AS winter approaches, it's time to prepare our homes to ensure they're warm enough.
This includes tracking down and sealing draughts.
"The classic door snake can be a cheap and effective way to seal draughts in your home and keep the heat in," says Choice's consumer advocate Jonathan Brown.
"If you have some time on your hands, you can make it a fun craft project for the family."
Luckily, Choice's managing editor Marg Rafferty has a few guides.
For a quick, no-sew version, just cut the leg of an old pair of stockings and filled with three or four plastic bags (the type you get from the supermarket to carry fruit and vegetables) with sand. Fasten each end with a knot and viola - it's ready to go by the door.
To sew a slightly more sophisticated snake, you'll need a piece of fabric with a tight weave, an outer piece of fabric to make it more sturdy and prevent the sand from leaking, such as Hessian, and builders sand to fill - though you can also use rice.
Cut the fabric the length of your door, adding a few centimetres on both short and long sides to allow for your seam. Aim for about 25cm width, which, when folded in half and sewn, should be long enough to cover the gap under most doors.
Cut the inner lining slightly smaller, and then begin to fold the lining in half and sewing the long side and one short end. Fill then seal the remaining short end.
Sew your outer piece the same way, insert the filled inner tube and seal the remaining short end.
The project will take roughly an hour. Adding googly eyes and a forked tongue is optional!
Of course, you don't need to stop there. You can even crochet a snake!
If you're not in a crafty mood, there are other products you can use to seal gaps in your home, including weather seal tape or draught strips.
Make use of curtains and rugs
"Up to 40% of heating energy can be lost through your windows, so close those curtains," said Mr Brown.
Rugs can also be an effective way to retain some of the heat in your home, particularly if you have hard floors.
Be smart with your heaters and fans
"Your fan can be one of the most helpful tools to keep you warm in winter. Most modern ceiling fans have a reverse switch that can be used to push heat back down towards the floor," said Mr Brown.
"If you have a portable heater, you can use your portable fan from summer to help circulate the heat around the room."
Be aware of how heat moves around your home
This one is simple but effective. While it can be very tempting to move a chair right in front of the heater so you can feel extra toasty, this will actually restrict the flow of hot air around your home. To get the most out of your heat source, make sure nothing is blocking the flow.
"It's also important to close doors to rooms you're not using while the heating is on. Only heating the rooms you're actually in will reduce your bill."