With winter fast approaching, you’re probably going to be worried about money and how you can make it go further this year.
Financial emergencies can happen at any time, and they don’t let up just because it’s the holiday season. Some people like to use third party finance to see them through like a payday loan or a credit card. But if you want to increase the amount of money you have without getting into debt, keep reading and find out how you can boost your finances this winter.
Be Smart With Your Heating
While this one won’t give you an instant cash back reward, being better with your heating will increase your finances for the long term. Even turning it down by 1 degree can make a huge difference to your bills. You can have your heating on but try not to have it on all day every day. You can keep your home warm effectively without whacking it onto the highest temperature too. Only use it when you need it and make use of things like blankets and jumpers. These will keep your naturally warm and help you save a lot of money on your energy bill. So, make sure that you keep an eye on your thermostat this winter, and you’ll soon see the payoff.
Start A Holiday Side Hustle
The holiday season is the perfect time of year to start your own side hustle selling items and goods. This is because everyone is looking for that one perfect gift for their loved ones or perhaps, they need a few more stocking fillers. So, why not use this knowledge to your advantage and start selling holiday gifts? For example, if you’re great at baking, you could sell Christmas cookies or maybe you’re artistic and could start making holiday cards to sell. Think about how much money you normally spend at this time of year on gifts and imagine if other people started paying you that much for your side hustle. You’ll easily be able to make money this way, and you’ll have more than enough money to last you through the winter and beyond. There is also a lot of maintenance needed at this time of year so you could buy a cordless chainsaw and offer to do yardwork so people can have their homes looking in good shape ready for Christmas.
Ignore Holiday Marketing and Make Your Own Food
During the winter, it can be tempting to buy all of the holiday themed foods, but they’re actually costing you quite a pretty penny. In fact, a lot of these items are just the regular ones repackaged for the holiday season. So, try to avoid buying them when you can and only get your regular shopping. It’s also smart to make your own food, and a lot of winter dishes can last you multiple meals. Foods like soups, stews, and even casseroles can be saved for a later date, and they use seasonal vegetables which are always going to be cheaper. Instead of spending money on lots of different foods, try creating a meal plan that makes use of cheaper ingredients and makes bigger batches of food. You’ll easily see just how much extra money you’ll have buy making such a simple change.
Cut Down On Your Expenses
Another top tip for increasing your finances is to cut down on your expenses. While it may seem like obvious solution, not all people think to actually do it or assume they can’t. However, there are always changes that can be made, no matter how small. Streaming services are something that most people have but paying for multiple can soon add up. You don’t have to cancel them all but getting rid of ones you don’t really use can be a good start. It may not seem like much at the time, but you can easily save enough money to put towards more important things like your bills or food shopping. You should also look to see if you can get rid of any of your debt sooner rather than later, as this will instantly boost your income. Cutting down your expenses might not seem like it’s all that easy, but once you break them down into disposable ones, you’ll soon see just how much money you could save.
Start Reselling
When it comes to winter, a lot of people find that their home is completely overrun with gifts that they just don’t have the room for. So, instead of learning to deal with a cramped house, why not sell your old possessions to make way for the new. You’ll not only give your house some more breathing room, but you’ll also be able to make a decent amount of money just in time for the holidays. As the saying goes, what’s one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. So, don’t be scared to start listing your items online and you’ll soon see the money come pouring in!
Keep Saving
Just because it’s the holiday season and you’re going to be thinking about spending money, doesn’t mean you should stop saving. In fact, you should still be saving just as much and only spend what you would normally have on gifts and such. You also don’t want to use your savings for gifts or parties, as you’ll find it hard to resist splurging and losing it all on just a few days of celebration. While it’s tempting to make it an unforgettable winter, it will most likely be something you regret once you head into the new year and see how much money you’ve lost. So, make sure you keep on saving up your money just as you normally would, and you’ll keep seeing a stead increase of cash throughout the winter.
Winter can be a fun time where you get to spend time with your family and have a little break from working, but it can also be stressful when it comes to money. However, there are ways that you can give your income a boost without having to change jobs, and they can actually be very easy to do. Simple things like selling your unwanted possessions and being smarter with your food shop can really make a difference to the amount of cash you have to see you through. So, why not get creative and utilize these money making tips? You’ll soon see just how much you can increase your income by this winter!
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