Want to know some easy ways to save money this winter? Check out these super awesome cold weather hacks to stay warm this winter!
These cold weather hacks was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Want to know the secret to staying cozy all winter without watching your heating bill skyrocket? I’ve got you covered.
Living in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve learned a thing or two about dealing with cold, damp weather. And as a family travel blogger, I know how important it is to make every dollar count. Between planning trips and managing a household, the last thing anyone needs is a massive energy bill.
The thing is, you don’t have to choose between staying warm and staying on budget. There are actually tons of simple tricks that can keep your home toasty without cranking up the thermostat.
My kids have this habit of leaving the front door wide open (seriously, every single day), so finding ways to trap heat has become kind of essential around here. These hacks have saved us hundreds of dollars over the years.
Let me show you exactly what works.
1. Get Smart with Your Thermostat
This is hands down the biggest money saver on this list.
A smart thermostat can seriously change the game when it comes to your heating bill. The newer models learn your schedule and adjust automatically. No more heating an empty house all day.
You can control them from your phone too, which means if you forget to turn down the heat before leaving for a weekend trip (guilty), you can fix it from the road. The Amazon Smart Thermostat is under $100 and works perfectly with Alexa.
Most people save 10-23% on heating costs within the first year. That’s real money back in your pocket.
2. Run Your Ceiling Fan in Reverse
Wait, ceiling fans in winter? Yep.
Most fans have a little switch that reverses the direction. When it spins clockwise (usually on low speed), it pushes warm air down from the ceiling instead of creating a cooling breeze.
Heat rises, so all that expensive warm air just hangs out at the top of your room doing nothing. Running the fan backward sends it back down where you actually need it.
This trick is especially helpful if you use your fireplace or wood stove a lot. You’ll feel the difference right away.
3. Use Your Oven to Heat Your Home
Here’s my favorite excuse to bake cookies.
After you finish cooking or baking, crack the oven door open and let all that heat flow into your kitchen. You’ve already paid for that energy, so you might as well use every bit of it.
The smell of fresh bread or roasted vegetables drifting through the house is just a bonus. We even do this with our toaster oven. It’s not as powerful, but every little bit helps when you’re trying to keep costs down.
Just never use your oven or stove burners as your primary heat source. That’s a safety hazard and can lead to carbon monoxide issues.
4. Open Your Blinds When the Sun’s Out
Free heat from the sun? Yes please.
During the day, open up all your curtains and blinds on the sunny side of your house. Even in winter, sunlight can warm up a room surprisingly fast.
Then at night, close everything to trap that heat inside. Your windows are basically acting like solar panels without any of the installation costs.
This simple habit can make a noticeable difference in how much you rely on your heating system during daylight hours.
5. Layer Up at Home
Sometimes the easiest solution is the most obvious one.
Before you reach for the thermostat, throw on an extra sweater or grab a blanket. I know it sounds basic, but wearing thick wool socks or cozy slippers can make you feel several degrees warmer.
A warm beanie helps too since you lose a lot of body heat through your head. My family keeps a basket of blankets in the living room so we can all grab one during movie nights instead of turning up the heat.
It’s not glamorous, but it works.
6. Seal Up Drafty Doors and Windows
Those little gaps around your doors and windows are literally letting money fly out of your house.
Check for drafts by holding your hand near door frames and windows on a windy day. If you feel air moving, you’ve found your problem.
Weatherstripping and caulk are cheap fixes that make a huge difference. For a quick solution, roll up a towel or blanket and stuff it along the bottom of your door. Not pretty, but super effective.
The Home Depot and Lowe’s both have great tutorials online if you want to do a more permanent fix.
7. Eat and Drink Hot Foods
This one’s my favorite because who doesn’t love comfort food in winter?
Hot soup, tea, coffee, and hearty stews warm you up from the inside out. We keep a big pot of beef stew simmering on the stove during really cold days.
I also fill a hot water bottle and tuck it under my blanket when I’m working at my desk. It’s like having a personal heater that costs nothing to run.
Sometimes just holding a warm mug makes you feel cozier, even if you’re not actually drinking it.
8. Get Up and Move Around
Your body is a heat generator. Use it.
When I’m working from home and start feeling chilly, I take a quick break to do some jumping jacks or dance around the kitchen. Gets your blood flowing and warms you up fast.
My kids and I have impromptu dance parties pretty regularly. It keeps everyone warm and burns off some energy before bedtime.
Movement is free heat. Plus you’ll feel less sluggish than you do when you’re just sitting under a blanket all day.
9. Close Off Rooms You’re Not Using
Why heat rooms that nobody’s in?
If you have guest rooms, a basement, or any spaces that stay empty most of the time, close the doors. You can even close the vents in those rooms to redirect heat to the areas you actually use.
This is huge for anyone with a larger home. We basically live in our kitchen and living room during winter, so those are the only rooms we keep really warm.
Just check those closed-off rooms occasionally to make sure pipes aren’t freezing if you live somewhere really cold.
10. Make Sure Your Vents Aren’t Blocked
This seems obvious but it’s easy to overlook.
Walk around your house and check that furniture, curtains, rugs, and random stuff aren’t covering your heating vents. We moved a couch once and realized we’d been blocking a vent for months. No wonder that corner was always freezing.
Blocked vents make your heating system work way harder than it needs to. Clear everything out and you’ll notice better airflow right away.
Take five minutes to do this check today. You might be surprised what you find.
11. Invest in a Space Heater
For rooms that are always colder than the rest of your house, a good space heater is worth every penny.
The Vornado AVH10 is one of the best-rated options and heats a room fast. Or if you want something more affordable, the Lasko Ceramic Heater gets the job done for under $50.
Just remember to keep space heaters away from curtains, blankets, and anything flammable. And turn them off when you leave the room.
Heating one room instead of your whole house can save a ton of money. That’s why I’m a big believer in these for home offices and bedrooms.
12. Trap Heat with Shower Steam
This hack feels like a spa treatment.
When you take a hot shower, keep the bathroom door closed and leave the shower curtain pulled shut. All that steam and heat stays contained in your bathroom, which raises the temperature naturally.
After your shower, open the door to let the warm, humid air spread to other rooms. Your skin will thank you too since that moisture helps with dry winter air.
Just make sure you ventilate properly afterward to avoid mold. Crack a window or turn on the fan for a bit once things cool down.
13. Hang Thermal Curtains
If you’re serious about cutting your heating bill, thermal curtains are a game changer.
The NICETOWN Blackout Curtains block up to 99% of light and can increase your window’s insulation by up to three times. That means your heat stays inside where it belongs.
They come in tons of colors so you don’t have to sacrifice style for function. We hung them in our bedrooms and noticed the rooms stayed warmer at night without having to bump up the thermostat.
Think of them as an extra layer of insulation that looks good too.
14. Layer Your Bedding
Nothing ruins a good night’s sleep like being too cold.
Add an extra blanket or comforter to your bed before winter hits. Flannel sheets are also amazing because they trap heat way better than regular cotton ones.
I even keep a sleeping bag on top of our regular bedding for those extra cold nights. Sounds weird but it works like a charm. You stay toasty all night without running your heat on high.
The goal is to wake up warm and rested, not shivering and cranky.
15. Keep Your Car Ready for Winter
Okay, this one isn’t about your house, but your car is basically your second home when you’re out and about.
Make sure you have an emergency car kit with blankets, ice scrapers, and everything you need if you get stuck in cold weather. Keep a blanket in your trunk at all times.
One trick I learned: park facing east if you can. The morning sun will help melt frost and snow off your windshield, making those early departures way easier.
Nobody wants to stand outside scraping ice when you could be sleeping in an extra five minutes. Work smarter, not harder.
Stay Warm Without Breaking the Bank
These cold weather hacks have saved my family hundreds of dollars over the years.
You don’t need to invest in a brand new heating system or do a full home renovation. Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.
Start with the free tricks like reversing your ceiling fan and opening your blinds during the day. Then work your way up to things like thermal curtains and a smart thermostat if you want to see even bigger savings.
The best part? You can start using most of these tips today and feel the difference by tonight.
Stay cozy out there, and keep more money in your pocket where it belongs.
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