Staying Warm and Saving Money

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In my older age I have certainly noticed that I feel the cold so much easier these days. While I am tempted to put the heating on even in the summer I have to refrain.  Living off a pension isn’t easy so I have had to find ways of staying warm without leaving me penniless each quarter.  My son has helped me to get online and feel comfortable when using the Internet, and I have used those skills to find ways to save money and gain advice on staying warm. I thought it would be a good idea if I shared what I have learnt with you.

Excellent Tips to Save Energy and Keep Warm

It is important to keep warm, especially when the cold weather sets in. Although as a girl I didn’t have central heating over the years I have become accustomed to relying on it.  It’s a good idea to try and revert back to the good old days when it comes to habits in the house.  If you have some money set aside in savings, or tied up elsewhere it might be a good idea to gain access to it. I was lucky to have some money put buy for a rainy day, but I figured investing it in my house and comfort was important. Here are some good tips if you do have a bit of cash available.

• Insulate your home. Newly built properties will probably have decent insulation already, but if you live in an older property it could be beneficial to consider wall cavity insulation and loft insulation. I have noticed my home takes a lot less energy to heat up since being properly insulated.
• Spend out on some thermal blankets and clothing.
• Replace old windows with energy efficient ones.  Consider investing in triple glazed windows if you can stretch to it.
• Purchase a boiler which is energy efficient. It will heat your water quicker and save you money in the long run.

Now not everyone has access to large amounts of money to use in home improvements. That doesn’t mean you have to freeze and suffer in silence. Here are some tips which are a lot more affordable and some are free!

• Invest in some filler or foam filler and fill in all the places where you feel drafts coming in. Remember you do need to have some ventilation so never fill in the grids or air bricks. You can go round windows and also fill in cracks in the wall.
• For a small cost you can purchase letterbox and keyhole covers. You’d be surprised by how much draft the keyholes in your house cause. If you have no money available you can fill them with newspaper but you will need to keep pulling it out and re-stuffing the as you use the locks.
• Throw draught excluders down by the bottom of all doors. You can buy these or make your own using fabric and stuffing, old pillows or even just by throwing old blankets down. Make sure you don’t cause a tripping hazard though.
• Wear lots and lots of layers. When you are feeling the cold throw on more clothes or go and get your blankets or duvet.  I keep extra blankets in the living room so I don’t have to traipse up the stairs when I feel a chill.
• Be active and try and exercise.  If you are mobile get up and move around; do some work in the house or gentle exercise.  As your blood pressure goes up so does your body temperature. If you are unable to move around easily you can find some exercises to perform in the sitting position.

Find out more about saving money and staying warm by visiting www.buyability.co.uk.

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