After a mild start, it's suddenly turned into a cold winter in my part of the country.
Judging on the way the nationwide weather reports have looked, there's a good chance that you may be experiencing some frigid weather too.
We're still fighting our way through a tough economy.
To make matters more difficult, oil prices have climbed back to roughly twice the price they were this time last year.
This makes it hard to afford the cost of a full heating bill, and many individuals are left to look for a more cost effective solution.
While we don't want to be cold by any means, it's hard to keep up with the energy costs that seem to dominate our bank accounts.
A more affordable and reasonable solution may be the addition of a heated blanket to your bedroom.
By using an electric warming blanket, you'll experience the warmth of a bed with the ability to keep your heating costs down at night.
By simply plugging it into an electrical outlet, you'll have everything you need in order to keep cozy while you sleep.
There are a few safety precautions you'll want to follow, and you'll be well on your way from there.
First of all, I would recommend getting one with a built-in timer that turns off after you wake up, since my biggest worry is always leaving it on when I leave for work in the morning.
Aside from the obvious extra electric costs, the bigger risk is that something in your room could always catch fire.
Speaking of which, it's always safest to keep your bed free and clear of any objects on the surface when you sleep at night.
This way, you don't have to worry about the remote chance of something burning.
When all is said and done, electric blankets have come a very long way and they're by and large considered very safe for use.
If you're looking for a quick solution for staying warm while you sleep, one of these may very well be your answer.