We’ve all been there, cold student halls or not being able to afford the heating in the middle of winter. Sat around the house fully clothed and in your bed?
We’ve all been there, cold student halls or not being able to afford the heating in the middle of winter. Sat around the house fully clothed and in your bed? Well here are some tips on how to survive the winter months without breaking your bank.
1 – Hot Water Bottle
There is nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night because of the cold. Make sure your bed is warm. Curl up with a hot water bottle. Try and put one in your bed roughly half an hour before you go to sleep. Also put a blanket over your bedding, it keeps heat in better than just a duvet.
2 – Library
Get out – can’t afford to keep the heating on then go somewhere warm. Go to the library after all there is a chance you’re meant to be there already. Study free? Then go to a shop or café you like. If there is a group of you then go to one person’s place and all chip in for the heating bill.
3 – Laptop
Use your laptop as a heater by having it on your knees or on your bed before you go to sleep. Either way it will keep you toasty and warm as well as entertained.
4 – Exercise
No seriously. Work out to a fitness DVD and get fit and healthy at the same time as working up a sweat.
5 – Hot bath
Have a hot shower or bath. Just make sure you wrap up warm afterwards and lock in that heat, don’t let it escape no matter how warm you feel at the time.
6 – Tea/Coffee
Have a hot drink and try warming yourself from the inside out.
7 – Hair dryer
Use your hair-dryer to blow warm air all over your body. In my university halls it was so cold my flatmate and I used to get both our hairdryers on full blast and use them instead of fan heaters.
8 – Snuggle
Curl up with someone on the sofa under a thick blanket – after all another person is better than a hot water bottle. If that fails put a DVD on to try and distract yourself.
9 – Insulate
Make sure your house and room are as well insulated as possible. I’m not talking about double glazing more like stuffing scarfs along window frames if you feel a draft.
10 – Cook
Being in a kitchen with the oven and hobs on is one of the cosiest places to be even if it is just oven chips and chicken nuggets. Even boiling the kettle adds in some extra heat.
Don’t forget the basics; keep doors closed to keep the heat in and curtains and blinds also help with this to a certain degree. If you’re really struggling with your heating bill then make sure you chose the cheapest and best deals out there. E.ON and N-Power are some of the cheapest. Pick the most effective time of the day to put the heating on – first thing in the morning and the evening is usually best.
