Cold outside, roasty toasty inside!

Well, that’s what I’d like it to be, but I’m saving up a little more to go out and buy the arsenal of supplies I need to make my apartment less frigid this winter. It’s an old house, it’s the basement apartment, and it’s a cave down here.

Great in the summer. Not so much in the winter.

And, being an old house, it has old windows, old doors… and little old me is freezing!

Here are a couple of things I’m going to do to make life a little warmer…

• A chimney draft stopper is an inflatable balloon that, when inserted just below your flue, stops your fireplace from sucking all the hot air out of your home. A must have if you’ve got a fireplace.
• Caulk. Window caulk. Run a bead, inside or outside, around the gaps between your window and the casing, and lock out drafts. It’s easy to use, pretty mess-free, and peels off easily. I like this guideline that the Minnesota government gives out on how to make your home roasty toasty. They recommend caulk. Learn to love the caulk gun, ladies. It’s your best friend when the heating bills come around.
• I need three of these Twin Draft Guards: they slip along the inside and outside edges of your doors to keep heat in and cold out.
• Weather stripping for the other three edges of my doors, and DIY has a great list of all the different materials you can use
• 3M’s Shrink Window Kits. I found last year that buying the largest sheet of plastic and then custom fitting each of my windows was the most economical way to go. It has only limited effect in my home, because my windows have blinds attached and are very recessed, so I have 10 inches of air between my window and the plastic… but it’s better than nothing, right?

Sheez. I live in a pretty temperate clime, but you’d think I’m gearing up for a nuclear winter or something. Truth is, that $300 heating bill last year scared me, and without any support from them what should do, I’ve got to be very frugal this winter.

What tricks do you have to keep your home warm and your bill cool?