How to prepare for a frugal winter

Shoestring Jane suggests practical tips on how to prepare for a frugal winter

We have gone from summer to autumn in the blink of an eye. Shorter nights and cooler temperatures herald the dark months of winter and the extra costs involved in the season. If you are a money-saver, it’s time to prepare for a frugal winter.

Here are some ideas to help you stay warm, healthy and stick to your budget over the winter months.

Keep warm

There are many small actions you can take to insulate your home without a large outlay.

A good starting point is to block draughts around doors with inexpensive draught excluder tape. You can even roll up an old towel or blanket to stop cold air from coming under the door.

If you have single-glazed windows, add a layer of insulation with bubble wrap. Just cut to fit, spray the glass with water and press into place. Thick curtains will also help. Invest in thermal linings and ensure you close curtains as soon as it gets dark.

Keep a pile of throws and blankets around to cosy up with. A heated throw is a super effective way to keep you warm without needing to turn the heating on.

Maintain your boiler to keep it working efficiently. Now is the perfect time to book a boiler service.

The Government announced recently that the Winter Fuel Payment previously received by all pensioners will only be paid to those on certain benefits. Make sure you are getting all the financial help you are due. You can find advice on the AgeUK website, here. 

Build a healthy food store

It’s a good idea to have a good store of non-perishable food at any time of the year, but even more so in the winter.

Having meals that can be put together quickly is a life-saver when you are ill or when weather conditions keep you at home. 

Get into the habit of adding two or three extra items every time you go grocery shopping. There are some ideas on useful foods to keep in your stores in this post. 

Only buy what you like and know you will use, and make sure you keep an eye on use-by dates on items like oats and flour.

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Batch cook

Batch cooking is another useful habit to help prepare for a frugal winter. Not only does it save time, but money too. Batch cook things like soups, casseroles and sauces, then freeze them into portions to defrost as you need them.

You will save energy preparing meals, you will be less tempted to buy convenience food and takeaways and you can purchase the ingredients in bulk for even more savings.

Get ready for winter illness

The approach of winter means it’s a good time to stock up on cold and flu supplies.

However, they can be expensive! If you go for supermarket or chemist generic items rather than branded products you will save a lot of money. For example, in Asda 16 Lemsip cold and flu capsules will set you back around £6, whilst the generic version costs just £1.45. 

Washable handkerchiefs are more sustainable and cheaper in the long term than multiple boxes of tissues.

If you are vulnerable, consider getting a free flu vaccination.

Other preparations for bad weather

Make sure your outdoor pipes are well-insulated to prevent them from freezing and cracking, causing expensive plumbing bills.

Keep a stash of torches and batteries at hand in case of power cuts. 

If you have a wood burner or open fire, bulk buy logs to get the best deal. In addition, keep an eye on other people’s skips, which are frequently full of wood offcuts. Be sure to ask permission before removing anything, however.

Have Christmas on a budget

Of course, the main winter festival in the UK is Christmas, which can strain household finances.

Ideally, you will have put money aside for celebrations throughout the year, and maybe even have purchased the bulk of your Christmas cards, gifts and wrap in the January sales! However, if you didn’t plan that far ahead, all is not lost.

Make a budget

Write a budget with your likely expenses: gifts, food, travel, parties, etc. Be realistic.

Look at what you can afford and whether you need to cut back. Don’t get into unnecessary debt. If you need to, let friends and family know that you are on a budget and won’t be exchanging gifts this year, or have decided only to do presents for children. 

Alternatively, suggest a family secret Santa, so you only need to buy one present. This has worked brilliantly with my large family, although we still buy individual gifts for the children. 

Have a wardrobe declutter to see what you already own, rather than buying new Christmas outfits. If you need a Christmas jumper, charity shops are always full of them at this time of year. You can also find secondhand Christmas decorations. 

Share the cost

If you plan to host the Christmas meal or buffet, your guests will usually be happy to contribute. Ask someone to bring a starter or some cheese, someone to provide some drinks, or everyone to bring a dish for the buffet.

In my experience, people enjoy being involved and understand the need to share the financial burden.

When you are buying food for Christmas, remember that it is only a couple of days! Only get what you know you will use to avoid wasting food and your cash.

The four-gift rule

Try the four-gift rule with your children: something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. 

I didn’t stick strictly to this when my daughters were small, but I didn’t over-indulge them. I needed to stay within my small budget and I am not a fan of buying endless stuff! 

Instead of buying several expensive gifts, I gave them a main present, usually something they had requested, along with several small, inexpensive treats for their stockings, some clothing and, yes, a book or two. 

Just remember, Christmas is supposed to be enjoyable, which it won’t be if you worry about the expense the whole time.

Do you prepare for a frugal winter? What are your top tips?

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