Saving Money in Winter

Winter often means layers of clothing, hot water bottles, and taking advantage of the sun as a natural source of heat. Here are a few money-saving tips on how you can stay warm in winter without damaging your budget.

1. Invite Mr. Sun into your house

This first tip is pretty much a basic concept but it can save you a lot of money when the colder season kicks in. Instead of switching on the reverse-cycle of your air conditioning, open your curtains during the day, specifically those that are in your north-facing windows. This will bring the heat inside your house and give you more warmth. When the sun sets, close the curtains to trap the heat inside.

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2. Reduce your heating system

In the middle of winter, this might seem a little odd, but, as much as possible, you don’t want to spend all your monthly budget on excess heating. Reducing the heat is a more affordable and less demanding approach compared to completely shutting it off. Basically, you have to turn it off when there’s no one in your home. But when you’re back, reduce your heating system down to a few degrees, especially during the night.

3. Invest in rugs, literally

If your house has tiles or timber floors, hit the mall and find some chic rugs that you can lay down for extra insulation. Despite having carpeted flooring, you still need a rug to provide warmth to the rooms in your house. Invest in rugs with greater stitch count and select wool rugs that are denser and more heavy-duty.

4. Take advantage of your ceiling fan

Some might not know this but you can use your ceiling fan to provide heat inside your house. Typically, ceiling fans are utilized during the summer season to give cool and fresh air. But this summer essential can also be used to warm up your house. It has a switch that activates the blade to spin in a clockwise direction, pushing hot air at the top of your house downwards to the ground.

5. Eliminate comfort food from your grocery list

Though winter is for eating delicious, comfort food, you might want to pass on it this time. Don’t purchase freshly baked brownies and other products that are influenced by your impulsive way of shopping. Create a budget for how much you just need to spend each week, write down all the things that you need, and stick to it. You can also cut down on grocery expenses during the winter season by preparing bulk meals and refrigerating the leftovers. Defrosting home-cooked meals is more economical compared to ordering food for takeout. Plus, you’ll be much healthier, as well as your budget.

6. Layers, layers, layers

Rather than blasting your heater and chilling on your couch in a t-shirt and shorts, why don’t you try the art of layering? Layering your clothes and blankets is a great way to provide insulation to your body. Turn off your heater, get some blankets, prepare a soup or tea, and enjoy the comfiest and warmest time of your life – at least during the winter.

7. Indoor movie nights

Movies are timeless winter activity but they can get a little expensive too. Instead of exposing yourself to the extreme freezing weather outside while trying to get to the cinema, gather everyone in the living room and have an indoor movie night instead. This one won’t cost you anything. You just need to prepare some blankets, great movie selection, and of course, popcorns! And you are all set.

8. Cut down expenses on petrol

Petrol is costly and that doesn’t require a lot of summation to figure out. During winter, your car consumes a lot of it since you need to switch on the heater while you are driving – you need warmth too, totally understandable. Knowing this, make an effort to cut down your expenses on petrol. You can do this by riding public transportation instead of using your personal or family car. Other than this, try to carpool with your friends on your way to work and home, then divide the petrol expenses.

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9. Maintain cleanliness in your vents

To stop dirt and dust from accumulating in your vents and radiators, make it a habit to regularly vacuum and clean them. Dust can prevent the heat from efficiently moving into your rooms and it can trigger your heater to operate harder than it normally does, which means additional electricity expenses for you.

These are all the top money-saving tips that you can religiously practice this winter.