Fast (and Free) Winter Warmups

Cutting back on energy use is an easy way to keep your hard-earned money in your pocket, but that doesn’t mean it has to leave you shivering. Here are a few things you can do at home today to stay warm this winter— at almost no cost to you.

Let the sunshine in. Open up your drapes and let the sun heat your home for free (and close them at dusk so they help insulate your space).

Rearrange your rooms. Move your furniture around so you lounge near interior walls. Exterior walls and older windows can be drafty.

Keep it shut. Traditional fireplaces are an energy loser. It’s best not to use them because they pull heated air out of the house and up the chimney. If you’re not using yours, make sure the damper is closed.

Turn it down. Fight the urge to crank up the heat in your home. Put on a sweater, thick socks and fuzzy slippers and turn your thermostat down a few degrees instead.

Cook it up. Ditch the expense of takeout food and fire up your stove or oven. Not only will you get a home-cooked meal, but the residual heat from a working kitchen can go a long way to keeping you toasty.

Shut the door. If your office or spare room is just serving as storage, let the boxes, file cabinets and other furniture get frostbite. Shut the vents and the door, and keep the heat where you need it most.

Lay it out. Wood, concrete or tile floors might look fancy, but they do not warm up your house as well as a soft and cozy rug might. Most of our body heat is lost through our hands and feet, and a cold floor will only speed up this process. Rugs bring a cozy feel to a room while adding a layer of insulation for your feet.

Find a buddy. Grab your spouse or four-legged friend. Anything warmblooded to cuddle with is an almost instant way to stop the shivers. And it might be the most fun way, too!