Attic insulation
Living someplace with a harsh winter means that you will be spending a lot of money on heating. Those nasty drafts that keep your kids shivering in their bunkbeds and that chill that refuses to leave you while you sit at your desk are detrimental and just plain annoying. It's time to change that and save yourself some money at the same time. The first consideration is, of course, the house in which you live. If you are living in an old part of the country with historic houses that have been grandfathered into the system, you should expect a few drafts. Try to find someplace that has updated insulation and recently updated, energy efficient windows. Now, if you are like most of us you already have a home and don't plan to leave anytime soon. That means you need to get a bit craftier with your solutions. If you own the building then you can make the changes you need but if you are renting then take a look at these ideas for making the winter hill more bearable. Stock up on comforters and really warm blankets. Avoid synthetic materials as they can actually feel cold at first. Fleece is the one exception. Build yourself a cocoon against the cold and avoid turning up the heat. Move those bunkbeds away from the windows. This won't solve the actual problem but it will help to keep the draft from chilling your children to the bone and keeping them awake. Give the draft a little time to dissipate before it reaches their toes. You can always move it back in the summer. Insulate the windows. You can buy a whole kit for doing this but there are other, cheaper options as well. If you use a bit of double sided tape or clear packing tape and some bubble wrap to cover your windows, you can create a buffer against the cold. Those kits are great and they do they job really well but you can even combine the two ideas for even better insulation. Now if you combine them all, these ideas should help you keep those kids nice and toasty in their bunkbeds, which will help them be happier and healthier in the winter months.
