy and warm and they’re such good value for money. Erin and I have one each and she loves that she has her own. Of course, you have to be really careful with hot water bottles and ours both have soft covers on them to protect us.
Thermal clothes
I think as a teenager or even a young adult I would have laughed at anyone who made a suggestion to wear thermal clothes. Now a more grown up, sensible(ish) adult, I think thermal clothes and underwear are amazing inventions. As our house is pretty cold and outside can be even worse, thermal clothes can help to keep you warm without the added cost of having the heating on! This is particularly good for the months that are not quite as cold as it can mean holding off on your heating for a bit longer and will save you money.
Do you have any clever, or cheap ways to stay warm in winter?