Plastic window insulation
Drafty windows can be a problem in older homes especially when they are old single pane windows. Basement windows can be the worst in the winter time too. Windows are some of the most easiest areas for heat to escape the home and let cold air enter. I have very drafty old basement windows and in the winter its like walking into a deep freezer down there. I’ve looked around and the most inexpensive thing to do to fix this problem that I’ve found is also the simplest. I found that you can fix these windows with a cheap kit you can find at your local hardware store. These kits are pretty much just some oversized cellophane wrap and double sided tape. All you need to do is apply the double sided tape around the window and stick the cellophane to it. After its on there pretty good you just heat it up with a hair dryer and it shrinks the cellophane and makes it tight and wrinkle free. This will eliminate the drafts and still allow you to look out your window. A great idea that’s cost effective and works great. Just don’t get to crazy with the hair dryer or you may melt through the cellophane because it’s pretty thin. Gotta love cheap and easy!
There are 2 other cheap things you can do for those drafty old windows. The first is to get some Temporary Caulking which just peels off after the winter and keeps the cold air out. Just becareful as it might take older paint with it.
The second is similar to the clear cellophane, but you can get a kit to go on the outside with much thicker plastic. The only issue with that is it is not clear so it may not be great for windows you like to look out of.