What to buy, when to buy it, and the small things that make January in Cincinnati much less miserable.
If you arrived in summer, the first Ohio winter is a shock. Here is what long-time members wish someone had told them.
Buy the coat before November. A proper insulated winter coat rated to around -10°C, waterproof boots with grip, gloves, a wool hat and thermal base layers. End-of-season sales in February are excellent, but you cannot wait that long in your first year.
Your car needs attention too. Check the antifreeze and battery in October, keep an ice scraper inside the car rather than in the trunk, and keep the fuel tank above a quarter in case of a long delay. All-season tyres are fine for most of Cincinnati.
Vitamin D and light. It gets dark before 5:30 PM in December. Many members take vitamin D through the winter and it makes a real difference to mood.
Watch for snow days. School districts announce closures by text and on local news. Sign up for your district's alerts as soon as your children enrol.
Ask in the community group before you buy anything big — there is almost always someone with a spare heater, a snow shovel, or a hand-me-down coat in the right size.