If the thought of a high gas or electric bill is keeping you from turning up the heat in your Chicago apartment, don’t worry. There are ways to keep warm without having giving an arm and a leg to pay your bills. Below are 10 ways to keep warm in chilly Chicago:
Setting the Thermostat
While you’re up moving around the apartment during the day, you want to be comfortable and not freezing. So, keep the heat at 68 degrees. This temperature is recommended by power companies so you have lower bills and conserve energy. At night, turn the thermostat down a few more degrees. The heat won’t run as often or as long. However there are additional measures you’ll have to take to keep warm if you turn the heat down.
10 Cheap Ways to Keep Your Apartment Warmer
1. Buy flannel sheets – Trade your cotton sheets in for flannel ones. They’re thicker and will keep you warmer. You can easily buy sets of these at Target or other major retail stores fo $20.
2. Hang Thermal Curtains – Since you probably aren’t allowed to winterize your rental like you would if you owned it, hang curtains that will keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Windows can be the a major site for loss of heat in a home.
3. Keep out the draft – If the curtains just won’t do it. Get some tape to put around spaces and cracks around windows. You’ll be able to remove it easier than caulking.
4. Get some Area Rugs – If your apartment is all hardwood or tile, use rugs to keep your feet from feeling the shock of a chilly floor. Hard floors typically feel colder to the touch than carpeted ones.
5. Watch the crack – The crack at the bottom of your door could be letting cold air in. Get a door draft stopper to put at the bottom of your bedroom door or the door to your apartment to keep out the cold.
6. Snuggle up – Trade in your thin summer blankets and quilts for a thick comforter. You can easliy find plain ones of these for $20 or less, but if you want to invest in one that will last you year in and year out, get a nice down comforter to keep warm.
7. Welcome the Sun – On sunny days, remember to open curtains to let the warm rays into the apartment. Drawing curtains closed will keep the apartment feeling dark and cold.
8. Home Cooking – Instead of going out for dinner or ordering in, try cooking something up in your kitchen. The warmth from the stove and oven will permeate the apartment. Try warm dishes like chili, stew, or a warm roast with potatoes.
9. Keep the snow out – After coming in from the streets, leave your wet boots and outerwear at the door. Keep a rug there to absorb the melting snow or sweep it outside. Stepping in a cold puddle as you walk around the apartment is not pleasant.
10. Get Active – If your building or apartment complex has a gym, use it. It will get your blood pumping too all of your extremities keeping you warm. You’ll also feel healthier and be ready for swimsuit season when the snow melts.
Just making a few minor adjustments in your apartment this winter will help keep you a little warmer and perhaps save you a little extra money. Try these tips and let us know how they work, or if you have your own tips for keeping warm, we’d be happy to hear about them in the comments.
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