Keeping Warm in Winter without breaking the bank - What do you do?
There is no fun in being cold over winter - if your feet are cold - ALL of you is cold! So keep those warm slippers/thick socks handy! The increased cost of power is also a factor - and using a small blow heater to heat a whole room when you are the only one 'in it' can be expensive too, specially in the last year or two with regular price increases on power.
I do have a fireplace, but haven't used it in decades - and now a family of Kookaburras has moved in & raise a family every year in the chimney .... so I won't be using it any time soon! A coupe of years ago, I used the reverse cycle aircon (being told it was more efficient than a blow heater) and my power cost almost doubled, to I won't be doing that again! (It is a new model, just 3 years old ...)
So wearing 'layers' is often the way to go! I have a pair of 'arm warmers' that my husband used to wear on the bike when training for triathlons ..... The idea being that when the sun comes up & you warm up, you can just pull them off and store them in your pocket/backpack until you need them again! (The sporting ones have 'rubber ridging' around the top inside of the sleeves, so they don't slip down.)
It is an extra layer for your arms, without the extra bulk of wearing a complete top.
Some years ago, I found some 'leggings' and bought a few pairs, both for Hubby & I for winter as we just weren't warm enough during the day without sitting in front of a heater! The ones I bought look like 'jeans' (some people just wear them 'as is' ... but i don't!) They are 100% stretchy and incredibly comfy (and also holds your tummy in! Win Win!) I wear them under ANY trousers that I wear (and I wore them to bed last year in NZ when Temps went below freezing! Normally I hate wearing PJs as they twist up all around you and get uncomfortable - but as these hug your figure, you barely know you have them on!) They are SO warm & snug .... I found them on special at our 'Bargain Shop' for $10 ... but average price is about $15-20 in other shops.
I've found their sizing to be very 'forgiving' ..... hubby's size was S & I was M - but I can still fit into the S (even tho I am 10-15kg more than my hubby ever was!!)
I wear them under my fishing trousers when I am in the kayak, as it gets very cold out there and these allow me to stay on the water, longer!
You could even wear them under a long dress/skirt for added warmth .... just pull the lower leg bit half way up your calf so it is hidden! ;)
Last year, I also invested in an electric 'throw rug' ..... a less sophisticated version of an electric blanket - but they are only for putting on top of you (tho you can sit on them & wrap them around you) as they are not for lying on. Wrap it around you - or a single one can easily cover both your laps & legs on the same lounge. They can cost between $35-50+. I have only had the electric heater on once so far in this cold weather - and that was only for visitors! ;) You can also get 12v ones for your campervan/caravan!
I also often wear a Polar Fleece 'scarf' around my neck, mainly for outdoor activities .... it is just a length of Polar Fleece, about 20-30cm wide and up to 1m long ..... Put a lengthwise slit about 30cm from one end ..... put it around your neck, pull the 'other end' thru the slit - and snug it up around your neck (wrap around twice for extra warmth or snug it inside your top.) It is incredibly warm and snug!
I also wear a 'buff' type scarf that I make, it is also made of Polar Fleece and is fantastic for outdoor activities in Winter ... I wear it on the kayak and in the garden or at sporting events, when sitting around can just be so cold - It is PERFECT for those that love snow skiing!! ..... It is a 'tube' that can be doubled down just for the neck, or folded out to cover your neck & lower face (left in the pic) - or opened up fully to cover you neck, face & the whole rear of the head (right in the pic!) I made enough for the whole family some 20+ years ago now and they are STILL using them! I actually wear one of these in the evenings too on those really cold nights (as well as the electric throw rug!) Once again, it is added warmth but not the added bulk of a complete top. And easy to take off - just pull it off, over your head & keep it handy til you need it again!
In NZ last year, as well as the leggings, I also wore my buff/scarf too as well as a jumper!! ;)
And you can't beat lambswool slippers or UggBoots for that added warmth ... if your feet are cold, usually ALL of you is cold! ;)
I may not look 'the height of fashion' .... but I am nice and WARM and it is not costing me a fortune!
What are your favourite ways of staying warm in Winter without breaking the bank??
I do have a fireplace, but haven't used it in decades - and now a family of Kookaburras has moved in & raise a family every year in the chimney .... so I won't be using it any time soon! A coupe of years ago, I used the reverse cycle aircon (being told it was more efficient than a blow heater) and my power cost almost doubled, to I won't be doing that again! (It is a new model, just 3 years old ...)
So wearing 'layers' is often the way to go! I have a pair of 'arm warmers' that my husband used to wear on the bike when training for triathlons ..... The idea being that when the sun comes up & you warm up, you can just pull them off and store them in your pocket/backpack until you need them again! (The sporting ones have 'rubber ridging' around the top inside of the sleeves, so they don't slip down.)
It is an extra layer for your arms, without the extra bulk of wearing a complete top.
Some years ago, I found some 'leggings' and bought a few pairs, both for Hubby & I for winter as we just weren't warm enough during the day without sitting in front of a heater! The ones I bought look like 'jeans' (some people just wear them 'as is' ... but i don't!) They are 100% stretchy and incredibly comfy (and also holds your tummy in! Win Win!) I wear them under ANY trousers that I wear (and I wore them to bed last year in NZ when Temps went below freezing! Normally I hate wearing PJs as they twist up all around you and get uncomfortable - but as these hug your figure, you barely know you have them on!) They are SO warm & snug .... I found them on special at our 'Bargain Shop' for $10 ... but average price is about $15-20 in other shops.
I've found their sizing to be very 'forgiving' ..... hubby's size was S & I was M - but I can still fit into the S (even tho I am 10-15kg more than my hubby ever was!!)
I wear them under my fishing trousers when I am in the kayak, as it gets very cold out there and these allow me to stay on the water, longer!
You could even wear them under a long dress/skirt for added warmth .... just pull the lower leg bit half way up your calf so it is hidden! ;)
Last year, I also invested in an electric 'throw rug' ..... a less sophisticated version of an electric blanket - but they are only for putting on top of you (tho you can sit on them & wrap them around you) as they are not for lying on. Wrap it around you - or a single one can easily cover both your laps & legs on the same lounge. They can cost between $35-50+. I have only had the electric heater on once so far in this cold weather - and that was only for visitors! ;) You can also get 12v ones for your campervan/caravan!
I also often wear a Polar Fleece 'scarf' around my neck, mainly for outdoor activities .... it is just a length of Polar Fleece, about 20-30cm wide and up to 1m long ..... Put a lengthwise slit about 30cm from one end ..... put it around your neck, pull the 'other end' thru the slit - and snug it up around your neck (wrap around twice for extra warmth or snug it inside your top.) It is incredibly warm and snug!
I also wear a 'buff' type scarf that I make, it is also made of Polar Fleece and is fantastic for outdoor activities in Winter ... I wear it on the kayak and in the garden or at sporting events, when sitting around can just be so cold - It is PERFECT for those that love snow skiing!! ..... It is a 'tube' that can be doubled down just for the neck, or folded out to cover your neck & lower face (left in the pic) - or opened up fully to cover you neck, face & the whole rear of the head (right in the pic!) I made enough for the whole family some 20+ years ago now and they are STILL using them! I actually wear one of these in the evenings too on those really cold nights (as well as the electric throw rug!) Once again, it is added warmth but not the added bulk of a complete top. And easy to take off - just pull it off, over your head & keep it handy til you need it again!
In NZ last year, as well as the leggings, I also wore my buff/scarf too as well as a jumper!! ;)
And you can't beat lambswool slippers or UggBoots for that added warmth ... if your feet are cold, usually ALL of you is cold! ;)
I may not look 'the height of fashion' .... but I am nice and WARM and it is not costing me a fortune!
What are your favourite ways of staying warm in Winter without breaking the bank??
