Tips for Surviving Winter in Your Apartment

By Naomi Fink on February 2, 2021

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It’s that time of year again. Freezing temperatures, snowy sidewalks, and icy streets mark the crux of winter. With classes online for so many students, this semester provides a great excuse to stay inside all day and avoid the elements. Just because you’re indoors, however, doesn’t mean your apartment is warm and toasty, especially if you’re trying to keep your electricity bill down. Wondering how you can make the most of the situation? Here are six tips for surviving winter in your apartment without breaking the bank.

Photo via Unsplash

1. Be aware of the thermostat 

When you see the snow falling outside or are coming inside after a necessary venture into the cold, it can be tempting to crank the thermostat up as high as possible to help you warm up. While this may feel like the best thing to do in the moment, it’s not always the right approach. Firstly, your apartment won’t magically heat up the second you turn up the thermostat, and secondly, heating up your entire apartment can be expensive!

Before you turn up the heat, wait a few minutes to see if your body naturally adjusts to the temperature. It’s going to be slightly cold in the winter and that’s normal! Your apartment doesn’t need to — and probably shouldn’t — feel like stepping into a sauna. Talk with your roommates to decide on a thermostat rule-of-thumb for your apartment and set the temperature to something that feels comfortable when you’re dressed appropriately for the season.

Additionally, you may want to consider turning down the heat at night while you’re sleeping. According to a National Sleep Foundation poll, cool room temperatures are an important factor in getting a good night’s sleep — it’s also a great way to save money on heating! Most doctors recommend setting the thermostat somewhere between 60 to 67 degrees at night for a more restful sleep.

2. Pull out your comfy sweaters 

Surviving winter in your apartment includes dressing warmly and being smart about your outfit choices — and cold temperatures mean sweater weather. Winter is the perfect time to pull out your softest sweatshirts and comfiest cardigans, or choose to stay in cuddly pajamas all day! Whatever you decide to wear, make sure to take the weather into consideration. A t-shirt is probably not the right thing to be wearing if it’s 28 degrees outside. Dress for the season it is, not the season you wish it was.

Photo via Unsplash

3. Grab a blanket 

Curl up in bed, on the couch, or at your desk with a warm, fuzzy blanket. Don’t have one? Now is a great time to invest! Spending a one-time fee of $10-$25 for a blanket is much more cost-effective than turning up the heat and paying extra in electricity bills each month. Plus you’ll feel nice and cozy. Some good places to get blankets include Amazon, Target, and/or Bed Bath & Beyond. Wearable blankets such as the Comfy are also all the rage these days. As the creators of the Comfy say, “It’s like living in a giant hug!”

4. Make sure your windows are tightly sealed 

Don’t waste money on heating that is literally going out the window. Double-check that the exits and windows in your apartment are sealed tightly so that the heat you’re paying for stays in your apartment. If you notice a window is broken or if there seems to be a draft, tell your landlord. You can also purchase foam insulation strips to help seal the gaps under the door or near windows. It’s better to invest in the solution than keep paying for the problem.

5. Get a space heater

If you’re alone in your apartment or if you’re the only one who typically gets cold, it may be worthwhile to get a space heater, rather than heating up your entire apartment. While space heaters do need to be plugged in, they consume less energy than cranking up the thermostat. Space heaters also heat up fairly quickly and the warmth feels more concentrated. These are great perks if you’re feeling especially chilly or if you’re sitting in one place all day anyway.

Photo via Unsplash

6. Eat warm foods 

Eating winter-worthy foods will help you warm up from the inside out. Hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and soups are perfect for a cold winter’s day and there are plenty of ways to have fun with it too! Sip hot cocoa with your roommates during a movie night or challenge your friends to a winter-themed cook-off. Want more food inspiration? Check out these winter meal ideas to keep you warm this winter.

It may be extremely cold or even downright freezing outside but surviving winter in your apartment doesn’t mean you have to suffer. Talk to your roommates to set an apartment thermostat rule, heat your space consciously, nestle into a soft sweater or cozy blanket, and eat warm foods to stay comfortable this season without raising your electricity bill too much. Pretty soon you’ll be longing for the cold and turning up the AC!

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