Combat the Cold | Guest Post

Combat the Cold without Feeling the Pinch

There’s no denying that this winter has been a particularly cold one. We’re still battling the elements and feeling the cold and that’s without even looking at the devastating floods and storms that we’ve had to deal with, too. If you’d prefer to stay indoors during the grim weather, nobody could blame you! However, the more time we spend indoors, the more we will end up spending on our heating if we’re not a little savvy about it, our gas bills always end up soaring. Here are some ways in which you can keep costs low without compromising on your warmth and comfort though, so that you don’t have to feel the pinch as much as you might think.

Wrap up warm

Rather than reaching for the thermostat as soon as you feel a little cold, reach for a onesie, a blanket or an extra layer instead. If you don’t have one already, a George onesie is a great item to have stashed away for the nippy days, leaving you warm, snug and feeling fab.

Decreasing the temperature on your thermostat by 1 degree can help to save a fortune on your gas bill, and while the winter months aren’t the best time to do this, if you wrap up warm, there’s no reason why you can’t.

Keep windows and doors closed

There’s no point trying to warm your home if you’re going to open the windows, because the residual heat will escape and you’ll waste money in the process. Keep your windows and doors closed when you have the heating on and you will feel the warmth sooner.

Keeping your curtains drawn will also help to retain the heat so that you’ll hardly notice the one degree drop on your thermostat!

Eat well

The winter months are the perfect time to pull out the slow cooker to make some delicious winter warmers. Make in bulk and freeze some of the meal and you will have better value for money, too. Slow cookers are a fantastic contraption for busy lives, and with plenty of recipes for scrumptious warming grub online and in cookery books, you’ll be able to try something different if you fancy it, too!

Eat plenty of carbs that are full of energy, and start your day with a warming bowl of porridge. Stews and soups are also great options for the colder months.

Keep your socks on

You can lose a lot of body heat through your toes, so when you’re curled up on the sofa underneath your blanket, keep your socks on and you’ll stay warmer.

Use a hot water bottle

Rather than spending money on using your electric blanket, boil the kettle and fill up a hot water bottle instead. It won’t cost you as much, and it’ll feel just as wonderful tucked up in bed with it.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on keeping your home warm; stay cosy in other ways so that you won’t have to feel the shock of an expensive gas bill this winter.