How to Bolster your Bank Account in Winter

The winter is well and truly here, and it looks as though the cold weather isn’t going away any time soon. If you’re starting to worry about how you’re going to handle the higher demands on your bank account when it comes to things like entertainment and energy bills – don’t panic. While winter can be one of the more expensive seasons of the year, it’s also something you can handle with a little strategic planning. 

While you’re enjoying the festivities of the most wonderful time of the year, make sure that you’re also taking advantage of these money-saving tips. 

1. Spread Big Costs Out

Want to buy something super special this year, but don’t have the cash to handle it right now? A personal loan or lending option could be the ideal strategy. Even if you do have the money in your bank account, getting a good deal on a loan via someone like HappyPenguin.com could mean that you have cash handy if something goes wrong with your home or your budget during the winter. There’s nothing quite like having an emergency savings account ready with some extra cash when you’re looking for peace of mind. 

1. Banish the Cold

While presents and festive food can be a huge drain on your financial resources during winter, one of the biggest expenses you’ll need to face is likely your energy bills. You might not need to lock up your entire home, but if drafts are getting into your property and forcing you to turn the heating up, now’s the time to deal with them. Walk around your house looking for gaps in windows and around doors that could be letting the cold air in. Once you’ve found the drafts, it only takes a little caulk or weather-stripping to deal with them. 

1. Bake and Cook at Home More Often

You probably already know that cooking your own food at home is a great way to keep costs low any time of the year. You can save a fortune making your own meals with fresh ingredients, rather than relying on someone else to do the cooking for you. However, cooking at home during the winter months also delivers another benefit too – it warms your house. The heat from your stove will help to keep your home cosy – particularly if you’re constantly baking treats that you can share with the family. If you have some spare time, you could even consider selling the treats that you bake. 

1. Use More Fabrics

While minimalist interior design trends are common for many homeowners today, a sleek laminate floor and plenty of wood and metal isn’t going to keep you warm when the seasons turn colder. Consider filling your property with materials that will keep your home cosy instead, like thick curtains that help with your drafts, and rugs that you can use to keep your toes warm when you’re walking around the house. Don’t overlook the benefits of bringing a few blankets into your rooms too, so you and your loved one can snuggle up together at night. 

1. Focus only on the Rooms You’re Using

When it does get so cold that you know you need to turn the thermostat up, make sure that you focus on only heating the rooms that you’re in. You can turn heaters off in other rooms around the house, or segment your home so that you’re not heating the parts of your property that you’re not currently in. Make sure that you put a draft excluder under the door too, so you can make sure that the hot air doesn’t get out. Sometimes, even a small space heater will be all you need to take the chilly edge off a room when you’ve got plenty of layers and blankets to keep you warm too. 

1. Switch to Energy Efficient Appliances

Finally, spending money on some new energy efficient appliances might not sound like a good idea when you’re trying to save money. However, sometimes you can save more in the long-term by spending a little now. If you can’t afford to splash out on energy efficient items for your home, consider adding small appliances to your wish list for Christmas. You could even ask members of your family and friends to work together to buy you an item you really need – like a new clothes dryer, instead of buying you things separately. These energy-efficient devices will make a huge difference to your energy bill.