The Frugal Free Gal

How to Cheaply Handle the Woes of Winter

There isn’t much we can do about the change in weather. Fortunately, there are no shortage of steps we can take to ensure that the unforgiving wintry environment affects our day-to-day lives as little as possible. However, for those of us on limited budgets, preparing for winter can be easier said than done. While fancy new coats and state-of-the-art insulated windows are probably outside of most family budgets, the following is a list of cheap ways your household can handle the wintry weather:

Reverse ceiling rotation

When a ceiling fan is rotating counterclockwise warm air is sucked upwards while the “windchilled” air is returned to you. In the winter, a clockwise rotation on a low setting has the opposite effect; warmer air located near the ceiling is pushed by uplifted air from the fan and distributed better around the room. This is a simple way to get more warmth in the winter without turning up the heater.

Seal ducts, doors, and windows

There’s a reason it’s called duct tape. Purchase some inexpensive insulation material and close off all existing cracks and crevices around ductwork, doors, and windows. Warm air is simply going to escape through these spaces, forcing you to spend more on heating in order to remain comfortable.

Bring summer items indoors

Lawn chairs, mowers, and other items you typically leave outdoors in warmer weather are not always designed with the cold in mind. To prevent having to replace cracked lawn furniture or pay for a lawnmower repair, either store these items inside your home or rent a storage unit for a few months and throw them in there.

Pass down coats and frequent second-hand stores

There is simply no reason to be buying growing kids coats every winter when it’s certainty they won’t fit in them next year. Stick to hand-me-downs and used clothing store finds.

Skip haircuts

More hair on your head means more warmth. To save some extra money for the next few months, bar any member of the family from getting a haircut. Not only does skipping the stylist save you some money, but a warmer heads mean you’re less likely to turn up the heat in your home.

Going head-on into winter without taking the proper steps of preparation is silly to say the least. But so is the assumption that everyone can drop $1000 on an updated family winter wardrobe or new set of snow tires. For those of us who possess the foresight but lack the funds, cheaper alternatives must be explored. Take such inexpensive routes and your winter experience is sure to be more cost-effective.

This post is brought to you by Amanda Green.