The weather has turned bitterly cold and since almost all energy companies have raised their prices (yet again!) I'm sure we're all feeling the pinch this winter.

Our North-facing house is particularly cold, and over time we've devised quite a few offbeat techniques to keep the warmth in to spend as little as possible keeping the house toasty warm. Of course I'm sure you're all aware of the obvious ones (turn the heating down one degree, only heat when you need to, wear jumpers and socks indoors), so instead I'll present you with a few tips you may not have tried yet - and I promise they all help!

Hopefully Glamumous readers will find some of these tips useful in maintaining the temperature in their own homes.

Gaps beneath your skirting boards? Tape them up!

When we realised the (rather enormous) gaps between our skirting boards and floorboards were letting in icy drafts, my other half decided to block them with Gaffa tape. It worked a treat (albeit being a bit unsightly).

If you have any gaps at all, consider taping them (perhaps masking tape is a better option?) or at least fill the gaps with foam, scrunched up newspaper or whatever draft excluder you may have lying around!

Make your own draft excluders

Gaps beneath doors also let the heat escape. We have a balcony door leading off from the lounge which is a terrible culprit for letting in the cold. Old pillows rolled up and pushed against the gaps did the trick. If you're feeling crafty, make your own sausage-dog type excluders, or just use a rolled-up blanked.

Blankets on the beds

Much as we'd love to leave the heating on all night, we simply can't afford to. Luckily I found a box full of those old style woollen blankets (the type you may remember your grandmother stashing in the airing cupboard) and bought the lot. They're wonderful for keeping the heat trapped beneath the duvet, and make our beds feel ever-so snug.

Hot water bottles

Found in Poundland, I now can't sleep without my hot water bottle close to my feet. Beds feel so much more inviting after being warmed for 20 minutes before slipping in.

Close doors behind you - vigilantly!

I'm sure the kids are sick of hearing me tell them to keep the doors closed, but my this does make a difference! If only I could train the cats to close doors behind them too...

Turn off radiators in rooms you don't use

Thick winter curtains (over doors too!)

Our house is terribly designed. We have an archway instead of an entrance door in our living room which (as you can imagine) lets out all the warm air.

So we invested in a set of long thick curtains to keep the warmth in. Plus another for the balcony door, another to pull across the front door at night... Well, actually we were lucky to have them gifted from Freecycle, though you can probably also find nice thick curtains in charity shops for just a few pounds a pair. Even blankets hung over drafty doorways is better then nothing!

Gather round in the kitchen!

Late at night our kitchen is the coldest room in the house, but while I'm cooking or have the tumble dryer on, it's probably the warmest!

Don't let that energy go to waste! If the kids are feeling the chill, gather them round the kitchen table with some activities while you get to work at the stove or do the laundry. Not a long-term solution, but for those on pre-pay meters who can see how much heating costs per hour, it can feel quite satisfying.

Do you have any more tips for keeping warm this winter?

I'd love to know any more frugal ideas for maintaining a toasty warm home, so please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions below.

I love my Kindle. Admittedly with the rush of work lately I haven't had much time to enjoy it, but come next week I'll be taking time off to spend making this Christmas magical for the kids.

While browsing Amazon's list of free Kindle books to download, I discovered some real treasures which the younger ones will be sure to enjoy. Perhaps you will enjoy reading these festive Kindle freebies too!

The Christmas Angel by Abbie Farwell Brown

I've wanted to learn how to make twine hangers for my indoor plants for ages, but never got around to doing it! Luckily I came across this simple and stylish method from Lovely Indeed which explains how to make your own hangers in literally a few minutes!



Now all I need to do is upgrade my plant pots to terracotta ones =)

Via: Lovely Indeed

Had enough of only getting bills and junk mail through the post? Well, here's a great idea for you: how about receiving a monthly surprise present just for you (or delivered to someone special), beautifully packaged and hand-selected by a designer with exquisite taste?

It's October 1st and I've officially begun my Christmas shopping and preparations (though in my head I probably started months ago!).

Though it's a little early to begin decorating the house, I've begun making cross stitched decorations, saving every last penny for my gift shopping spree and sourcing recipes for my baking.

For the past few years I've managed to enjoy Christmas on an incredibly frugal budget, and I'd love to share my ideas with others so no-one need dread the prospect of breaking the bank in order to revel in seasonal celebration.

Over the next twelve or so weeks I'll be updating Glamumous with posts labelled "Can't Afford Xmas" in which I'll share the best bargains, Christmas recipes, ideas and traditions which won't break the bank.

Please subscribe (or at least check back periodically) to see what I've found, written or shared. I'd love also to learn of more tips and tricks from frugal Glamumous readers so please feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments (or drop me a line if you like!).

Happy preparations Ladies! Christmas season is on its way!

If, like me, you;'ve misplaced school newsletters and can't for the life of you remember what date the kids go back to school in September, this useful tool on Direct.gov.uk can help you find out.

Simply type in your postcode to be directed to the appropriate section of your local council website - beats manic Google searching every time!

Directgov: Find out school term dates:

It's that time of year when wasps are out in force, so here's a link to help you build a simple wasp trap by recycling a used drinks bottle.

Build This Yellow Jacket Trap for Worry-Free Outdoor Soda Sipping:

Welcome to 2012! A new year in blogging, with this first being my initial burst of energy in hoping to maintain a resolution to write more and further my ventures online.

With such an eventful (and often upsetting) year behind us, I hope this year will see a smaller share of bad luck for those close to me, replaced instead by a greater share of happiness, especially now that we have a beautiful new addition to our family.

Best wishes to all who read Glamumous, I hope the year ahead will be a happy one for you too!