One of the things I hate about this time of year is that my feet start getting cold when I'm in bed. And there's a draft coming in where the door doesn't quite fit in the living room. And it's gray all day.

Of course if you live in Florida you may shrug your shoulders and say "Winter? What winter?" But for a lot of us who don't live in such sunny climates, Jon Snow in Game of Thrones got it absolutely right - Winter is Here!

So it's time to get snug. I've invested a lot of time in being cozy, so here are some top tips.

1.      Get proper draft excluders fitted on your doors and windows. Go round the house on a cold day with your arms bare and you'll really feel where the cold air is coming in! While most people only fit them on external doors, if you have an unheated area like a utility room or garage, make sure to fit them on the internal doors too.

2.      Big bright thick woolly blankets will add fun as well as warmth to your interior. They look good as throws, and you can snuggle into them if you're watching TV in the evening and want to get properly comfortable.

3.      Dressing up warm starts at the under layers - get warm leggings, wear tights under your jeans for extra warmth, put a warm tee shirt under your shirt, and make sure you've got woolly socks on. Some people swear by silk thermal underwear for luxury as well as warmth.

4.      You lose an awful lot of heat through the top of your head, so make sure you have a good warm hat when you go out. Up to you whether you want something more formal, or a beanie hat. Get a matching scarf if you want to look super cool but feel nice and warm!

5.      The final touch in your winter wardrobe is a good loose coat. Loose, because that means you can put two sweaters or even three underneath it if you want to. Make sure it's in a woolly fabric that will keep you insulated.

6.      Have you ever slid into bed and found yourself shivering because the sheets are cold? You need an electric blanket! The best ones even solve the problem of different people preferring different temperatures, because each side has a separate setting.

7.      Lack of sunshine can make you feel low. For some people it can even tip them into clinical depression, for others it just means they find getting up in the morning really, really difficult. A daylight lamp in your bedroom or home office can make a huge difference to your life. You might also swap out some of your LEDs for 'daylight' bulbs - though you'll probably want that traditional warm yellowy glow in the evening, so don't go overboard.

8.      The evenings get very long this time of year, so keep yourself occupied by taking up knitting. This is just the right time of year to start knitting a big scarf or a cuddly sweater. And gentlemen, if it's good enough for Russell Crowe, it's good enough for you!

But before you head out to the mall - and it's cold out there - remember you can do your shopping on the internet without leaving your home. And look on Vipon to see if there are any good deals to give you a nice warm feeling.