Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Winter is usually a difficult season for saving. During the colder months, people pay more for heating, and the holidays can also strain their wallets.
But don’t worry; there are some good (and rather unorthodox) strategies when it comes to saving on expenses without having to sacrifice too much comfort.
These ideas can help you keep your home toasty and your wallet a bit less drained: from using electricity in an innovative way, to taking advantage of deals found in your region.
Some might even surprise you!
Without further ado, here are five distinctive methods to ensure that your wallet stays in good spirits throughout the winter season in the UK.
A lot of electricity is used during winter, especially in the evenings when people are at home, so why not charge your cell phone and other devices during your visit to friends or relatives?
It is one of those ways of reducing expenses, though it doesn’t take a lot of energy to achieve.
In this case, what counts is to be polite and not overdo it. Do not arrive with a bag of gadgets ready for charging or overstay your visit.
Rather, charge a phone or a laptop when visiting your loved ones and spend some precious time with each other while you’re at it.
Every penny counts, people; when money is scarce, every little saving can make a big difference!
To some people, joining a gym may seem like an additional expenditure, but there is more to what some gyms present than just equipment.
Many have heated swimming pools, hydrotherapy spas, warm relaxation lounges, and saunas.
It will definitely save you cash if you use these facilities regularly rather than when you turn on the heater at home.
Consider finding gyms that are offering winter-time promotions or the ability to sign up for just a week or two at a time.
Also, it is beneficial to keep the body active and spirits up during winter as you are saving money at the same time.
If you’re over 60, Asda cafes offer a fantastic deal known as the Winter Warmer: A bowl of warm soup, a roll, and as much tea or coffee as you desire for £1.
This is a great method to keep warm and have scrumptious food at the same time without going bankrupt.
Time spent in the café can also reduce the amount of money it takes to heat your home during the day.
If you still don’t fall under those categories, then check out other stores in your locality or centers around you for the same deal.
Why not rent out your unused driveway?
People also search for nearby parking zones at workplaces, train stations, or any central commercial zone.
You can earn additional income that can cater to other needs during winter if you let your space be used regularly.
To best exploit this, it’s advisable to use a VPN when handling transactions or communicating with renters through the Internet.
Listing your driveway, setting a price, and finding a renter is easy, and you can do all this through websites and apps.
It is a straightforward way to earn money that requires little effort or time when you are out during the day or have free time.
If you have a garden or even a small yard, it might be useful to start growing fruiting trees.
They may not cut down your expenses in the first few months, but in one or two years, you will have your own tree-bearing fruits.
The fruits like apples, pears, and plums can be grown in many regions of the United Kingdom and are easy to manage.
For a long time, this small investment would go a long way in the grocery bills that you would have to meet.
There are a few great money-saving tips that can help a household cut down on their expenses during the winter without having to do the most.
This is where you can save some money that you probably had not thought of before, with some good thinking.
From borrowing an electrical outlet to charge your devices at your friend’s home and using Asda’s soup offer, all the tips are very valuable.
Letting out your driveway or parking space and/or growing an orchard to grow fruit trees have long-term returns, whereas signing up for a gym might feel like a home away from home.
Even though all these ideas are very minor, overall, small changes matter, so why not give one or two a shot?
If you put in a little effort, you will keep warm all winter while saving your hard-earned cash.
Every little bit helps!
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.