Warm Hands, Warm Heart, and a $2 DIY Rice Pack

Just plain rice, a scrap of cotton, and five minutes. It’s warmth you can make yourself for about $2.

Skip instant rice; it breaks down too quickly. You want the bag about three-quarters full so it bends and molds comfortably. CreatoraLab/Shutterstock

There’s a certain chill that no amount of layers can fix, the kind that creeps up your sleeves, numbs your fingers, and makes you wonder if your blood type is iced tea. That’s when I reach for one of my favorite frugal comforts: a humble, homemade rice pack.

No cords, no batteries, no plug-in heating pad with a mind of its own. Just plain rice, a scrap of cotton, and five minutes. It’s warmth you can make yourself for about $2.

How to Make It

Cut a piece of 100 percent cotton fabric about 6 by 10 inches. (An old pillowcase, flannel shirt, or dish towel works perfectly.) Fold it in half with the right sides together, then sew two long edges. Leave one end open. That’s your filling hole.