The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Do it Yourself Discussion! => Topic started by: lifejoy on October 13, 2016, 07:14:31 AM
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I think my landlord finally turned on the heat, but honestly I'm still feeling very cold. It's zero degrees outside, and will get much colder as winter progresses.
I know I can wear layers, drink tea, and use an electric blanket. Is there anything else I can do? I hate feeling cold all the time.
(I'm skinny and don't have a lot of extra insulation!)
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Space heater?
Cuddle a hot water bottle?
I feel your pain. I'm always cold too. My main motivation to early retirement is to be somewhere warmer in the winter.
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My feet are always the coldest part of my body, especially in the winter. I wear warm slippers, and will occasionally give myself a warm foot bath, or even take a full bath in the bathtub to help warm up.
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This list is from my time living in Maine:
Silk long underwear
Wool socks
Flannel or fleece lined jeans
Ugg boots or their generic equivalent
Fingerless gloves
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I too suffer from being extremely cold blooded. To pass the time and not be uncomfortably cold, you could do some exercises. Doing body weight exercises are sufficient. Pushups, Squats, burpees - this will get you warmed up. A simple 20-30 minute workout and you'll be warm. You get the added benefit of exercise as well :)
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I've been a big fan of wool (socks, sweaters, you name it) for a long time, and just discovered the joy of down last year. Cotton is generally bad for staying warm, especially when it gets damp. Fingers and toes are tough, especially if you need manual dexterity for things (who doesn't?). Glove liners can be nice, because they're not super bulky. Layering sock liners and wool socks usually keeps my toes pretty toasty in the house.
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I too suffer from being extremely cold blooded. To pass the time and not be uncomfortably cold, you could do some exercises. Doing body weight exercises are sufficient. Pushups, Squats, burpees - this will get you warmed up. A simple 20-30 minute workout and you'll be warm. You get the added benefit of exercise as well :)
When I'm cold, I make myself vacuum or mop. Upper body exercise helps me most (no clue why).
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I got a pair of battery warming wool socks as a gag gift a few years ago but I've found that if my feet are warm, I feel much warmer than I really am.
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I have one of those microwaveable rice bags that heat up to treat injuries, which is also great for staying warm, warming up cold feet, etc. I heat it up and put it in bed before I go to bed because it's so cold in our apartment that the sheets are ice cold too!
I do a fair bit of canning (apple pie filling last night!) and that does a good job of heating up the house.
Other things that help me but probably are not mustachian: hot baths, getting a cat who will cuddle up to you. (though that little stinker will paw at our faces at OMG a.m. until we let her under the covers because SHE is cold too.)
Low of 40F last night, still low 40s this morning, and our heat STILL is not on. :( I'm going to have to get a thermometer to prove to the landlord that our apartment is below the legal temperature limit. Sigh.
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I will second the exercise suggestions. Periodic short bursts make a pretty big difference in keeping an elevated metabolism. If it is truly cold outside (is that 0C or 0F?), sitting away from outside walls and especially windows can make a significant difference.
Sent on my phone. Pardon the autocorrect.
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Are your windows drafty? That shrink wrap type plastic is cheap and really will help with that.
Otherwise, dress warmly, bake a lot, use a hot water bottle. I really hate winter!
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I'm not above wearing a cute lil toque around the house and sometimes to bed. Makes a huge difference.
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Any time you're running hot water, whether it's for a shower or for washing something in the kitchen sink, put in the stopper and let the hot water sit there. Free, moisturized heat! Don't unplug the drain until it cools.
I also love warm socks or slippers, a good fleece top, and a nice fleece throw for the sofa or bed.
Make sure your windows are nice and clean so that you get all possible sun in during the day, then close the shades/curtains at night.
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Thanks everyone! I feel warmer already!! :)
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Silk long underwear
Wool socks
Flannel or fleece lined jeans
Ugg boots or their generic equivalent
Fingerless gloves
All you need is the first four words;
Silk long underwear
Wool
and maybe silk socks
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A really fuzzy bathrobe that is big enough to fit over all your layers, warm socks, warm wool,slippers, and a heating pad to sit on. A tiny electric heater that you can aim right on you. I consider it too cold inside if I have to resort gloves or a hat in addition to the stuff already listed.
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the suggestion Cranky made is worth evaluating. I used shrink plastic in apartments and it made a big difference for me, too.
A lap sized electric blanket used under a regular blanket when you are sitting can help you just warm the area near your body. It works well to pre-warm your bed, too.
When you make pasta, take the pasta out of the water rather than draining it all into the sink. Let the hot water cool (and warm your space) before draining it. Do the same thing with water in the tub if you take a bath.
The best think I've ever found are a brand of thermal underwear called Cuddle Duds. I find that the fleece ones are the warmest.
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Don't be afraid to wear a hat indoors - I rarely go to sleep without a (fairly loose) wooly hat on in the winter, although my new place seems to be far better insulated than the old one so maybe I won't want to do that this year. But sitting watching telly or reading, it can make a big difference to have my head covered.
Same thing goes for mutiples - there's absolutely nothing wrong with wearing more than one pair of socks. I have met people who think there is, it's a strange world. I love my felt slippers, too but if I didn't still have a small problem with moths I think I would have gotten sheepskin ones by now.
If you have spare wall space, consider hanging up some material/spare quilts/curtains. Doesn't seem like it'd make a big difference but it can do.
If you do get cold at night and have a spare duvet, even just a summer lightweight one, put it on top of your mattress, underneath the sheet.
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I want to add that the shrink wrap with a blowdryer (or even, to some extent, just plain) plastic sheeting helps two ways.
The first and obvious way is that the plastic can stop air infiltration from outside through leaks around the window. Caulking around the window frame with either permanent caulk or a "seal and peel" type of temporary caulk can also reduce direct leaks.
The second way is more subtle, but it really affects comfort. It's convection air movement. The air next to a window or exterior wall cools down then that air drops to the floor. That creates a rotation in the air, pulling warmer air from the ceiling area down. then that air cools. This becomes a loop. The plastic can significantly decrease the temperature differences in window area. Same with cellular shades or even closed curtains or vinyl blinds (but when it's sunny outside, you hate to give up that heat gain. And like Moonwave said, fabric on walls helps reduce this, too. Moving air always feels cooler. Propping your feet up on the sofa or an ottoman and socks, like mentioned, help.
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I don't live in a place where. It gets super cold but it does get cold enough to snow in Houston once in awhile. Last Xmas I got flannel sheets and they are so amazing! No more ice cold sheets when getting into bed!
Besides that, I would recommend drinking hot tea or some other hot beverages to warm you up from the inside. 😄
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OP, are you almost always cold? Or is it legitimately a cold weather issue? I ask because I have spent pretty much my entire adult life freezing cold, especially indoors in the summer. (Yes, Americans ARE crazy with our air conditioners.) A few months ago, I even scolded a grocery store manager because the place was freaking frigid. I believe I called it arctic during my scolding. And I've always wondered why it has to be a "fat man's world." (And I mean no disrespect by that...I simply mean that indoor temp settings tend to be set to keep larger men comfortable, whereas we smaller women are left freezing and carrying our sweaters into stores and restaurants when it's 100 degrees outside. But I digress...)
Anyway, a doctor finally clued into what I was saying about a few different symptoms, and she ran some tests, one of which was Ferritin. My Ferritin result was very low. Now that I'm supplementing with iron and vitamin C to increase my Ferritin, I actually feel closer to normal, temperature-wise.
Just a thought.
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You could get room darkening curtains or otherwise find ways to make the windows less of a gaping hole for heat.
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OP, are you almost always cold? Or is it legitimately a cold weather issue? I ask because I have spent pretty much my entire adult life freezing cold, especially indoors in the summer. (Yes, Americans ARE crazy with our air conditioners.) A few months ago, I even scolded a grocery store manager because the place was freaking frigid. I believe I called it arctic during my scolding. And I've always wondered why it has to be a "fat man's world." (And I mean no disrespect by that...I simply mean that indoor temp settings tend to be set to keep larger men comfortable, whereas we smaller women are left freezing and carrying our sweaters into stores and restaurants when it's 100 degrees outside. But I digress...)
Anyway, a doctor finally clued into what I was saying about a few different symptoms, and she ran some tests, one of which was Ferritin. My Ferritin result was very low. Now that I'm supplementing with iron and vitamin C to increase my Ferritin, I actually feel closer to normal, temperature-wise.
Just a thought.
Not a bad point. Hypothyroidism can also leave you cold, or just poor circulation. At least with circulation, a few jumping jacks every hour helps keep you warm. Also maybe a hot tub of water to soak your feet in?
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I noticed air escapes under my doors. There are 'air door stoppers' you can use that will keep cold air from coming in. Also close as many doors in the apartment that you can to keep air from circulating.
My apartment has two doors (outside and hallway). If you don't have a door stopper you can roll a towel nicely and put it at the bottom of the door.
When I first moved in I asked for weather stripping to be added around the door (which was great for the sides and top). Just take your hand and feel around your windows and doors for noticeable changes in temp. The heater still isn't on in my apt and sometimes I will make something in the oven just to warm up the house. After cooking I will open the oven.
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These are all such excellent ideas! Thank you, thank you! Amazing and intelligent community we have here :)
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I do several things mentioned above.
In addition:
If you like them, foam mattresses tend to be warmer than regular mattresses. I've been able to turn the heat down since I got a foam mattress years ago (one downside is that it's warmer in summer though too).
Before I had that, I had an electric bed liner/sheet. It went under the sheets, and if I turned it on for 10 minutes before going to bed, it was nice and warm when I climbed in. I don't know how much it cost since it was a gift.
We have a thin, but heavy, quilt. The outsides are cotton, and I think the batting is flannel. It's warm, but cold to the touch. When I'd get really cold, I'd use a granny square afghan (lots of holes) and then put the other quilt on top. The afghan made all these little insulating pockets and the end result was about 4x warmer than either on its own.
I also sew my own flannel or fleece pajama pants. Pair them with hand knit socks and I'm nice and cozy.
At work, where blankets are frowned upon and I have to wear regular clothes, I'm usually in a hoodie and try to hang out in a room where I can crank up the heat (I don't have a desk job and can spend 75%+ of the time in a room by myself).
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I would also wonder about diet. Eating a protein-rich diet might help you feel warmer.
Anecdotal evidence from my office colleagues would correlate vegetarianism with a need for a higher thermostat setting...
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I would also wonder about diet. Eating a protein-rich diet might help you feel warmer.
Anecdotal evidence from my office colleagues would correlate vegetarianism with a need for a higher thermostat setting...
Across both sexes? Or is one sex more prone to both veganism and feeling cold?
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What temperature is it in your home, and where do you live? A lot of cities have minimum temperature requirements written into their bylaws. (Toronto requires a minimum of 21 degrees C all winter long.)
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This is going to sound ridiculous, but... environmental factors help.
Deal with actual heat first: if I'm working from home, I typically have a lap blanket and a hot water bottle on my feet, because not moving = instant cold.
Barring that... the warm light of a fire can make it 'feel' warmer in a room. If a fire isn't an option, I actually used to have a candle that had a large wood wick (I make these candles now, because they're lovely), and so it'd throw off a warm light and crackle like a fireplace and it felt really nice.
Hot tea. Hot chocolate. Hot baths or showers to warm up (and then right into super warm clothing).
And for the record: I'm a larger woman with no thyroid issues, and I'm still happier when the temperature is 30+. I love Montreal summers. Quebec winters are my doom, and I now live in rural Quebec, 500m above sea level. There's 6 inches of snow on my porch right now.
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Focus on keeping your feet, hands, and head warm.
I second the idea of doing even just some light exercise.
Opening the shades when the sun is shining and closing them when it's not is really helpful. And in my house I have a big window in the living room, and it may not be the classiest thing, but I put up a shower curtain behind my insulated curtains for an extra barrier. It seems to work pretty well.
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I would also wonder about diet. Eating a protein-rich diet might help you feel warmer.
Anecdotal evidence from my office colleagues would correlate vegetarianism with a need for a higher thermostat setting...
Across both sexes? Or is one sex more prone to both veganism and feeling cold?
Lol! Good point, as there are a number of potential correlations going on here!
I'm talking about a largely female workforce, and as I am responsible for switching the heating on in winter and off in summer, I get all the complaints. I get the complaints...ahem, not sure how to put this delicately... from ladies "of a certain age" if the heating is on and from the veggies if the heating is off. Both groups tell me I'm ageist and sexist. Don't think I've ever had any comment whatsoever from the males! My solution is to go for a rigid date-based approach, switch on at the September equinox and off for May Day.
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Another vote for wearing a nice, warm hat around the house & to bed. I'm always cold and it makes a big difference.
Also, if you are just around the house, a big, fluffy robe is nice and cozy, too :)
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Also, if you are just around the house, a big, fluffy robe is nice and cozy, too :)
Semi-mustachian rec: LL Bean does this polar fleece robe that is AMAZING.
It's not cheap, but it's huge and warm and cuddly and I'm USUALLY always cold when the house is at 21 degrees, but wrap me up in that and middle-of-the-night-17-degree-wake-ups are still toasty warm. And so what I spent on the robe we definitely save on heating bills. +++ recommending.
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if you put socks or a little sweather or pants... make sure they are CASHMERE!
I have a cashmere hoodie from Ralph Lauren (it cost a bit) ... however that thing makes me hot! At times its 60 F in the house and I feel hot because of the hoodie.
As long as there is no air movement like wind (my hoodie is a large knit pattern so wind gets in easily) its probably one of the hottest items I have, even though its probably the lightest in terms of weight!
this is the one i have:
(https://cdnd.lystit.com/photos/76ec-2014/11/13/polo-ralph-lauren-gray-waffle-knit-cashmere-hoodie-product-1-25441565-1-959965001-normal.jpeg)
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I bought light blocking curtains (very on sale) from pottery barn kids. They have made my bedroom much warmer. I also wear a fleece hat occasionally....and sometimes even sleep in it.
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Have you considered baking bread? You get a little bit of a workout, and the oven stays on for a bit.
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These are really cool and unique ideas. You guys are helping me so much!
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I have one of those microwaveable rice bags that heat up to treat injuries, which is also great for staying warm, warming up cold feet, etc. I heat it up and put it in bed before I go to bed because it's so cold in our apartment that the sheets are ice cold too!
Flannel sheets! Down comforter. Blankets under you and on top of you. We have an DeLonghi oil filled radiator that we used in our baby's room (now a teenager) years ago. Put it on low and let it run. Would keep the bedroom warm at night on cold nights. Not too expensive to run.
Long underwear. Wool socks. Something on your head. Something warm to drink occasionally (tea, coffee, water).
Don't like the inability to regulate the heat or a/c in an apartment.
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I have one of those microwaveable rice bags that heat up to treat injuries, which is also great for staying warm, warming up cold feet, etc. I heat it up and put it in bed before I go to bed because it's so cold in our apartment that the sheets are ice cold too!
I was coming to suggest this ^. I have a pretty large one that has a velcro strap and I've been known to simply wrap it around my stomach/lower back on very cold days. It warms my core nicely.
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My cat is a portable space heater who doesn't mind me sticking my cold feet under him. I joke he's my little nuclear power plant.
I'm always running warm so I can't offer more advice. Have you recently moved to a colder climate? If you're a recent-ish transplant, it may take a couple of years to adjust (I have a friend who's maybe 90lbs soaking wet who grew up in Florida and after college transplanted to NYC. She SWORE she'd never adjust to New York winters, but she's getting there).
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Lots of great replies so far.
I've found these great boot liners that I enjoy lounging around the house in too. From Cycle Gear.
(https://www.cyclegear.com/_a/product_images/0194/8858/bilt_inner_boot_liners_black_750x750.jpg)
You can always move South. ;)
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My mom gave me leg warmers and they definitely help. Right now I have no circulation in my right index finger so am going to find my hat, leg warmers and the finger gloves. I am freezing!
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I've been using blue painting tape (so I don't mark the walls) and mylar emergency blankets to tape up my A/C sleeves tight in the winter, drawing down the blinds and/or installing thermal curtains, and putting down rolled towels/fabric by the common hall entrance door to keep heat from escaping under the door. Also as others have said, using your kitchen tools to heat your house is double duty, I open my dishwasher up half way through the dry cycle and let all that heat/moisture warm the place up and dry the dishes off.
My sister had a small place that she would keep unheated while at work which takes quite a while to get warm in the winter, I bought her a small electric Vornado air heater/mover that acts as a large hair dryer you can point at yourself or use to heat a small room rapidly. Its still kickin' after 3 years use.
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Can't believe nobody has mentioned this yet... buy yourself a nice long scarf to wear around the house. The keyword is long so that you can double it up or wrap it around more than once.
This is what saved me living in Europe without heat!
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A heated mattress pad is definitely key to getting sleep in an underheated home. I find it much more effective than an electric blanket. I like to turn it on about 30 minutes before getting into bed-- the feeling is divine!
I suppose some might not like the feeling of the wires under the sheets, but it doesn't bother me, and it means we can keep our thermostat turned down.
And here's another vote for flannel sheets!
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I use a combination of fuzzy socks + slippers for the feet, flannel one-piece pyjama (so warm!) and a bathrobe on top of that. Couple that with a hot beverage and I can pass from freezing to toasty warm.
Health-wise, Raynaud syndrome is basically a poor circulation issue causing extreme coldness in the extremities. Something to consider as well, I have several friends afflicted with this. Especially after weight loss.
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Just remembered one more tip which you may like: bed canopy! It's a great way to stay warm in a poorly insulated apartment. We got a four poster bed, but you can hang a canopy without posts. It's lovely, romantic, and practical!
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/ideas/201631_idip12a/
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I use a combination of fuzzy socks + slippers for the feet, flannel one-piece pyjama (so warm!) and a bathrobe on top of that. Couple that with a hot beverage and I can pass from freezing to toasty warm.
Exactly the same. I don't feel the cold often as I have Celtic blood and live in the UK so it's not exactly known for very cold weather, but the combination of socks, slippers and a bathrobe usually works.
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I'm either too hot or too cold due to hormones and a drafty old apartment. I just bought one of these babies on Black Friday using 100% points and gift cards. Bathrobes, warm socks, hats etc are all good too.
https://www.amazon.com/Optimus-H-4438-14-Inch-Energy-Saving-Oscillating/dp/B001F5ST84/ref=lp_2597842011_1_2?srs=2597842011&ie=UTF8&qid=1480282665&sr=8-2
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For bed, I have a memory foam lumbar pillow that I tuck under or between my knees. It really holds the heat in, but is totally passive as far as energy expenditure.
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I grew up in a giant old house in southern ohio where my parents kept the temps low in the winter because OMG EXPENSIVE TO HEAT and have always run cold.
1. Figure out what bits you need to keep warm to feel warm and address those. For me, this is weirdly mostly my joints. I don't care about having cold toes, but if my ankles feel cold, I'm miserable, etc. So I like giant loungy pants that shroud my ankles, giant fuzzy wool socks, that sort of thing. Also think about where you are losing heat. I don't need them to be heavy or super insulated, but wearing a pair of slippers helps keep my feet warm because I'm not losing heat to the floor when I'm walking around. Wearing a hat helps reduce heat loss from my head, that sort of thing.
2. A hat makes a huge difference for me, especially when trying to fall asleep.
3. +1 to rice sack/heating pad/cuddly animal. Having your immediate area warmed up is key! Warming up the bed before I get in is also a huge help.
4. +1 to most of the materials mentioned. Knit acrylic blankets or fleece blankets have always served me well when I'm sitting around all day. If you come across a down throw, those things are amazing for lap blankets when it's really cold. Wool clothing, especially fuzzy socks and baselayers are great. I layer up like crazy, and that helps a ton.
5. I bought one of Ikea's warmest comforters a few years back and it is a gamechanger! I started out with their polyester fill, and that was great for a while but washing it does send it on the fast track downhill. It's still good for indoor temps in the 60s, but it developed cold spots so I picked up on of their feather/down ones when I was living in a particularly uninsulated house in a room made mostly of windows, and I can actually be hot while sleeping sometimes for the first time in my life. IDK what the longevity of it will be compared to other brands/pricepoints. I switch the two out depending on how cold it is.
6. And +1 to getting up and moving around. It really helps, even just walking across the room.
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A few years ago I found a deal on a battery powered electric jacket. It was only about $35, came with one pattery pack & charger, and it looks pretty good. Not as cool as my Mountain Hard Ware, but similar style & has a little lighted lapel power button that looks like a Star Trek gadget (red, white, blue for hi,med,lo)
Anyway, I love lounging around in my heated jacket. Who cares if the house is a bit chilly. ;)
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A few years ago I found a deal on a battery powered electric jacket. It was only about $35, came with one pattery pack & charger, and it looks pretty good. Not as cool as my Mountain Hard Ware, but similar style & has a little lighted lapel power button that looks like a Star Trek gadget (red, white, blue for hi,med,lo)
Anyway, I love lounging around in my heated jacket. Who cares if the house is a bit chilly. ;)
What will they think of next.
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Have you considered baking bread? You get a little bit of a workout, and the oven stays on for a bit.
I love this idea. And even if you are lazy, my wife and I make Beer bread (http://www.food.com/recipe/beer-bread-73440) about once a week or so in the winter.
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I do most of my baking when it gets cold to avoid turning on the heat; I also recommend cooking a large pot of soaked dried beans on the stovetop, make chilli or some other kind of bean soup, or mash and bake them in the oven (refried beans). From this you can make a bunch of bean burritos, enchiladas, etc. and freeze a few extra meals for busy days. Both the heat of the oven and my not sitting around keeps me warm enough to avoid turning on the heat most days.
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Did we recommend fleece pj/lounge pants? I made a pair for myself and another for my son recently. They are so warm that if I have the heat up I get sweaty. Perfect for being able to keep the thermostat down but still staying comfortable. If you can make your own, you can get them in pretty much any pattern you want if you are near a fabric store. My next pair might have dinosaurs...
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Gotta second the plastic sheeting over the windows that was mentioned earlier in the thread. Tried it and the difference has been very significant. Older windows are ~R-1 and often have small gaps that let the wind right in. These plastic sheets taped around the window (you can pick up a kit at home improvement stores or even Aldi!!) make a big difference for small $. All those drafts are eliminated and you get a nice insulating bubble of air in between your window and the plastic sheeting. Throw some curtains in front of the whole thing at night to help out some more (but leave the curtains open in the day for solar gain!
Stay warm,
chops
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Another thing that seems to really help me out is a good pair of slippers. For some reason the rest of my body refuses to be cold if I have toasty feet. YMMV
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I've been waiting for this one, but since nobody posted so far:
Sex.
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I've been waiting for this one, but since nobody posted so far:
Sex.
Actionable advice for feeling warmer almost anywhere.
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I have the same problem. The following has helped:
insulated long johns (thermal underwear) with a fleece-like lining,
silk thermal underwear,
wool sweaters,
wearing two pairs of socks (the outer pair extremely thick and made for cold weather),
wearing a hat inside,
eating (if I've not eaten much, it can make me colder).
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I have read about bubble wrap being a good window/door insulator. We have a cat flap (and no cat) and I keep meaning to tape bubble wrap over it to reduce the drafts.
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wearing a hat inside,
I've had really short hair since retirement - as in electric clippers set to 3/4". I've felt colder during winter in my house during that same period, although the thermostat setting has not changed. Finally figured out that my shorn head need insulation. A hat indoors has made a huge difference.
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I've had really short hair since retirement - as in electric clippers set to 3/4". I've felt colder during winter in my house during that same period, although the thermostat setting has not changed. Finally figured out that my shorn head need insulation. A hat indoors has made a huge difference.
Agreed- a huge percentage of your body heat is lost through the head.