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How to stay warm this winter

As the temperatures drop and the winter season approaches, many of us start dreading the rising heating bills that come with keeping our homes warm and comfortable. However, there are ways to stay warm without breaking the bank. Here are our tips to help you keep the chill at bay.

Close doors to stop the heat escaping

Keep all doors in your home closed, to stop heat escaping, especially in rooms you are heating and avoid going in and out of the room when you don’t need to, as this can cause heat to escape.

Use curtains to control the heat

Keep your curtains open during the day to let heat in from the sun, but as soon as the sun starts to go down, close all curtains and blinds to stop the heat escaping through the windows. A glass front door can also let in the cold, you can put a thick thermal lined curtain up over your door to fend off the draught.

Eat regularly and have at least one hot meal a day

The NHS says eating regularly will help keep you warm and that you should have one hot meal a day. It also recommends drinking hot drinks regularly to warm you from the inside out.

Consider boiling a full kettle once in the morning and keeping hot water in a flask to use for hot drinks throughout the day.

Cooking in an oven will release heat into the rest of your home and consider leaving your oven open after you’ve finished cooking so heat can escape. Be careful if you have young children or animals in your home

Layer your clothing

Layering clothing is a great way to keep warm indoors. You probably have lots of layers already, even adding a pair of tights under your trousers and an extra t-shirt under your jumper will help keep you warm.

For that extra warmth, consider buying some thermal undergarments to layer clothes over. You need not spend lots on these items, as sites like Decathlon make excellent thermals, designed for those hiking in cold conditions. You can get thermal leggings and a long-sleeved top for just £5.99 each.

We lose a lot of heat from our head, so popping on a woolly hat, even inside, will keep you feeling snug.

Keep your feet warm

If you have cold feet, you’re likely to generally feel colder, so make sure to keep your feet warm and dry. Laying some ordinary socks will do this, but you could also consider buying some thermal or wool socks and wearing them under some cosy slippers.

If your feet start to feel cold later in the day, it could be because your socks have been absorbing sweat. Swap them for a clean dry pair to warm your feet up.

Gentle movement every hour

Gentle exercise can help you stay warm, so try and move around once an hour. Be aware that more strenuous exercise will make your body sweat to try and cool you down, so it's not an ideal solution if you just want to warm up.

Please keep in mind, this information is intended as guidance. It may be dangerous for older people, or those with asthma or other health conditions to be too cold. If in doubt, please contact your GP.

Grab some warm bedding to keep you cosy all night long

Most of us tend to leave the heating off overnight, to avoid soaring costs. You can keep the chill at bay by investing in some snug, fleece bedding. This set from Dunelm starts from just £16.

Block out drafts

Drafts cause a surprising amount of heat to be lost from your home. There are numerous affordable and straightforward methods you can put in place to keep that heat in:

  • Inspect windows and doors for gaps and sealant cracks, as even minor gaps can allow cold air to infiltrate. Inexpensive sealant, available for under £5 at any DIY store, can resolve this issue.
  • To prevent cold air from entering through your chimney, consider investing in a chimney balloon.
  • In rooms you've heated, use a draft excluder under the doors. You can easily craft a draft excluder from a towel, or a pair of tights filled with old clothing.

Staying warm during the winter doesn't have to come at the cost of exorbitant heating bills. By following these tips, you can enjoy a cosy and comfortable home while keeping your energy expenses in check.

Please see a helpful list of resources below: