Most of us feel the pinch at this time of year, with the holiday season getting underway, but if you’re struggling to make ends meet then it’s time to take a take a look at your budget. Here are three ways you can help to keep costs down while still having a wonderful winter, Christmas and New Year’s celebration.
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Please note: this is a contributed post.
Keep Your Bills Down
Winter bills tend to be significantly higher than summer expenses. We tend to eat more food (particularly, indulgent comfort foods!) We’re more likely to have long hot baths instead of quick showers, and of course we’ve got the heating on to keep ourselves warm. It’s not to say you need to be cold and hungry, but it is worth keeping your bills in check.
Write a grocery list each week based on a meal plan, and shop using your list instead of making impulse purchases. Things like warming winter stews and other hearty home cooked meals can be a cheap way to eat at this time of year, without feeling restricted. Set your furnace on a timer, or you could invest in a smart home heating system to keep things in check.
If your fuel bills are always through the roof in winter it might even be worth making some home improvements. New windows and doors would prevent the heat escaping, not to mention loft and cavity wall insulation. You could switch to a cheaper system to heat your water – check out these tankless water heater reviews. These kinds of simple changes can all add up to big savings.
Don’t Overspend at Christmas
The festive holiday season tends to be the most expensive time of year for most of us. With food to buy, gifts, decoration and travel costs it’s never going to be cheap. But instead of going all out, try to work to a budget. Buy only what you need, and look at ways of cutting costs.
Could you bake your own treats instead of buying shop bought? Could you arrange Secret Santa at work instead of having to buy gifts for everyone? Could you host a potluck party instead of providing all the food yourself to keep your food spend down? It can be helpful to write lists, compare prices and set a budget for different areas to keep an eye on what you’re spending.
Enjoy Inexpensive Activities
When it’s warm outside, the world is your playground. You can enjoy strolls in the park, days out to the beach, lunch in the garden and walks around towns and cities nearby. You can do all of this, be out for the day and have a great time without having to spend much. However, when it’s cold, wet and miserable out your activities tend to be much more limited.
Planning some inexpensive or free things to do indoors can be a challenge, but it’s worth doing some research and coming up with ideas. You could visit galleries and museums, you could go on a steam train ride (Groupon often has these for cheap) or you could go and visit loved ones at their homes. While you’ll want to keep yourself and your family occupied over the next few months, you don’t want to break the bank on pricey tourist attractions every week!
Choose festive dinnerware for the holiday season. Corelle Classic Holiday Berries 16-Pc Dinnerware SetDo you have any tips or tricks you’d like to share on how you enjoy the holiday season while sticking to your budget? Leave a comment on this post or shoot me an email: info@thecreativecottage.net if you’d like to talk about possible guest blogging opportunities.
Take care,
Lynn Smythe
Founder and Chief Blogger
The Creative Cottage
Sloth Athletica
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