Making Frugality Fun
The start of the new year can often leave our bank accounts looking as dreary as the weather. We often spend more over Christmas and get paid early in December which doesn’t help with the long January month the follows. We also look to cheer ourselves up in January, as the January blues hit. It is important for us to balance finding cheer in January whilst saving money. It is a great time to start looking at ways we can live in a more frugally, whilst still feeling as though we are indulging. As we do this, we can also start creating lasting habits that will help us build our bank accounts and not give in to the consumerist society that we currently live in.
One way we can create a fun activity that promotes some frugality is making a few days worth of food that is both warming and tasty. I have been making a few days worth of stews and soups that are warming and delicious. I usually have a bowl with a warm roll and a lather of butter on top. It feels like such a warming treat to sit down with a hot bowl of soup during these cold and winter months. It also only costs me £10 to make a full weeks worth of soup. It also prevents the constant decision fatigue that one can feel when continuously having to create different dinners each night.
During these cold winter months, I often prefer to stay in whilst also making sure to keep socialising. I often enjoy having dinners with friends, rotating who hosts the dinner and each bringing a homemade dish. It is so nice to stay somewhere warm, have the comfort of being with friends without breaking the bank. I also love going for winter walks and can often be sucked into the habit of buying a coffee or hot drink with friends to comfort us as we brave the harsh winter weather. Over the last few weeks, we have all been putting our coffee machines to good use and taking a homemade drink with us instead. Even the art of making our drinks before we go out adds to the luxury of having a hot drink to keep us warm. It also adds to the concept of self care and love. Instead of waiting in the coffee shop queue for 15 minutes, you have the luxury of making the drink in your own time and with the knowledge it is made exactly how you like it. Being frugal isn’t about being stingy, it is about shifting your mindset from constant consumption and consumerism to creating different mechanisms which requires less money being spent.
Many of us may feel some stress or anxiety regarding finances after Christmas but also due to this current economic climate. To be able to find some fun in being frugal we may feel a weight off our shoulders if we can slightly reduce our outgoing costs whilst still having fun. Living with a more frugal mindset allows us to think more creatively and abundantly; we can find enjoyment at creating meals with the food we have in the back of the cupboards, or go sightseeing in our local area with a lovingly made packed lunch. Or we can invite more rest into our lives and spend more time reading books with a yummy snack in hand.
Try and challenge yourself this new year and find fun ways to save money whilst making this winter more fun and bearable. It will also help us to build important habits that increase money saving rather than spending.