Had this annoying drafty window that was driving me nuts, and I was dreading the cost of replacing it. Anyway, watched a couple DIY vids, grabbed some cheap weather stripping and caulk from the hardware store, and spent an afternoon sealing things up. Honestly, it worked way better than I expected—no more drafts and way quieter too. Anyone else had luck with cheap window fixes like this?
I was pretty skeptical about cheap fixes myself, but a couple winters ago I had this one window in my guest room that was basically an open invitation for cold air. Like you, I dreaded the idea of shelling out hundreds for a replacement. Figured I'd try the shrink-wrap plastic film kits first—honestly didn't expect much.
Anyway, here's what I did: cleaned the window frame really well first (this step matters more than you'd think), applied the double-sided tape carefully around the edges, then stretched and stuck the plastic film over it. Used a hairdryer to tighten it up, and surprisingly...it worked. Not only did the drafts disappear, but the room felt noticeably warmer overall.
Now, I'm not saying it's perfect—it's not exactly attractive up close—but if you're looking to save cash and just get through winter comfortably, it's definitely worth trying before dropping big bucks on new windows.