Savings with Denise

Helping families save on everyday items.

Effective Ways You Can Beat The Winter Chill

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Keeping warm in the winter is somewhat of an art. Finding the right level of coziness without being too hot is a skill, whether you’re out and about or sitting at home trying not to put the heating on. And with energy bills seemingly on the rise with no signs of coming back down, finding alternative ways to keep warm without turning the thermostat up means you need to get creative.

Let’s look at a few strategies to help you beat the cold this winter and not waste too much money putting the heating on.

Heated Clothing

The latest innovation for people who don’t like to be cold when at home or out and about is heated clothing. Heated clothing is clothing items with technology integrated into the materials that heat up, much like a radiator or heat pad. The item can be charged, typically via a USB/C charger, and is usually customizable with different heat settings and controls to allow you to deliver the right amount of heat when needed. However, it’s important to use these items with caution, especially when charging.

Heated clothing is ideal for parents standing on the sidelines in the cold, people working outdoors, or simply people who don’t want to be cold when commuting to work or going for long walks. You can purchase heated clothing in the form of jackets, socks, gloves, vests, base layers, and more to allow you to find the right comfort level for you at home or out and about.

Thermal Layers

Layering up is one of the best ways to keep warm, and when you get warm enough, you can strategically remove the layers. Thermal layers, however, add that extra warmth that makes your body warmer when the mercury plunges. Thermal socks like these heatholders socks are perfect for keeping your toes warm if you need to avoid cold feet. Thermal vests, leggings, trousers, tops, slippers, and gloves are also great options for building your wardrobe and keeping the chill from your bones.

Use Curtains Strategically

While at home, your curtains can be an excellent way to help you beat the cold. Ideally, you will have floor-length curtains to block external wall around the window. But opening the curtains on the warmest part of the day, i.e., when the sun comes through the window, allows you to heat the room using the environment. Closing them again once you’re in the shade can help you retain warmth and even out the room temperature. The reason for this is that around 30% of homes’ energy is absorbed via windows, so not only are you allowing the warmth of the sun to enter via windows, but you can also absorb any heat you accumulate to stop it from leaving. For added benefit, choose insulated curtains. 

Get Moving

Regular movement and exercise are a great way to get the blood pumping in your veins and warm you up a bit. Whether you take part in an exercise class, go for a speedy stroll around the neighbourhood, or make vigorous exercise part of your schedule, when it gets cold, exercise is a great way to help you stay warm. You just need to get slightly out of breath, and even cleaning can do the trick to help your blood circulate around your body and warm you up. Remember, the longer you stay still, the colder you will feel, so make yourself get up and move from time to time to ward off the chill factor.

Under Rug Heat Pads

Imagine having electric blankets for your floors. Under-rug heat pads are a space-saving, efficient solution for those with hardwood floors and rugs. These pads, discreetly placed under the rug, effectively ward off the chill from uncovered flooring. The infrared heat permeates the rug and surrounding areas, providing a practical and safe alternative to traditional heaters.

The idea is that as infrared heat permeates the rug and surrounding areas, it makes you feel warmer. This is a more practical and discreet option for many homes as it negates the need for heaters potentially increasing fire hazards in the home.

Add Some Heat to Your Food

And we’re not talking about temperature, heat from cooking. Adding spice and chili to your food can help you boost how warm you feel. Spices like cayenne pepper, ginger, and black pepper can be added to your food to give it a bit of a kick and be an effective way to warm you up for a while. While the effects are only temporary, they can be a boost of heat you need to help you feel warm, even if it’s only short-lived.

Regulate Your Home’s Temperature

When keeping your home warm to beat the cold, you want to focus on creating an enjoyable environment. Regulating your home’s temperatures via various means will allow you to remove the need for excessive cooling and heating as you go about your day.

Tricks like improving insulation, finding the temperature that is comfortable to go about your daily business in where you’re not too hot or too cold, turning down the thermostat a few degrees, and draft-proofing your home can help regulate temperature. Draftproofing involves sealing any gaps or cracks in your home that allow cold air to enter and warm air to escape. This can be done with weather stripping, caulking, or draft stoppers for doors and windows. Turning on ceiling fans anti-clockwise can push warm air back downwards in a room, meaning you can retain a little bit more heat and avoid bad habits like leaving windows and doors open, which can detract from the improvements you’re trying to make. 

Blankets

Layering with blankets and like with clothing is a great way to keep warm during the winter and avoid putting the heating on or turning it up. Wearable blankets that are like giant oversized hoodies are popular due to their ability to keep you warm and be functional, unlike standard blankets. Blankets with arms for chilling on the sofa, which will have the same impact if you don’t fancy wearing your blanket like clothing. But blankets are a must for keeping you warm and can be used in many environments for the extra comfort you’re looking for and needing come winter.

 

A Living Space That Matches Your Lifestyle: 5 Ways To Achieve It

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It may be because you have welcomed a pet into your family, or because you no longer need to go to the office and can work from home. The reasons why you may want to upgrade your living space and make sure they match your lifestyle are endless. After all, our needs evolve as the time goes on, and our home should reflect these changes, accommodating for the different stages in our lives. 

Sometimes, renovating your property is enough, while, in some other cases, you may consider purchasing a new home. Below, we look at a few strategies that can help you invest in a living space that matches your current and future lifestyle. 

Upsize Or Downsize

If it’s in your budget and you have been wanting to upgrade your living space for a while, you may consider looking for your next dream home. This could be a smaller property if your kids are grown up and ready to leave the nest. Or, you could invest in a larger home as you are getting ready to welcome a baby or pet into your family. You may also consider purchasing a larger space if you are looking to rent out parts of your home and optimize your investment. Since needs can vary, be sure to work with an expert who can guide you in the choice. 

Consider Smart Renovations

Some renovations may be worth undertaking whether you are looking to sell or just optimize your property for the future. In fact, some projects not only boost the value of your home and improve its layout, but they can also save you money! 

For instance, upgrading your insulation and adding a porch or patio can extend your livable square footage and optimize your home’s energy efficiency. Before getting started, have a clear understanding of the local market and expected costs. Of course, you should always work with a local specialist you can trust!

Rethink Unused Square Footage 

Any home, no matter its size, can be optimized to be more efficient and livable. Think, for instance, of areas of your home that are not well-used. These could be an unkempt garden, a dark basement, or an attic or garage that are now used as storage. With the right renovation projects, you can turn these areas into extra rooms, gyms, or home offices, improving your home’s livability!

Care For Your Garden Or Terrace

Your outside area plays a vital home in creating additional square footage—but only when well-cared-for! To optimize this space, consider investing in a porch or veranda, add furniture, and keep up with seasonal maintenance tasks. Of course, consider affordable, but essential, additions such as heating and lighting to make this area enjoyable across the seasons!

Work With An Interior Designer

Last but not least, consider working with an interior design to optimize the layout and flow of your home. This upgrade does not require major renovations, but it can improve how your home looks and feels on a daily basis, allowing you to elevate your environment without significant or costly changes!

Mastering the Art of Self-Care to Thriving, Not Simply Surviving

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Self-care has long been recognized as important for maintaining your mental, emotional, and physical well-being in the fast-paced world. Unfortunately, however, self-care often gets shoved aside due to deadlines, responsibilities, and never-ending to-do lists. Now may be the best time to take charge of your self-care practices and start showing up for yourself, because you deserve it. And here’s how:

Understand What Self-Care Actually Means

Contrary to popular belief, self-care goes far beyond spa days and elaborate skincare routines (though those can certainly be enjoyable). Self-care involves meeting your fundamental needs and taking deliberate actions for your wellbeing. It’s not selfish, it’s self-preservation.

Begin by asking yourself some important questions:

  • Are you eating balanced meals regularly?
  • Do you get enough quality sleep each night?
  • How do you manage your stress levels on busy days?

Understanding your personal needs is the first step toward developing an effective self-care regimen tailored specifically for you.

Schedule It Like an Important Meeting

Many people claim they don’t have enough time for self-care, but the reality is that you won’t make time unless it becomes a top priority. Make self-care part of your routine. Whether that means 10 minutes of meditation in the morning, lunchtime walks with colleagues or reading before bed, put it in your calendar and stick to it. Small consistent efforts have a larger cumulative effect than one-off grand gestures, so start small now and reap big results later on.

Use A Reconditioned Apple Watch

A reconditioned Apple Watch can be an invaluable aid in managing and improving your self-care routine. Fitness tracking features allow you to monitor daily activity levels, set exercise goals and monitor heart health. A mindfulness app reminds you to take moments for calm breathing throughout the day to help reduce stress levels. Sleep tracking features can provide insight into the quality of your rest, encouraging better bedtime habits. By one at a more cost-effective rate, not only do you gain access to its benefits at an economical price point but you are contributing towards sustainability by giving a previously used device another chance at life. A small investment like this can make an immense statement about prioritizing and upholding well-being in your daily life.

Ditch Guilt and Set Boundaries

Let’s face it, an empty cup can’t pour. Taking care of yourself responsibly means making time to take care of yourself, whether that means saying no to social events, restricting overtime work hours or delegating tasks that drain your energy. Setting boundaries demonstrates your respect for your needs while freeing up mental space for what truly matters in life. Don’t feel bad if downtime is important for growth, creativity and clarity!

Keep It Realistic and Flexible

This goal doesn’t call for perfection but rather progress. Self-care takes different forms depending on whether it is vacation time or deadline time. So be gentle with yourself when setting new routines to suit these situations. What matters most is staying consistent and intentional.

Conclusion 

Establishing an effective self-care regimen doesn’t need to be another frustrating task on top of an already overburdened life. It should involve shifting your perspective and giving yourself permission to prioritize your own wellbeing. Begin small, be flexible with yourself, and remember to show yourself compassion like any friend would. Eventually your routine will feel less like work and more like an important part of living. Don’t neglect yourself. Take care of yourself first so others don’t suffer more in return.