With the snow falling and the country whipped by icy winds, it can pay dividends if you have a think about how to keep yourself warm.

Here are a few things that might be worth considering and it all comes down to being frugal.

If your house is getting too cold, think about getting out for a bit. Maybe visit a friend, or a relative, whose house might be warmer; or even go to the shops, or a shopping mall. This are usually well heated and a cup of hot coffee in one of the cafes could give you a nice warming treat. And the car journey there should thaw you out.

Back to your house. Have you considered buying a portable heater, one that allows you to heat a room separately without using the main system. Remember to warm the room first, then keep topping it up when necessary.

And when sitting down, an electric blanket might be a good idea to help keep you warm. But don’t be afraid to move about, as this will stimulate your own personal heating system and maintain a good body temperature.

Furthermore, whilst you’re in your house, don’t pick the Bermuda shorts on a cold day. Dress appropriately, with thick trousers, a long sleeve shirt and a thick sweater. This will enable you to keep the heating off for longer.

Check out your heating controls. Don’t let the heating come on too early, or stay on too long, and keep an eye on the thermostat. Someone has worked out that for every degree down on the dial, you could save yourself 10% off the annual heating bill. Not bad.

But before you become too obsessed with your heating system, check that your house has its windows shut properly and all draughts kept at bay with rolled up blankets etc.

Is your roof insulated? If not, then over one quarter of your heat could be pouring out the top, so it would be a good investment to get it done and there might be a number of grants and financial schemes to help you. You might also consider double-glazing, or wall insulation. These are quite big projects, but will definately save your money. Again, have a look around to see what grants are available.

And don’t forget to reduce your energy consumption by making sure all your appliances are off their stand-by settings; that you only boil the kettle with the amount of water you need; that you choose energy saving light bulbs; take showers not baths; avoid using the dishwasher frequently; turn the washing machine temperature down to nearer 30C; and, get yourself a microwave; these can cook meals in a fraction of the time of a conventional cooker.

And finally, on cold days, remember to draw your curtains as soon as the sun dips, or the light begins to fade, as this will help keep the heat in.

So there you are, take a few precautions and help yourself save a fortune during the winter.

Tags: budget, Central Heating, Combination Boiler, Health