As the UK braces for a chilly weekend, with powerful winds and heavy rain hitting parts of the country, people are looking for ways to bring some warmth to their homes without cranking up the heating just yet. But with rising energy prices making heating homes more expensive, taking action now could pay off in the long run. Experts warn, though, that if you're elderly or vulnerable you shouldn't compromise your health.
To help you prepare for the chillier months, BBC News asked families and experts to share their tips for keeping your home warm and cost-effective. When it gets cold, many people turn to hot water bottles and blankets - but there are other ways to warm your body. The British Heart Foundation recommends wearing lots of thin layers, rather than one thick layer, to trap the heat in.
Natalie, 29, says she's replaced some of the clothes she wears round the house with supermarket thermal leggings and tops and says "it's made such a difference". Amber Waring, 27, from Devon, says she eats warm meals like stews and pasta bakes, and dances round the kitchen with her toddler while they cook to help keep warm. With the clocks going back this weekend, the nights will be drawing in.
So if you have a thicker duvet, now is the time to bring it out. Some supermarkets sell winter duvets for under £20 - look for 10.5 tog or higher. But there's something to be said for a craftily placed blanket, too.
When it gets cold, Rebecca, 44, from Hertfordshire, sleeps with a blanket underneath her mattress, which she says stops draughts. "This was passed to me by my nan, she swore by it," she says. Others swear by placing a blanket above the mattress but under the bedsheet.
You can heat your bed before getting in with a hot water bottle, but make sure you check the expiry date. A guide by NHS Scotland, external says to let the water from the kettle cool for a few minutes before filling, only fill it two-thirds full, squeeze air out of the top before putting the stopper on, and don't hold it directly against your skin. Using an electric blanket - to heat your bed before you get in or to wrap around yourself on the sofa - is "one of the cheapest ways" to stay warm, says Emily Seymour, energy editor at consumer organisation Which?.
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