Diana in NYC's Profile

I was raised in an ancient house with a working fireplace, a wood pile, and an ancient boiler from the 1920's that we used only for heating water. The solution is to 1) heat yourself, 2) heat your bed, and 3) cover your floors with carpets and your windows with curtains, the thicker the better. The Victorians lived the way they did for a reason, OK?

We always had a lot of stuff from L.L.Bean (and if you can't afford these, copy their techniques with DIY stuff from flea markets or used clothes). Flannel sheets, flannel nightclothes, electric blanket, electric towell heater in the bathroom, down or sheepskin slippers, long underwear.

I still like my home really cold, except that now I wear my mountaineering gear inside. If you have the money, Icebreaker and REI make wonderfully comfortable clothes that are great for lounging around in a sub-freezing environment. I realize this is expensive, but it's a much more lasting investment than heating oil.

Tessaj is right: the future is in passive housing. But until then, it helps to dress as if you are camping on a mountaintop.

use a potato. Seriously. Take an appropriately size Idaho potato and screw it into the broken socket until it catches and then unscrew the "potato" bulb. It works and as a bonus you get a Dada-ist potato lightbulb.