How to survive the 'thermostat wars'

When I lived in Alaska years ago, I was always turning down the thermostat. My then-husband would turn it back up. This made no sense to me: Why didn't he just put on another layer?

When I moved back to Anchorage at the end of September, I discovered that eight years in the banana belt of Seattle had thinned my blood considerably. Now I'm the one who's always chilly -- and it's not even that cold yet.

So I wear a fleece layer or bathrobe over my shirt, and wool socks instead of cotton ones. If it's particularly nippy there's the option of thermal or polypropylene long-handles. (Frugal long underwear; more on that in a minute.)

Do you tend to be a little (or a lot) colder than your partner and/or family? Quit fighting the thermostat wars. All that does is raise your utility bill and make other people sweaty.

In other words: If you can't heat 'em, join 'em. Embrace a cooler overall house temperature, but stay comfortable with these 11 tips.

Heat yourself
1. Wear the right clothes. Layers, layers, layers: tights or long johns under your slacks, a T-shirt or long underwear shirt topped by a blouse or shirt plus a sweater, sweatshirt or fleece layer. Wool socks instead of cotton (aka "the winter death fiber"). Felt or fur slippers in the house. If you're super-thin-blooded, wrap a scarf around your neck and/or don a fleece cap.

None of this has to be expensive, incidentally. Use a price comparison website for the best deals on long johns and wool socks. Or cash in rewards points; I paid for my extra layers using Amazon.com gift certificates earned from the Swagbucks website.

2. Auxiliary warmth sources. Dig up that afghan your grandma made for you, or get a fleece throw for a less bulky but still effective layer of protection. (My niece got chenille throws for $3.99 apiece on Black Friday; watch for similar deals this year.) Two other options: a lapdog/affectionate cat, or the famous "rice sock."

3. Plug in some warmth. Last winter a friend gave me a heated throw (sort of a mini-electric blanket). You could also use a heating pad across your lap with one of those afghans/throws on top.

4. Look for extra heat. Do you take hot baths instead of showers? Leave the water in the tub until it cools: The warmth (and humidity) will have an impact on your household temperature.

Run the dishwasher in the morning instead of after supper, suggests Jenny C., a reader at the The Dollar Stretcher: "That way I have the excess heat in the house when I can use it, not when I'm asleep under covers anyway." Cook or bake then, too.

5. Sip hot beverages. Tea, coffee, cocoa or broth all provide instant inner warmth; cradling the hot mug is soothing, too. I'd be sparing of the cocoa and also of sugar, cream or flavorings added to tea; the calories do add up. Some folks swear by plain hot water with a slice of lemon.

6. Pump it up. Lisa H., another Dollar Stretcher reader, does pushups when she gets chilled: "This really warms me up since it's such hard work." Personally, I've found getting up from my workspace and walking around for a couple of minutes does the same thing.

Keep the heat
7. Get a programmable thermostat. Set it to bring the temperature up before you get home. Coming into a cold space is a bummer, psychologically speaking. Put the lights on a timer, too, so you're walking into a (relatively) warm, well-lit place.

8. Winterize your home. Some utility companies offer free energy audits. If you're a do-it-yourself type, see "19 easy home-winterization projects" on MSN Real Estate. Even the non-handy can insulate power outlets and light switches according to this post on Lifehacker.

9. Rearrange your space. Does your living room have cold spots no matter what you do? Move the furniture around so your favorite chair isn't in the freeze zone, advises Sharon O'Brien in a post on About.com.

10. Heat where you are. If your den or living room is just too uncomfortable to enjoy, get a space heater. You can get a decent one for $50 to $100, according to the Lifehacker article, which is "far less than the cost of keeping your entire home warm."

11. Go outside. Seriously. Take a walk, or at least go out to pick up the mail. When you come back, the indoors environment will feel much warmer by comparison -- especially if you allow yourself a cup of that cocoa.

Readers: If you're the "cold" one in the household, how do you stay warm?

More on MSN Money:

• How much house do you really need?
• Slash the cost of remodeling
• What I learned from de-cluttering