Homesteader shares low-cost winter prep inspired by 'Little House on the Prairie'

Winterizing a home can easily turn into a costly to-do list. A YouTube video from a homesteader instead focuses on cheaper ways to prepare for cold weather, drawing on "the timeless, cozy traditions of Little House on the Prairie."

Here's what to know

In the video, Homestead Tessie (@HomesteadTessie) walks through how she's getting her home ready for winter. The video covers practical cold-weather prep, including simple insulation ideas and comfort-focused household changes, and it lists prices so viewers can see what those choices cost.

While the "Little House on the Prairie" framing gives the video a nostalgic feel, the routine itself centers on practical habits that can still work in a modern home.

More background

A lot of winter-prep advice jumps straight to bigger projects, such as replacing windows, upgrading insulation, or installing new heating equipment. Those improvements can be effective, but they are not realistic for everyone, especially renters or homeowners trying to keep seasonal spending under control.

Smaller changes can still make a difference. Reducing drafts, layering textiles, and keeping the most-used parts of a home warm can improve comfort while limiting wasted energy. Even modest heating savings can add up over a long winter.

The focus here is less on off-grid living itself and more on creating a lower-cost, lower-waste setup in everyday life.

What can be done?

Checking doors and windows for drafts, adding heavier curtains, using rugs in colder rooms, and focusing heat retention in the spaces used most often can all be approachable first steps.

For renters in particular, removable draft stoppers, layered bedding, and other nonpermanent changes may be more practical than structural fixes.

Setting a simple winter-prep budget before buying anything can also help. In many cases, a short list of targeted, affordable changes is the more realistic route.

For anyone relying on fireplaces, wood stoves, or space heaters, safety remains essential. Comfort upgrades work best when paired with proper ventilation, safe clearances, and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

As Tessie wrote in the video's description, the goal is to "prepare our home for a long, cold winter." 

Where can I learn more?

As Tessie's winter-prep approach showed, staying warm through winter doesn't always require a big renovation budget. 

• One off-grid homeowner said living the dream still means planning carefully for winter.

• In Montana, a Swedish-inspired home combines no utility bills with winter comfort.

• A Rocky Mountain family showed how 1,000 watts of solar supports off-grid life.

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