It probably hasn’t escaped your notice that it’s more than a little chilly out there at the moment. Seriously – look out your window if you don’t believe us. And with my newspaper assuring me that there’s another couple of weeks to go for ‘Frozen Britain’, we’ve been swapping tips at GCHQ of how we all stay warm at home.
Okay, so not everything that got mentioned will work for everyone (it’s hard to chase your dog round the kitchen table if you don’t have a dog), but below are our best tips for keeping warm inside without turning the heating up. So read on and stay toasty…
Matilda suggests her patented personal heater idea. When it’s this freezing I like to have my own portable heater so my solution is the ‘hottie in a hoodie’ – a hot water bottle tucked into the pouch pocket of my hoodie. I can get on with everything I need to do without cranking up the thermostat, and feel amazingly warm and fuzzy – because of the bottle, and because I’m smug in the knowledge I’m not wasting money heating my whole house.
Matt’s tip is to heat yourself from the inside out by spicing up your food. I’ve got a lot of different types of chili in the kitchen cupboard (see my pic above), with something for pretty much any kind of meal. The best is dry chili flakes in tomato soup – guaranteed to give you a fiery glow inside.
Naomi’s idea is perfect for just after Christmas. Novelty socks! Now, they always seem like the most boring Christmas present to ask for, but socks always feature on my pressie list. You’re guaranteed that someone will buy you a ridiculous novelty pair that you always feel silly wearing, but you secretly quite like them…like the ones in my picture!
Caroline’s also reckons feet are the key, though with slightly less novelty than Naomi. I’m all about warm feet. So lots of socks – big hiking socks which are all fluffy and yummy on the inside. And stand on the carpet! My flat is partly wood floors, partly rugs, and partly carpeted, and man, it is MUCH warmer on the carpet. I’m moving the rug around the living room with me!
Bob’s solution is to use his own body heat. Years of enjoying the great outdoors has been hugely enhanced by keeping warm and dry. The key is having a baselayer that keeps the damp out but my body warmth in, and my favourite is Merino wool. The last set I bought was for snowboarding in the Tatra Mountains in Poland and three years later, on a snowy cold day in London, they’re still keeping me warm as I write this.
Tim enlists the help of his feathered and furry friends. Pingu and Kanga (my cuddly hot water bottle friends) are the answer to keeping warm in the cold snap without heating bills punching a hole in your wallet. Pummel one with your feet under your desk when working from home, or like Matilda says snuggle up on the sofa with one in your hoodie.
Rob reckons the best way is to stop the cold before it even gets inside. Now this might just look like any old picture of a window with the snow piling up outside but what you can’t see (which is handy!) is that the window has got a temporary double glazing film over it to keep out the drafts and insulate the room. It works a treat and is cheap enough for even the most discerning student to afford!
Phil’s inspiration comes from his student days. Saving money was always a priority at university, so my housemates and I had to find ways to keep warm without putting our heating on. My top tips would be nice hot meals throughout the day, hot drinks are a must and my personal favourite…wear your dressing gown over the top of your clothes for head to toe warmth!
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