No one likes being cold. At least I don’t! As winter arrives those on strict budgets become anxious when dealing with staying warm in their home. If this is you, then you are hesitant to turn on the heat or leave it on for a long time because you do not want your heat or gas bill to skyrocket. You are in an even worst position if you have trouble operating, completing tasks, and being productive when your body is cold (*cough*, stops typing and raises hand).

I thought that it would be wise for myself to look into some ways that I could heat up the house for cheap. Without breaking my bank. When I started learning about the ways I decided it would make for a great
TweakYourLife post. Some of the ways are obvious but necessary to mention. Some of the ways may not have crossed your mind before. I will be trying to limit my tips to more costly ways, but I will throw in a couple that may be expensive, but wiser in the long run. If you have anything to add, please comment so other readers can see.

1. Use Portable Electric Heaters – If you have certain rooms you would like to warmup but do not want to turn on the heat, use a portable heater. Portable heaters can be perfect because they quickly can heat up an area to satisfaction and leave you feeling toasty. The smaller the room, the greater the portable heater will perform. You can find some good and reliable heater from $30 to $100. Buying multiple heaters for different rooms of your house may be the solution to keeping your gas bill down and not freezing at home.
2. Dress Warmer, Multiple Layers, - Though an obvious suggestion it probably one of the most simple ways to stay warm during the winer in a cold house. The warmer your body, the less need to turn up the thermostat. First think about extra clothing you have in your house. As I am typing this article I have two sweatshirts on (No lie!) and am comfortable. Underneath is a tigher hoody and on top is a sweatshirt fleece. I definitely suggest doubling up. This will increase insulation and keep body heat around you.
   You also should think about wearing thermals & long johns. They are so tight that it shouldn’t be uncomfortable if wear them underneath your other clothing. Other close to wear inside would be wool, synthetics, and flannel. These are much warmer than the cotton that people typically wear.
   Don’t limit yourself to only your everday clothing. If you have a heavy jacket or coat, wear that in the house. Gloves should also be warn if you have issues with your hands getting colder than the rest of your body. It may not be proper to wear hats inside, but it sure isn’t proper to spend twice your normal cost on the gas bill just because your house is freezing. Wear a warm hat that will expose as little of your head and skin as possible. If you are not moving around a lot, wrap yourself in a blanket…a snuggie even!
3. Close/Seal Windows – Cracks and opening are leave gateways for cold air to flow into your home. Many openings in windows are not noticeable, but can be the reason a room in your house is so cold. After closing windows in your house, cover them with clear plastic wrap and secure tape (ductape may be most effective). This will help the cold stay out and keep the heat from escaping. Do this with heavy plastic that can be found at hardware stores and some discount or value stores. Remember to seal all areas of the plastic to the window. Sealing in specific areas will not be that effective.
4. Removeable Caulking – If you do not want to seal off an entire window, you can use removeable cauking and seal a window shut through the winter. When the whether gets warmer you will be able to remove the seal and enjoy your window as normal.
5. Keep Doors Closed - Keeping doors closed is important through the winter. Open doors allow heat to travel and disperse throughout the house. This causes a room that loses heat to drop in temperature. If you have rooms that are not currently being used or frequently not used, close their doors. This will keep heat in the rooms that you are using. If you are individually heating up a room that you are in, close that room’s door so heat cannot escape.
6. Plug Door Cracks – Door Draft Stoppers are a quick solution to keep in the heat and block the cold. During the winter cold air is constantly enter your home through the crack of doors. The door draft stopper will deny this from occuring. At the same time the stopper will allow the door to be used as normal. You can purchase a draft stopper for about $10 – $20. If you are not willing to purchase a draft stopper, you can draft proof a door by tightly rolling a towel and lining it along a door. Make sure that the towel is large enough to cover the doors crack.
   
7. Seal Unused Doors – The sealing doors solution is similar to the window fix. You want to avoid as many openings for outside [heat] air to enter [escape] your home as possible. The first thing you want to do is seal off doors that you will not be using much during the winter months. Sealing these doors will be quite effective. You should go about sealing with plastic and secure tape, much like sealing off windows. You should think about sealing excess doors to the backyard, attic doors, doors to unused rooms, and any other doors hardly used through the winter.
   For doors requently used, using a door stopper is one of the best solutions to trap heat and deny cold air.
8. Get a Programmable Thermastat - Mercury thermostats unfortunately are not very accurate. They sometimes be off by up to 6 or 7 degrees. Installing a programmable thermastat will save you money by accurately heating your house. Frequently when heating a home people forget to turn off the heat which is wasteful and costly. With a programmable thermastat you can set a time limit for how long heating at a specified tempature will occur.There is conveniency with a programmable thermostat as well. You can set the thermostat to heat the house at certain times throughout the day. This is great for turning heat off while sleeping, and having the house heated when you wakeup in the morning. The programmable thermastat is low voltage and typically simple to install. It is something you can do yourself.
   
9. Get Out Your Home – If you have trouble being productive in a cold astmosphere, then change the atmosphere! Leaving your home to complete work or tasks may not be an ideal solution, but it will help you avoid turning on the heat. If you can finish your work in a public place that is heated, then do so. Why not take your laptop to starbucks, grab a cup of coffee, and finish your work. You will enjoy being warm in the process. The best part is you can leave an not have to pay for the heat that you enjoyed. Public places such as the library, coffee shops, Panera Bread, and Mcdonalds are all places that offer heat and FREE WIFI!

If you have any other ideas we encourage you to comment and tell us about them! This will allow our other readers to see and hopefully get some ideas.

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