One of my favorite scenes from "A Christmas Story" is when Ralphie's younger brother is wearing too many clothes and whines that he can't put his arms down. This is basically my life starting in November because, despite being from the North, the cold is not my thing.

Many people become less diligent with their eco-friendly habits during the extreme weather months. We crank up the air conditioning in July and turn our homes into saunas during the winter. On average, homeowners pay 20 percent more to heat their homes in winter, according to the Energy Information Administration.

But there are ways to stay warm this winter that don't involve zombie-arm inducing outerwear and overheating your home.

First, you need to winterize your home. Make sure the weather stripping around doors and windows is adequate because this can let cold air in and warm air escape. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates about 80 million American homes are inadequately insulated, but proper insulation can save up to 20 percent on energy bills.

Another way to help insulate the heat in your home is to close your curtains or blinds at night, according to PledgingforChange.com. During the day, you can let the warmth from the sun in through the windows.

This next tip won't keep you warm, but it will still help you save energy during the winter months. The fewer hours of sunlight and more time spent indoors during the winter means more energy is being used. So, replace your old bulbs with fluorescent ones. They will last longer and are more energy efficient.

While the sun can be helpful, the heater is still needed sometimes. You can have your thermostat up to 68 degrees while you're home, but turn it down to 60 at night or when you're out. PledgingforChange.com also says that by simply turning your thermostat down by one degree, that you can save 6 percent on your heating bill.

Close off the rooms used the least to contain your heat to the rooms that need it the most.

Lastly, TheOrganicBlonde.com suggests installing ceiling fans. This may seem strange, but ceiling fans help to circulate the warm air trapped near the ceiling. In the winter, your fan should turn in a clockwise motion, which will push the air up and pull the warmth down.

These tips combined with some cozy winter clothes are the perfect way to stay warm and eco-friendly this winter.