Frugal ways to stay warm in winter without turning the heating on

There are more ways to stay warm than simply turning the heating up. There are more sustainable and frugal ways to stay warm in winter. More similar to how our grandmothers stayed warm during this season. So I listed my own tips and tricks that I’ve used over the years, to stay warm in winter while being frugal.

In our home, we always keep the thermostat quite low. It started out of frugalness and a need to save those extra cents wherever we could. But by now, it has become more than simple frugalness. It has become part of the seasons, and it forces us to acknowledge that winter is here. With colder temperatures indoors, you will automatically grab those warmer woolly jumpers or throw on that extra cardigan. It is a way to force not just your wardrobe, but your whole mind and being to live more in tune with the seasons. Something that is so easy to overlook, during these times of central heating and air conditioning.

And in being more in tune with natures seasons, we also notice we slow down during winter. Which in turn helps us to live a simpler life. Somehow when we keep our homes colder, we feel that we mentally also want to slow down. It allows us our rest time just as much as nature has its rest time.

That being said, we don’t want to be freezing or being uncomfortable. But there are more ways to stay warm than recreating summer through central heating. Like snuggling up on the sofa with a blanky and a hot cuppa in your hands, throwing on that thick woolly jumper or baking some extra pies. All of which are delightful and cosy ways to stay warm during winter while also being able to live more sustainably and save a few cents at the same time.

1 Layer up to stay warm in winter

Layering clothes is possibly the best way to stay warm. Because when you layer clothes, the air trapped in between the layers stays warm. And if you get too warm because you’re moving more, you can remove a layer to keep comfortable. Thereby making the wearing of layers a much more efficient way of staying warm than only throwing on one thick layer of clothing.

If you’re wondering which fabrics are best for wearing as your base layer, then I would highly recommend cotton or linen. Cotton is more readily available, but linen is superior in its function of wicking away moisture.

So for your base layer, you want a fabric that can wick away moisture like linen, although cotton is also a good option.

For your mid-layer, you want a fabric that keeps heat in while still being breathable sheep’s wool or any other animal fibre cloth is perfect for this.

Your outer layer is meant to keep out possible wind or rain, and you tend not to need that indoors. Although you could, of course, just wear an extra cardigan if you prefer. If you do go outside though, you might want a good waxed cotton coat or possibly a woollen coat that is felled and retains its original lanolin fat to keep rain and wind out.

2 Wool’s frugal winter superpower

Woollen jumpers don’t just look good, but they will keep you warm too. The amazing qualities of the wool fibres means they can trap heat like no other fabric can while still being extremely breathable. And did you know that because wool absorbs moisture so well. It actually will keep you drier and therefore warmer in cold chilly humid winter weather. It will even produce some heat while drying out again. Keeping you warm no matter how chilly the weather is.

Do keep in mind that you want real natural wool that ideally isn’t superwash. The closer you can get to the sheep’s original fleece, the better. Since their wool has evolved over generations to keep them warm as well as cool. Making it the perfect fibre for our clothes during winter or summer.

Although I must admit that I tend to wear my woolly jumpers more often during winter than in summer. My woollen handknitted socks however I do wear almost all year round, thanks to the tireless efforts of my mom who knits socks for our whole family.

3 Light a good fire

Is there anything cosier than having a good old-fashioned fire going in the fireplace? I don’t think so, a bonfire might give a more festive atmosphere, but nothing beats a crackling fire in the hearth. Not to mention that it provides plenty of warmth. So that everyone will automatically gather around the fire. Which is perfect if like me you prefer to fill these dark days with plenty of board games and chatting.

And why not roast some marshmallows while you’re at it or enjoy some hot cocoa together.

Just make sure that when that fireplace is not in use that you keep the damper closed. Otherwise, you would be letting in a lot of warmth escape through that chimney.

4 Opening and closing the curtains at the right times

You might be surprised to see how much of a difference it makes to simply open curtains once the sun has risen and to close them once the sun sets. You might have just been opening and closing your curtains at the same time as you do during summer. Or you might hardly ever open your curtains.

But did you know that the radiant heat from the sun will actually heat your house up an extra few degrees? But in order for that to happen, you do need those curtains to be open and let the sunshine pour in. So open them up once you see that sun knocking on your door.

Equally important is the closing of your curtains again once the sun has set again. This is because we want to trap as much of that radiant sun heat as we can that we collected during the day in our home. So it is even better if you have some nice heavy curtains that give some extra insulation. And as an added bonus, it will give your home that cosy winter feeling.

5 Keep busy and stay warmer during winter

It seems logical but so often when we start to feel cold we want to hide away under a warm blanky. While what we really should be doing is getting ourselves moving. Whether you take a brisk walk or hoover around the house for a bit, as long as you keep those muscles working, they will generate that much-loved heat for you.

A wise old woman once told me there are only 2 ways to stay warm. Sit in front of the fire or work hard. And how right she is, and just like her I do think the latter is the better of the two. Especially if after your hard work you can opt for option one.

6 Go for a walk outside

I know it sounds counter-intuitive but trust me. Go outside for a good brisk walk and feel the difference in your body and mind. You will feel not only warmer but also more optimistic due to the fresh air and sunshine. If you’ve read my post Why a nature walk is important for a simple life, then you will already know that I’m a big fan of a good walk. So I ask you to try it, even if it is only a quick walk in your street or estate. You will feel better for it.

And as an added bonus, you get to come home to a house that suddenly feels quite toasty and warm, even if it wasn’t before. Simply due to the temperature difference and that hot cuppa tea will be so much better too.

7 Stay warm with tea, coffee, soup & stews

There is something magical about a hot cuppa in your hands to warm you when you’re cold. So keep a good teapot or thermos flask near you to fill that cup with your favourite hot beverage. It will warm your hands as well as your body from the inside out as you drink it.

Another good way to stay warm or warm you back up after having been outside is by enjoying a good soup or stew. Soups and stews are a perfect frugal way to stay warm in winter. Not only are they a budget-friendly meal but thanks to their high amount of liquid, they are also more filling than other types of meals. And when you make them from scratch with healthy bone broth, they will nourish you and keep you healthy through winter.

Want to try some delicious and nourishing soups or stews to keep you warm through winter?

8 Stop the draught

Ever sat next to that draughty window and felt cold even with the radiators going at full speed and a blanky covering your lap. So rid yourself of those draughts, maybe you need some extra thick curtains to keep the cold at bay, or maybe you prefer to make some draught excludes. Some people even put old duvets in front of doors or windows to keep them from letting the cold in.

If you aren’t sure where the draught is coming from in your home, then you can find out relatively easily. An easy way is to use a lit candle or some burning incense to spot any draughts. That way, you can see the candle or incense moving when you’re near a draught. So that you know where to fix that cold air leaking in.

Lastly, another good way to keep the warmth inside and the cold outside is to close any air vents that are opened in unused rooms. That as well as keeping the doors to those rooms closed and heating them minimally, will help to keep your home warmer in a more frugal way so you can stay warm during winter. Although however tempting it might be to close all of your air vents. Don’t do it. Fresh air is essential for a healthy living environment it will prevent mould growth and reduce toxic air buildup. Which is very important since on average the indoor air is 5x more polluted than outdoor air.

9 Wrap up that boiler

When you go through the trouble of heating up that boiler for your central heating and warming up your home. You want that boiler to stay as warm as possible for as long as possible. So wrap up that boiler with old blankets or coats, anything to keep that heat in. You could even buy some specially designed boiler cylinder tank jackets.

But why buy something new when you could just use what you already have lying around anyway. I store all my blankets, towels, linens, as well as my fabric for my sewing projects in my hotpress anyway. So wrapping some around the boiler instead of laying them on the shelves is quick and easy. And a super frugal way to keep warm during those winter months.

In case you’re wondering what a hotpress is, then don’t worry, when we first moved to Ireland, we had no clue what a hotpress was either. But in the UK and Ireland, a hotpress is typically the closet where the boiler is located. Because boilers tend to give off some heat, this is also where the towels and linens are often kept. And some people also use them to dry quite a lot of their clothes. Although I prefer to line dry my clothes outside because of the superior way they then dry.

10 Start baking those pies

There is no more delicious way to heat up a home than by baking some pies or cakes. Not only will you get the extra heat that comes off of the oven, but your home will also be filled with the mouthwatering aroma of apple pie. Or any other pie or cake that you prefer.

Savoury pies for dinner are also always very welcome at the table. You could make a simple chicken and leek pie or a gravy and mince pie to serve alongside other dishes. Or if you want a good wholesome pie, that will serve as a whole meal, then why not try a nourishing veggie and roast beef pie. Or if you’re craving something especially cheesy, then why not make a delicious cheesy cauliflower pie. That way you will be able to enjoy a delicious meal and a cosy warm home.

11 Rearrange the rooms to stay warmer in winter

My mom used to rearrange the rooms on a regular basis when I was a kid, so when I moved out, I tended to do the same. But when I found out that rearranging your rooms the right way when it starts to get colder, will actually keep your home warmer. I was hooked.

There are a couple of simple guidelines that will help you. First off and possibly the most obvious is that nothing should block any radiators. So no sofas or bookcases in front of those radiators.

Secondly, if you have any big bulky bookcases or anything else that might help insulate those exterior walls more. Then, by all means, place them against the exterior walls to trap that extra heat.

Although you won’t want any of your sofas or chair too close to the exterior walls or windows. Since you can sometimes have a draught or a cold coming from them. Better to position them closer to the centre of the room, ideally around your fireplace of course. So that you can enjoy that crackling fire all the better.

12 Blankies, throws and all the snuggly goodness

The one thing I love most about winter, apart from Christmas, snow and endless hot chocolates, are blankies and throws. For me, there is nothing cosier than sitting underneath a blankie on the sofa with a good book in one hand and a cuppa in the other. And unfortunately, during summer, it is just too darn warm to do that. Which is why, as soon as the weather cools down, I grab myself a good warm blankie as I go to sit on my sofa.

When we sit down because we want to read a book, watch some tv or just chat with our family, our bodies cool down. Because we’re not moving, our muscles don’t generate as much heat as when we’re moving. So sitting down underneath a warm blankie or a good throw is a perfect frugal way to stay warm in winter.

At our home, we aim for at least one good-sized blanky per person, but we tend to have more blankies and throws than people, so we’re never short on blankies.

13 Flannel bedding for a frugal way to stay warm in winter

Ever noticed how flannel shirts just feel warmer than regular cotton shirts? That is because the flannel is brushed cotton that can trap warm air more efficiently in its fluffy fibres. Well, the same way your flannel shirt keeps you warmer than a regular cotton one, your bed linens can also keep you warmer if you use flannel sheets. This way, your bed will not only be ever so fluffy and soft, but it will also keep you warmer during the night.

And while we’re talking about flannel and staying cosy, don’t forget about some cosy flannel pyjamas or some warm woollen socks. Oh, and if you still feel chilly, bring a nice hot water bottle with you.

That way, you are guaranteed a good and warm nights sleep.

14 Keep those feet warm

If your mom is anything like mine. She will have told you plenty of times as a child that you should wear a good thick pair of woollen socks and some nice slippers. Because the cold will get into you through the cold of the floor.

And we all know that it is true that when our feet are warm, our entire body feels warmer. So put down a thick fluffy rug on the floor, pull on some woolly socks and put on some slippers. Keep those toes toasty, and notice how much warmer you will feel.

If you don’t like the feel of woollen socks on your feet, then don’t worry. Simply wear your regular cotton socks underneath your woollen ones. I find that this keeps my feet warmer anyways. Because of the warm trapped air in between the socks. And as we have learned so far, we know that warm trapped air is our friend and the trick to staying as warm as we can during winter, especially if we want to be frugal.

15 Stay together and cuddle up

We humans give off body heat, and an extremely frugal way to stay warm in winter is to use that body heat. Snuggle up together on the sofa while watching telly or reading a book, instead of all sitting on your own chair.

And spend as much time as you can in the same room together. Which is perfect if you like playing board games while sipping some hot chocolate. Which is one of our favourite ways of spending our days during winter. If it is especially chilly then don’t forget to grab those blankies and snuggle up together under those.

Lastly, cuddle and hug each other as much as you can. It won’t just make you warmer, but it will also make you happy with all that extra oxytocin. Which is especially helpful in comparing those winter blues so many of us suffer from.

What are your frugal ways to stay warm in winter?

Now that you’ve learned all the most frugal and fun ways to keep warm during this winter I hope you will have a lovely warm and cosy winter. And I would love to hear your favourite thing about winter is. My favourite would have to be sipping hot chocolate in front of the fireplace.

I’m also super curious what your favourite way to stay warm is, so tag me on Instagram so that I can see your ingenious and frugal ways to stay warm in winter.