Cosy up on cash: Winter options to boost your bank balance

Restaurant meals, a cheeky glass of red, that online shopping habit…those expenses add up. And when it’s chilly outside, it’s easy to cling to cash-draining habits for their perceived warmth. But with a few simple change-outs, you could boost your bank balance – and have fun doing it!

That’s right: cutting back on expenses during winter doesn’t have to mean forgoing a social life. Getting your friends involved is a brilliant way to elevate the experience into a months-long fun fest. And you’ll be astonished at how much money you could save – money you could funnel into your emergency fund or save for that decadent vacation.

Here are our five top tips to help you cosy up with cash over the colder months. Ready to rug up and save?

The thing about a big night out? It’s not just the amount you spend on drinks. It’s the dinner out with friends that ends in those pricey nightcaps, the taxi ride home, those midnight munchies via the drive-through and perhaps a hefty babysitting bill. By embracing a quieter lifestyle in winter, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars. Our suggestion? Bank it. Both you and your bank balance could be healthier for it.

When it’s chilly outside, our thoughts turn to warming meals shared with loved ones. But that doesn’t have to mean extravagant restaurant meals. For winter, why not embrace the home cook-up instead. Slow-cooking cheaper cuts of meat or root vegetables isn’t only satisfying and delicious, it’s also a great way to maintain your social life while showering your nearest and dearest with home-cooked love. Better yet, you’ll save on takeaways or eating out, while upping your culinary skills. Compliments to the chef!

Swapping the dance floor for the couch mightn’t seem like an especially uplifting switch. But spend an evening turning your lounge into a bona fide sanctuary and watch the friend requests fly in. If you’re short on soft furnishings, stop by your local op shop – you’ll be astonished at the plethora of soft blankies and fun cushions you can pick up for a steal. Throw some tea lights in a few glass jars, dim the lights, slip into your PJs and luxuriate on your very own couch.

Rather get your boogie on? Then set up a lounge disco instead – a great way to party with friends minus those pesky entry fees or hefty bar tabs. Do this for the season and you could be a whole lot wealthier come spring.

Longing to get the blood and endorphins pumping? Then grab a buddy and hit up some scenic walking trails. The bracing fresh air will invigorate you from the inside out. Better yet, free physical activity is great for both mental and financial wellbeing – a tried-and-true double act that’ll make saving easy.

Developed a wee online shopping habit? Now’s the time to kick those money-draining apps to the curb. Try ‘shopping your wardrobe’ with a friend instead – a great way to get creative with items you already own. Crank the tunes, brew some warming chai on the stove, and make an afternoon of it. Our tip, cull ruthlessly and sell those items online or at the market. Or you could even donate those unwanted clothes to your local op shop to double that feel good factor. Then slip each remaining garment onto its own flocked velvet hanger.

The simple luxury of opening your beautifully arranged wardrobe each morning is reward enough, though your bank balance may be the greatest beneficiary. It really is a win-win.