The winter months can be expensive. Beyond holiday shopping, they often encompass travel, big meals, unexpected splurges, and large energy bills. Here are some ways to lower those costs as the temperature drops.
Save on home heating
Make simple, inexpensive adjustments in your home to cut energy usage and costs. Invest in a programmable thermostat, for example.
Did you know that lowering your thermostat at night (by just 10 to 15 degrees) can save as much as 10 percent on your heating costs? Set it and forget it!
Other smart moves: Make the switch to energy-efficient appliances, improve your home's insulation, and keep your furnace in good working condition.
Brown-bag it
When the temperatures drop, our appetites spin out of control. Think: comfort food. We're also more inclined to buy lunch instead of bring it, and that gets expensive.
In fact, a new Visa survey shows that American consumers spend $53 per week, on average, on eating lunch out. That's nearly $3,000 a year.
Time your ticket purchases
Looking to escape to someplace warm or splurge on a ski trip? We all want to get away this time of year, and while it's tempting to book leisure travel as you head into the weekend, don't do it.
Why not? Average prices for airline tickets bought on Friday (the most expensive day to book) are 13 percent higher than on Sunday (the cheapest day to book).
The cheapest of the weekdays? Tuesday.
Skip the gym membership
Four percent of new gym-goers don't make it through January; 14 percent drop out in February. Be honest with yourself: If you're not going to go to the gym this year, don't make the financial commitment.
There are free ways to get in shape (such as body-weight training), and fun, inexpensive options, too. Try popular online streaming video workouts like DailyBurn or Crunch Live - trials are free.
Alternatively, if you're not wedded to a particular workout or program, get a monthly membership pass on ClassPass. For $125 per month (with no contract), you get access to thousands of classes at some of the best fitness boutiques in any number of cities, from New York to Atlanta to Chicago to Los Angeles.
Drive walkable distances
Gas prices may be down to the lowest level in years - the national average is currently under $2 per gallon - but getting in the car to drive just a few blocks here and there is a classic money waster. Why not put on a heavy coat and walk?
Watch your impulse spending
We may not want to head out to the mall this time of year, but we do want to shop - in our jammies, in our homes, and often when we have the winter blues.
Unintended purchases make up more than half of retail shopping and generate around $4 billion in sales annually. Many of them are made during the winter months, particularly on those sites where our credit card information is stored. It's just too easy.
Don’t let yourself fall into the trap. You’ll regret those bills come springtime.
Related:
- The Best Saving Strategies for Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials
- Starting the New Year on Firm Financial Footing
- Should You Try a Peer-to-Peer Loan?
via Zillow Porchlight | Real Estate News, Advice and Inspiration http://ift.tt/1Ny8Dqo
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