Inexpensive Handy Hints on getting through a South African Winter.

Although our winters are not as harsh as other regions through the world, South Africans their own problems to contend with when the Big Chill bites.  Often we are ill-prepared, as our houses lack adequate heating and insulation, not to mention the effect of our ever increasing electricity prices.

1. Hot drinks.   

One delicious and inexpensive means of beating the cold is hot drinks and soups.  Whether you are on the move or tucked under a blanket at home, why not try one of these amazing hot drink recipes from realsimple.com or a good-value nutritious soup from BBC’s Good Food Website.

2. Stop the draught

Having a draughty house or apartment can cause large amounts of heat lose.  Heat-lose prevention can be relatively quick and inexpensive.  As described by the Energy Saving Trust in the United Kingdom, ideas include installing foam tape in windows, sealing wooden floors that have gaps and using simple  door snakes/breeze blockers under draughty doors.  If you are a bit short of money, draught blockers can easily be sewn at home in an Environmentally friendly way!.

3. Cuddle your pets or a wheat bag.

Another great way to keep warm is from snuggling another warm object such as your pet or a homemade wheat bag.  If you are lucky enough to have a pet we are sure they will appreciate the extra love.  Otherwise why not either purchase or make a microwavable wheat bag.  These are a relatively safe way of getting heat and cheap to use.  For instructions on how to make why not visit www.stuckonyou.com or www.instructables.com.

4. Layer, Layer, Layer

A simple way of keeping warm is to put on extra layers.  Each layer acts as insulation for your body prevent heat from leaving you.  If you want ideas for effective layering i.e. you don’t want to look like the Michelin man see Essentials webpage.

4. Did anyone say Braai?

If you are lucky enough to own your own home, one good energy efficient way to heat the home is to have a pot-bellied stave or indoor briar.  This way you are “killing two birds with one stone”; you can heat the home and cook dinner at the same time in the most loved South African fashion.

If you have any secrets to beating the Winter Chill why not send us an email!