The weather has been slowly dropping here in the New England region, as temperatures have consistently been between 30 degrees to 50 degrees. Winter is here, and if the snow we got earlier the week is any indication, we will be having many more months of freezing temperatures. Whether you live in frozen tundra or a more mild climate,  it is important to bundle up and stay warm this winter.

Bundling up and staying warm doesn’t have to be hard. The first thing I recommend is buying a coat in a size or two bigger. Doing this will allow you to wear many layers and bundle up. If the coat you are purchasing is known to run roomy enough to layer up, then you can order the coat in your size but if it’s a coat is said to be fitted or tight, I would suggest going a size up.

After you purchase a coat that’s either roomy or in a size or two bigger than your normal size, the best way to stay warm this winter is to layer up. Layering up can be tackled many different ways. One of the most popular ways to bundle up and stay warm this winter is to wear a sweater and then a jacket on top of it for extra warmth. Another way is to wear a camisole underneath a button-up shirt and finish the look with a cardigan on top. A thick cardigan is recommended so that you have an extra layer of fabric to keep you warm. Afterwards, you can put on your winter coat for extra coziness.

For those who want to keep their hands warm, it’s recommended to purchase hot hands hand warmers . These are packets that you either put in your gloves or your coat pockets. For those of you who do not wish to wear gloves, you can leave these packets in your pockets and then put your hands in them. You can also leave these packets in your gloves so that you don’t have to continuously put your hands in your pockets. These hand warmers are meant to keep your hands warm for a few hours and are great for cold days.

There’s also a foot warmers option. You can keep your feet warm with the hot hands insole foot warmers. These foot warmers are essentially the same as the hot hands hand warmers. You put these small packets into your shoes or socks and they will keep your feet warm for a few hours. You can use this option as a way to avoid frostbite.

Another way to stay warm this winter is by layering your feet with socks. You can either wear thick thermal socks or you can layer up with thin socks. This is a great option for those who are unable to purchase the insole foot warmers and want to avoid frostbite. But for those who do not want to layer up with socks, you can keep your feet warm by wearing thick rain boots, combat boots or winter boots.

Accessories play a huge role in keeping you warm this winter. I think it’s best to wear a coat with a hood on it to keep your ears warm, but in case your coat does not have a hood earmuffs are a great option. You can purchase ear muffs at any retail store, and they are as affordable as $3.50. These ear muffs will help to prevent your ears from getting cold or frozen. You can also bundle up and stay warm by wearing a scarf around your neck. It’s recommended to wear a infinity scarf because you do not have to worry about re-tying your scarf every time you take it off. But if you do not like infinity scarves, you should wear a thick scarf. Thick scarves are typically more expensive than the thinner ones, but investing in a thicker one is sure to keep you warm this winter.

One last way to stay warm this winter is to double up on clothing. Of course, this will depend if your clothing is stretchy and if you have room. From personal experience, when it is 20 degrees and below, I typically like to wear leggings underneath my jeans and pants for an extra layer of warmth. If your pants/jeans have room for that, this is a great option for you to bundle up.  I typically wear a thermal shirt underneath my sweaters and cardigans.

With the weather dropping constantly, warm gear does not not need to be expensive. Use these tips to take control of winter this season and and stay cozy in anyway possible.