If this is your first northern winter, I can guarantee that you are in for a shock. I am sure the cold slowly creeping in is catching you off guard, and it is a major lifestyle change. In the south, people are still wearing shorts and tank tops, while those of us in the north are trading those warm clothes in for sweaters, jackets, and gloves. As someone who grew up in the north, but moved to the south for many years, I have come up with my best tips and products to keep you cozy and survive the cold winter ahead.
It’s time for some warm clothes. I strongly suggest doing your research on winter jackets and gloves. I recommend a ski jacket. If you have ever watched a ski match on television, you would have noticed that these skiers go downhill rapidly. As a result, the wind is pushing against them, and that wind can get extremely cold. Ski jackets are not super heavy or bulky, but they are guaranteed to keep you warm while you are outside. Amazon has a ton of ski jackets as well as other options like puffer jackets and down-filled parkas. With your jacket, you will want some gloves. You could get knit or insulated gloves. You can even find gloves where you don’t have to reveal your fingers to use your phone. These gloves were designed where the fingertips have extra grip that acts like your fingers are uncovered. While these gloves can be more expensive, they are 100% worth the investment.
Add in some hand and toe warmers. A few brands make air activated warmers that can be used for your hands and toes to add some extra warmth in these freezing winters. Just reveal the warmers to the air, shake for 15 seconds and stick in your shoes, jacket pockets, or gloves. Most hand and toe warmers will last a good 8 hours, but some will last you 10 or longer. If your warmers begin to cool down, release to them air again, and shake for another 15 seconds. For the most part, you should be just fine, but occasionally the additional heat reactivation is exactly what you need. You can purchase warmers in bulk on Amazon for about $20 each, and that is perfect for the college student budget.
Get a heated blanket. A heated blanket is so beneficial for more than one reason. Our muscles tend to restrict in the cold, so the heat from the heated blanket can help relax your muscles and release the tension of muscle tightness. A heated blanket will also help warm you up after hours out in the cold. Heated blankets are great for those freezing cold nights. A night of freezing temperatures with a heated blanket makes the world just that much better. It will even come in handy when those crazy winter winds knock out your electricity. Trust me. A family of four crowding around a tiny little space heater trying to stay warm in the dead of winter is not super convenient or enjoyable, so a heated blanket can be extremely beneficial. I got mine from Target, and it has six settings of heat. I use it all the time.
It is possible to stay warm and cozy in the colder months. You do not have to spend a ton of money to find some high-quality products to keep you warm. Not to mention, you can find coupons everywhere to bring down the cost of just about everything. I purchased my first couple of winter products like a jacket, gloves, and hand and toe warmers just this morning. I probably would have spent hundreds of dollars if I did not find coupons on Amazon for my jacket and gloves.