'Un poco frío' or 'Un poco de frío'

Question

I was trying to figure out the correct way to say:

'I feel a little cold' or 'I'm a little cold' or 'I'm a little bit cold'.

would I say:
'Tengo un poco frío' or
'Tengo un poco de frío'

I was thinking 'Tengo un poco de frío' is more like saying:
'I'm a little bit cold'

Is this a correct way to think about it?

or is it better to always use, 'un poco de' in this context?

Sorry, I get so hung up on details.

Answer

Hola Matthew
To say you are a bit cold in Spanish the only correct way is:
Tengo un poco de frío. 
It is a bit difficult to see why because we use different verbs in Spanish and English ( Tengo ... vs I am...)  When you say a bit of something (using a noun)  in general you need "de", but if what to say "a bit something" with an adjective, you don't need "de".  
See two contrasting examples:

Tengo un poco de frío. 
I am a bit cold (Literally I have a bit of cold) -here cold (frío) is a noun, not an adjective.
Esta bebida está un poco fría. 
This drink is a bit cold. - here cold is an adjective.

I hope it clarifies it.
Saludos