7 ways to keep warm at home cheaply

Are you noticing the chill in the air as much as I am? With the cold nights and mornings this week it's getting difficult to get up in the morning!

While we're not at winter yet the cold weather certainly hasn't got the memo. Some of the best permanent ways to stay warm on chilly nights include good home insulation and fixing up cracks and gaps in your home, but that's a job for a tradie and a free weekend.

There's the trusty heater of course but you need to use it sparingly or else your bills are going to bite.

There are some simple tricks though that will make a world of difference in keeping your toes warm! And what's better you can do most of them straight away.

• Close off unused rooms. This will prevent cold air moving into the rest of the house and keep the heat from your heater from escaping.
• Change your sheet material. If you haven’t already, think about pulling out some flannel sheets from the cupboard and replacing your summer cotton ones during winter. A down quilt will also help!
• Cover your floor. If you have any rugs around the house now is the time to decorate your floor! Not only does this protect your feet from nasty cold surfaces, it also helps to insulate the room and prevent heat loss.
• Put your ceiling fan on the winter setting. By putting it on a low speed on the winter rotation you can drive warm air downwards towards you and your family.
• Close the curtains on your windows to insulate your rooms.
• If you’re having trouble with cold breezes, ball up towels to block cracks under the doors.
• Hot water bottles and warm surfaces! Before you hop into bed, think about tucking in a nice warm pack or water bottle to warm your sheets in advance, or alternatively run your hair dryer over the sheets to get them nice and warm.

And of course, dress in layers and pull out your slippers!