As the weather cools and days shorten, we tend to gravitate towards our comfy couches and bowls of steaming soups. Take advantage of your instincts to do less and eat simply over Autumn and Winter as it might just be the best time of the year to save money too!
Here are some simple ways to save on your spending in the coming months.
Buy in bulk and batch cook
Supermarket shopping is rarely a joyous experience, even less so when it is cold or wet.
Skip the weekly shop over the cooler months and see if you can stretch your supermarket visits to fortnightly instead. Easier said than done, it will take a little more planning and bigger shops when you do go, but we all know every trip to the shops results in extra things in the trolley that were not on our list. It should help to reduce impulse buys and see you getting more creative and resourceful in the kitchen too.
- Stock up on bulk quantities of shelf stable staples such as rice, pasta, lentils and canned tomatoes, beans and fish so that you always have the foundation of a simple home cooked meal.
- Fill your freezer with frozen ingredients.
- Batch cook large portions of wholesome and nourishing soups and stews, bakes and snacks. Make enough for multiple meals in the week and freeze enough to cover you for future meals.
Budget for and plan your meals ahead and always bring a list. This helps to ensure your pantry and fridge will be well always well stocked with whatever you need and will avoid last minute trips to the shops (which often ends up in additional spending). - Buy fruit and vegetables that are in season to get the most out of their nutritional benefits and longer shelf life. Citrus fruits, apples and pears are perfect for the cooler months with citrus giving a healthy dose of vitamin C and apples and pears a lovely addition to a baked dessert or warming breakfast. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and onions are all cheap vegetables, especially when in season, and are the perfect base for almost any savoury meal. All of the above will last for weeks (or longer if stored correctly) and can be brought in bulk (1-2kg amounts at a time) for even greater savings.
Skip the social smooching and host at home
Bid goodbye to budget-breaking breakfasts at cafes when the skies are grey and cosy up at home instead with simple foods that are simple to digest and easy on the wallet. Rice pudding, porridge, scrambled eggs on sourdough are all a great way to start your day and are a fraction of the cost of cafe prices to make yourself.
While you might not paint the town red when it’s cold out, you can still see your buddies! Instead of a pricey pub crawl or rich restaurant meal, take turns to host board game nights, movie nights or dinner parties / potluck gatherings. If everyone brings something to contribute costs can be shared and everyone wins. A roast, BBQ or homemade pizzas or pasta is a cost-effective way to feed a crowd and particularly comforting for the colder seasons.
Lounge around at your local library
Instead of trawling the mall during your spare time (with spending temptation at every corner) visit your local library every week or fortnight and cosy up with a magazine or book during your weekends. Let the longer nights lure you into your PJs earlier and spend your evenings with a novel in bed. Most libraries also have a pretty impressive DVD collection too, so skip the expensive cinemas for a few months and find some quirky films to entertain you at home.
Try dry July
It’s no coincidence that Dry July occurs in the middle of Winter when socialising is at its lowest. Dry July is free to join and is a fundraiser that challenges you to go alcohol-free for the month of July while raising funds for people affected by cancer. By asking for fundraising donations from family and friends you are also creating a network of accountability, support and motivation, plus you’ll feel good about helping out sick Australians. Drinking is often an automatic accompaniment to a social life, but what if it wasn’t? Australian culture is very much soaked in the spirit of, well, spirits, but you’ll save plenty of coin if you cut down on your alcohol consumption over the colder months. If reducing your drinking is something you’ve wanted to try, the structure and support of a nationwide initiative like Dry July (with the knowledge that thousands of others joining in too) might just be the nudge you need.
The pressure to get out and have a filled calendar over the warmer season dissipates over Autumn and Winter. Revel in the colder months of the year and welcome the invitation to be more introspective and indulgent. Nurture your natural instincts to do less, eat simple grounding foods and find ways to rebuild your nervous system with restful home-based activities. You’ll feel better for it and the drop in temperatures might just cool your spending too.
Alison Gallagher is a freelance writer, resourcefulness expert and entrepreneur. She has been featured in various publications including Stellar Magazine, Australian Health and Fitness Magazine, and Cleo Magazine. Alison is particularly passionate about sharing practical tips on how to live simply, sustainably and seasonally.
