5 Ideas to Help You Avoid the Temptation to Spend

Does money burn a hole in your pocket? Some people just seem to be more naturally inclined to spend money the minute they get it while others have a knack of squirreling away any excess for a rainy day. If you’re a spender at heart, don’t feel like you are doomed to live paycheck-to-paycheck. Instead, accept that you will have to make conscious decisions to take actions that will help you channel your urge to spend in other directions.

Here are five ideas that can help you spend less and save more:

1. The best savings tip I know is to stash away your savings first before you have a chance to spend it. Of course, you could always take the money out of savings, so to make that less attractive, find ways to keep yourself focused and motivated. As cheesy as it might sound, one of those charts that charities have to track progress towards their fund-raising goals could also be a good way to look forward to watching your savings grow. It’s also a good idea to make your savings reasonably difficult to access by not linking it to your checking account and either declining an ATM card or keeping it locked away.

2. Find other activities that will keep you busy without requiring you to spend extra money. Exercise is great for this! Many people find that the exhilaration they feel after working out is a great substitute for a shoppers high or spending big cash on going out to restaurants and nightclubs. Just be mindful that you don’t use your new exercise routine or hobby as an excuse to give your credit card a workout from buying every piece of gear or enough supplies for a year.

3. Make good use of your local public library. For many, it’s not only a great source of entertainment and information, it’s also a good way to satisfy their urge to “acquire” something without spending cash or cluttering up their home. If you’ve been spending lots of money on lattes so that you can hang out in the coffee shop with your laptop why not try the library instead to fill your need to be around others while you work? Most libraries these days have free wireless Internet access and many also offer comfortable areas with cafe-like seating as well as traditional desks and tables.

4. Adopt a cash-only policy for your day to day expenses. The envelope system is one popular method. Basically, each pay check, after paying all of your big bills (mortgage, utilities, etc) you withdraw the cash you have budgeted for groceries, gas, clothing and other spending categories and spend that instead of using your credit or debit card. Once the cash is gone, that’s it until the next pay check. Even if you don’t feel like adopting the envelope system fully, do try a cash only policy for incidental expenses like coffee, gum, sodas and other small expenses that add up. Give yourself your “allowance” in cash every week, pay period or month and make it your policy that once that money is, that’s it for little luxuries until it’s payday again.

5. Take the initiative in suggesting free or low cost activities to your friends and family. Often, groups find themselves falling back on going to the movies or a bar or a restaurant when it comes time to plan “hang-out” time. Be proactive and find fun, frugal ways to have fun as a group. Chances are people will be grateful that you’re not only saving them money but you also found something new to do! Learning how to entertain on a budget is one of the best things you can do for your social life.

Awareness of Sales Pressure: A Consumer’s First Defense

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

We’ve all felt the pressure when a zealous salesperson leans on us to make a purchase. Whether it’s at a car showroom, an appliance store or at our own front door or kitchen table, the fact is, it’s difficult to say, “No,” to someone when you’re dealing with them face-to-face. It feels like you’re rejecting them and their efforts to ‘help’ you. No one likes to be the ‘bad guy’ who – sometimes literally – shuts the door in their face.

As consumers, however, it’s important that we realize that a good sales strategy takes those very emotions into consideration and leverages them to prompt us to make purchases. It happens with in-person sales, for cars and televisions and vinyl siding. It happens in a more anonymous – but equally compelling way – with sales and special offers. The key is to realize that saying, “No,” to sales pressure in any form is our only defense in the game of retail. The only way we can win is to be aware of how the cards are stacked against us.

Let’s explore some of the techniques used by sellers to get us to buy. Sometimes these techniques help us get what we need and want at a good price – and sometimes they encourage us to spend more than we want or buy more than we need. Be aware of the techniques and you’ll be a more empowered consumer.

Discounts – These come in all shapes and sizes: a sale, buy one, get one free, free shipping, a percentage off of your purchase… While a discount off a regular price can be a good thing, consider what that lower price does to your judgement and resulting actions. There’s nothing wrong with stocking up on a bargain as long as you make sure you don’t buy more than you need or want just because of the discount. Don’t use sales to justify overbuying.
Limited time/availability – By throwing the element of time into the buying equation, sellers add additional pressure to buy. “This sale ends January 31.” “There are only 10,000 of these in existence.” These restrictions on what we can get and when we can get it provide an urgency in our minds to buy now so as not to miss out on a deal or item – whether we really want or need the item now. Chances are, any deal you miss out on now will come back around eventually.
High desirability – Unfortunately, peer pressure doesn’t end with high school. We want to have those items that are popular and ‘special’ because it’s etched into our psyche that to ‘have’ what is desirable makes us more desirable, interesting or better. By appealing to that part of us that needs affirmation, sellers can wield great power over our better judgement. Sellers are well aware of this and work long and hard at making their offerings irresistible. Consider your rationale for purchases to make sure you’re not falling into that particular trap.
Impulse – The reasons we make impulsive purchases are many: boredom, convenience, price, taste/smell/appearance… When our sales resistance is low, impulse buying is most likely. When we’re feeling tired, lazy or stressed, we tend to look for an easy fix – in the guise of a candy bar, fast food, a cute, clever or scented do-dad. Impulse items are rarely on our shopping list and are usually unnecessary or ill-considered purchases.

Sales pressure doesn’t have to sabotage your finances; simply being aware of its potential to influence your purchasing will make you a more empowered consumer.

What’s the most difficult sales strategy for you to resist?

As Your Income Increases, Do Your Expenses Have to Increase as Well?

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

Many of us like to consider what we’d do if we had more money. Think about it for a minute: If you had another $1,000 or $2,000 a month, what would you do with it?

Some of the things we think about might include buying a new car, upgrading to a bigger house, buying new furniture, or eating out more. I know that when my dad got a new job that paid more, my mom stopped making as many meals from scratch. All of a sudden, the pantry included a stock of prepackaged meals.

Increasing Expenses to Match Income

It is almost natural to respond to an increase in income with an increase in spending. After all, when you have the money, you might as well spend it! This tendency to spend more as your income increases is called lifestyle inflation.

When you make more money, it seems as though there are things that just have to come with it. A house that is a little bigger. Clothes that are name brand. A bigger car payment. A premium cable package.

Even if you don’t decide to spend big on new things, it is still possible to let lifestyle inflation creep in. In a lot of cases, it’s through small things. On a night when you don’t feel like making dinner, it’s easy to say, when you have more money, “I’ll just go get something.” When you aren’t as worried about pinching pennies and making sure you know where your money is going — because there seems to be a lot more of it — it’s easy to just let it slip through your fingers.

Really, even though it seems like more money means that you don’t have to pay attention to where it’s going, the truth is that you might need a spending plan or a budget even more. An increase in income doesn’t give you a pass to ditch a plan for your money.

What to Do with that Increase Instead

An increase in income can mean that you might be able to buy a few things you need, or reward yourself with a small vacation. However, it’s important not to let an increase in expenses become a permanent thing in your budget. Instead, here are a few things you can do with your increase in income:

Pay down debt: If you have debt, this should be a no-brainer. An increase in income should go toward reducing your debt.
Increase retirement account contributions: Instead of boosting your monthly cable expenses, boost your monthly retirement account contributions.
Build the emergency fund: Your increase in income can go a long way toward building your emergency fund.
Create passive income streams: Look for ways to put that increase to work for you. Start a side hustle, or create a dividend portfolio. It’s a great way to begin earning more money on the side and diversify your income streams.
Bless someone else: You can also use a portion of your increase to help others. Use your money to donate more to charity, or to find some other way to help others.

Eating Healthy on a Budget

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

As ironic as this seems, it is not cheap to make healthy food choices. The cheapest foods are usually highly processed, high in fat, and high in sugar. Some people link obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease in America to the abundance of cheap fattening foods which lack nutrition. Although we can’t blame our poor dietary choices on the economy, rising fuels costs, inflation, or major food producers, having to choose between healthier food and having enough gas in your car shouldn’t be necessary.

If you’ve started out the new year trying to eat healthier, you’ve probably noticed the impact on your pocket book and might be tempted to give up healthier eating because it’s just too expensive. Although it’s true that fresh, organic, whole grain, less processed foods can be more expensive than their less healthy counterparts, there are ways you can save money and not compromise your health and fitness.

Shop at the Farmer’s Market. Unless you want to start your own garden, then farmer’s markets offer a good alternative. Fresh produce from a local farmer’s market is much more fresh than what you can get at the grocery store, and quite often organic. Not only that, but grocery stores feature high markups on produce in general, so you will save money by purchasing directly from a farmer. Farmer’s markets don’t just have produce, either. You’ll find other healthy and delicious items such as home-made preserves or organic local honey. If you’re unsure if your town has a farmer’s market, check the newspaper or with your chamber of commerce.

Find deals at ethnic grocery stores. Grocery stores which cater to certain ethnic groups are also great places to find healthier foods at lower prices. They frequently carry bulk quantities of basics such as healthy grains and beans. Regular grocery stores charge more for their small selections of ethnic food because they don’t sell as much of it, whereas ethnic grocery stores experience high demand on their products due to the specific dietary habits of their clientele, who are concentrated in the area.

Buy in bulk. Money is not the only thing you save by buying certain items in bulk; it saves you trips (think fuel) to the store too. Just be careful which items you buy in bulk. They should be items you use regularly enough to avoid spoilage and waste, or have specific plans for. Buying in bulk is a great plan if you are too busy to cook or plan meals during the week and find yourself running out of supplies by Wednesday. By shopping at your leisure and buying certain items in bulk, you can even cook and freeze healthy meals in advance to get you through a hectic schedule without being tempted to dine out.

View your food choices as an investment… in yourself. Although these are some ways you can save money while choosing to eat healthier, whether or not you are willing to sacrifice time or a few extra dollars comes down to a matter of priorities. If you prioritize your health and wellness, you will not mind spending a few extra dollars if it means a few less pounds or a few more years on your life. Consider your diet an investment in yourself, and as with any financial investment, you have to spend money to make it.

5 Ideas to Make Work Night Cooking Less of a Hassle

by Tracy · 1 comment

After a long day at work, the last thing most of us want to do is have to spend another hour or two getting a meal on the table, especially if we’re also trying to juggle activities for multiple family members (and pets!) It’s no wonder we spend so much money at restaurants and on take-out meals. Not only is this habit expensive, it can also take a toll on our health, as most prepared food is higher in calories, fat and salt than home-cooked choices.

If you’re struggling to find the time and energy to put home-cooked meals on the table, here are five tips that might help.

1. Take time once a week to plan a menu and write out a shopping list. It might be worth the expense to try out a menu-planning service to help you get the hang of it (many have free or reduced cost introductory rates). Do your shopping during off-peak times; it’s more pleasant and reduces the chances that you’ll forget something because of all the hustle and bustle.

Think about your daily schedule as you plan your menu. For example, on days when you get home late, a crock-pot meal or an easy-to-throw-together salad might be a good choice. Save recipes that require more hands-on preparation for nights that are less demanding.

2. Once you get home with your groceries, do some prep work as you put things away. Go ahead and freeze meats that you won’t use until later in the week to cut down on potential waste from spoilage. Wash and chop hardy vegetables for recipes. You can even put away ingredients for recipes away together in the pantry so it’s easy to pull out what you need when it comes time to cook.

3. It’s not a bad idea to go ahead and double (or even triple) recipes so that you can freeze half for another meal. Stews, chilis and most casseroles freeze and reheat well. You can also cook some meats in advance and package them up in recipe-sized quantities. For example, you can brown 5 pounds of ground beef or slow-cook an entire pulled pork shoulder and freeze it in 1 cup portion sizes to use in recipes.

4. Don’t feel bad about using some convenience products. Scratch cooking is terrific, but if a jar of curry paste or a bag of frozen stew vegetables helps you cook more at home, go for it. Do be aware that some prepared sauces and mixes have very high sodium levels. You can mitigate this by keeping serving sizes reasonable and serving with plenty of unprocessed sides (like simple steamed vegetables).

5. Stay motivated to cook most nights by reminding yourself of all the very good reasons you have for wanting to eat at home more such as saving money or eating a more healthful diet. Look for ways to track your progress so that you can see proof of how your hard work is paying off. Perhaps you can chart how much you are saving on food costs each month or how many servings of vegetables you are getting each day. It’s much easier to resist the temptation to each out if you know exactly why you want to avoid it.

Remember, eating is critical to our survival. It’s worth it to take a little more time and effort to do the best job feeding ourselves and our family that we can.

Kitchen Multi-taskers: Cook More, Buy Less

by Gina Blitstein · 2 comments

Of all the jobs we do around the house, cooking is probably the one for which we have the most tools. Every kitchen is filled with its share of implements to help a cook perform every function necessary.

Any well-equipped kitchen has a large supply of tools, machines and utensils to perform the basic functions – and even some advanced ones. Although there are a plethora of specific-use kitchen gadgets on the market, a lot of them are unnecessary. Why spend money on a new one-use kitchen tool (uni-tasker) when you probably already have what you need to perform whatever it does?

Some people are gadget-lovers. When they see a specialized tool for a job, they embrace its novelty and must have it. We don’t all have the ability, however, to purchase every new thing-a-ma-gig sold in kitchen shops or on infomercials that promises to make our kitchen experience easier and more pleasant. We can, of course, buy them on credit, but that’s exactly how we let debt hold us back.

Unless you’re going to use a gadget often or need a very specific functionality, it’s usually not worth purchasing a uni-tasker.

Here are some examples of common gadgets you can probably do without by using kitchen equipment you already have:

Panini press – This applies pressure to a sandwich as it cooks, pressing the ingredients together. Anything heavy and flat-bottomed (like a cast iron skillet) placed on top of the sandwich while it cooks will do the trick.
Garlic press – A meat mallet will work very well for smashing garlic wrapped in wax paper, as will that cast iron skillet. As far as chopping/mincing garlic, nothing works better than a Chef’s knife or cleaver.
Egg, fruit or vegetable slicer – Knives work more than effectively for slicing anything – that’s what they’re made for. Most slicers hold the item so it remains stable while it’s being cut. When using a knife, make certain your first slice creates a flat surface so the item is stable on your cutting board.
Potato ricer – This presses food (like cooked potatoes) through small holes. A colander or strainer can easily be substituted. Simply place the food to be extruded in the strainer and press it through with a spatula or wide spoon.
Lemon zester – The purpose of this implement is to remove the zest (yellow portion) of a lemon’s peel. That function can easily be performed with a microplane, a tiny grater that can be used for any number of small grating jobs.
Rice cooker – Rice can easily be cooked in a saucepan on your stovetop.
Steamer – Make your own steamer: Place a colander or strainer which is large enough to fit inside a pan without touching the bottom. Add a small amount of water to the pan and bring it to a boil. Place in the food to be steamed in the colander, making sure the water isn’t touching the food and cover. Voila!

Additionally, gadgets with modular parts that use a common power source are considerably more space-saving and cost- efficient. Two examples are:

A griddle with a separate waffle iron and grill attachment. It’s like having all three appliances but paying for (and storing) only one.
A blender that has a food processor and a mixer attachment, all powered by the same motor.

You can do a lot in your kitchen with just the basics – you don’t need every gadget that comes down the pike. As you can see, you can easily replicate many of their functions with implements you already have – without incurring additional expense. You’ll save money and space in your kitchen and accomplish more in that busy room.

What multi-taskers do you use in your kitchen?

You may also want to check out: Learning How to Cook Without Spending a Fortune.

Simple Ways to Cut Your Health Care Costs this Year

by Miranda Marquit · 2 comments

There are a number of ways to cut your health insurance costs each year, including changing your coverage and raising your deductible. However, your efforts to make health care more affordable for you don’t have to be limited to just what is happening with your health insurance.

Yes, you should evaluate your coverage each year, and do some comparison shopping. But here are some other ways to reduce your health care expenses:

Shop at the big box stores: From over the counter medications to prescriptions, you can often find better prices at the big box stores. I don’t shop much at club stores, but when I do buy something, it is usually over the counter medication that costs much less when bought in bulk at a warehouse store.
Buy generics: Compare the active ingredients in name brand and generics. In many cases, there is the same amount of the active ingredients both — but the store brand or generic brand costs less. We haven’t bought name brand gel caps for cold and cough for years because we can get the same effect for less with a store brand.
Ask about a cash discount: You can sometimes get a discount with service providers if you pay at the time of service, instead of going through insurance. Consider the costs associated, and find out if you can save a little by paying up front for non-covered health care services.
Double check your bill: You might be surprised at how many hospital bills and other bills have mistakes on them. Before you pay the bill, double check it, and get clarification on any items you have questions about. You don’t want to overpay. Simply taking a few minutes to double check might save you more than expected.

Live Healthy, Reduce Health Care Costs Long Term

If you want to reduce health care costs long term, consider living a healthier lifestyle. Getting the proper nutrition, proper exercise, and proper sleep can go a long way toward saving you money on health care. A variety of ailments and chronic diseases and conditions can be traced to poor health habits. Improving your health can be a great way to reduce your health care costs. In fact, healthy living can also reduce your chances of getting common colds and flus. Your body will be better at fighting off infection when you are healthier.

Consider ways that you can save money by cooking healthier meals at home (and save money on eating out), walking or biking more (and save money on fuel costs), and quitting expensive bad habits like smoking or eating junk food (and save money on buying those products). You’ll soon feel better in general, and save money in the long run.

Bottom Line

You really can save money on your health care costs with a little planning. Think about ways to cut costs and improve your financial efficiency. You’ll live a better life, and more of your money will go toward items other than trying to pay health care costs.

Wise Ways to Use Your Tax Refund

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

Every year, most people can expect to receive a tax refund when they file their taxes. Though some don’t like giving the IRS an interest free loan, getting a good sized check is often celebrated by many. Before you go spend it all on impulse though, here are some ideas of how to use it to improve your finances long-term.

Debt Elimination
One of the best ways to make use of a substantial amount of money you haven’t budgeted for is to get ahead on your mortgage, car loans, credit card balances, and student loans. By making even a few extra payments, you can eliminate hundreds of dollars in interest you would be paying if you consistently made only the minimum payments. Sure, it’s not the most fun way to use a large chunk of money, but it’s definitely a good step to reaching more financial freedom in the long run. Debt drags you down, so do your best to eliminate debt.

Investment Options
If your debt is under control and you’ve always wanted to start a personal retirement account, invest in the stock market, or set up a fund for your children’s higher education costs, an income tax refund is a great way to get a jump start. Many banks and financial institutions offer these types of accounts, so check with your bank to see what is available before you consider other options. Some institutions require large minimum initial investments, while others allow you to open an account with as little as a few hundred dollars.

Another investment option is an emergency fund. While it won’t be earning huge returns, it could be a life saver in times of crisis.

IRAs
Setting up an IRA is a wise financial step in an uncertain economy and the questionable future of Social Security. You are never too young to start an IRA, and the sooner you start saving, the greater your potential payout when you reach the maturity of your investment. The usual minimum amount to open an IRA is between $1,000 to $3,000. There are, of course, guidelines which must be followed, depending on which type of IRA you choose – Roth or traditional. Funds which go into an IRA are non-taxed or tax-deferred, but there are heavy tax penalties if you remove them before you reach retirement age.

ESAs
Another great idea if you have children is starting an ESA, or an Educational Savings Account. College becomes increasingly expensive every year, while remaining important to your child’s career opportunities. ESAs allow tax-free contributions which must be used for tuition and related educational expenses. Coverdell ESAs allow a maximum of $2,000 per child per year, while 529 plans, another type of ESA, have no maximum yearly contribution limit. There are other variations between these two types, so do your research to decide which one is right for your child.

As you prepare your taxes, consider carefully what to do with your expected refund. Instead of spending your tax refund on clothes, furniture, electronics and other immediate wants this tax season, make a plan for stable finances in the future by eliminating bad debt or investing in your and your children’s future.

4 Simple Tips to Keep Your Money Saving New Year’s Resolution

by Tracy · 0 comments

It’s easy to understand why saving more money is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. What’s not so easy is actually finding a way to do it! If you’re struggling with fulfilling your goal to spend less and save more, take comfort in knowing that it’s not just a matter of willpower. Instead, just like any other skill, saving money takes knowledge, practice and planning. Here are a few tips to help you learn how to cut back on your spending and actually save the extra cash.

Track Your Spending

It doesn’t matter if you use a simple notebook or an online program like Mint, the important thing is to have a very clear picture of where your money goes – and why. Are you spending too much on restaurant meals because your family is famished after a long day of school and work and it’s easier and faster to order a pizza or go out for Chinese? Do you spend a fortune on gas because you are constantly running errands all over town? Are you hit with multiple late fees every month because you forget to pay your bills on time?

Once you learn your money drains and figure out why these are problem areas for you, it becomes easier to come up with a solution that will fit into your lifestyle. For example, if eating out is your weak spot, look into meal planning, crock pot cooking and asking other family members to pitch it. (For more tips, check out 6 Ways to Avoid the Temptation to Eat Out). If you are spending too much money on gas, look into carpooling, taking public transportation, consolidating your errands and biking. Avoid late fees by automating your spending and taking advantage of your bank or credit union’s bill pay service.

Use Cash Only

It’s all too easy to spend more than we wanted to when paying with a debit or credit card. Carrying only the amount of cash that we intend to spend makes us more mindful and deliberate about what we choose to buy. It’s far less likely that we’ll blow the grocery budget on chips and soda if that means we won’t have enough left over to buy toilet paper and milk.

Some people modify the cash only system by purchasing gift cards for the grocery store, gas station and restaurants. These cards can usually be reloaded (to avoid the problem of what to do with $1.17 left on the card) and registered to help protect against theft and loss. There are advantages and disadvantages to using gift cards over cash, so be sure to read each merchant’s terms and conditions for using the cards before making the decision.

Bank Your Savings First

Many people make the mistake of thinking that whatever they don’t manage to spend each pay period should be their savings. As you can imagine, for many of us, our spending can easily expand to take care of any amount of cash we come into! For best results, automate your savings so that it’s immediately transferred to your savings account as soon as you get paid. You can either do this through a standing transfer with your bank or credit union or change the allotments on your direct deposit through your employer.

Out of sight, out of mind works very well for most people, but some need to go an additional step and make their savings hard to get to. This could mean keeping your savings in an account without ATM access so that you’ll have to slow down and really consider how badly you need this cash before withdrawing it.

Aim for One Thing a Week

Instead of trying to completely overhaul your finances all at once, try scheduling one hour or two a week to improving your finances. For example, week one you spend that hour on the phone with your cable provider asking for a lower rate (or alternatively, look for an online broadband promotion). The second week you spend that hour making a spreadsheet of easy to prepare dinners to help you in your future menu planning. Personal finance blogs like MoneyNing.com are a great source of ideas for your weekly projects.

Aim for sustainable improvement rather than a rapid, complete change and you’ll increase your chance of success. Trying to do too much all at once is overwhelming and hard to maintain in the long run. Remember, the goal is to save money all year long, not just in the first two or three weeks of January!

Seven Frugal Ways to Fend Off the Winter “Blahs”

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

Now that the holidays are over, we often fall into a Winter “funk.” The anticipation and excitement of the holidays has ended, the weather is often unpleasant, days are short and for a few months, there’s not much to look forward to. It’s only natural to suffer from some degree of the Winter “blahs,” as a result.

Short of a taking a Caribbean cruise, how can you brighten up the next few months and avoid the Winter blues? Here are seven frugal ideas to energize yourself throughout the next few months of Winter:

Think ahead! Spend some time planning a vacation for warmer, sunnier days. Explore places you’d like to visit on the Internet. Daydream about those places and the activities in which you’ll participate. Make a list of things to pack as if you were leaving next week. The process of putting your mind in a different place will actually serve as a mini-vacation of its own, taking you out of the present and launching you into a pleasant future.
Surround yourself with nature. Take a day trip to an arboretum, botanical garden or even a flower shop. It does your mind and spirits good to be among beautiful living plants. Their sight and scents will rejuvenate you and remind you that Winter doesn’t last forever. Take photos so you can relive the experience. Treat yourself to a few bright blooms to brighten your environment.
Cook yourself happy. Use your kitchen to brighten your spirits. Either cook hearty foods that warm and comfort you throughout the Winter doldrums – or, defy the weather and create a Summer picnic spread that will remind you of carefree, warmer days. A bonus to cooking is that you can enjoy the fruits of your labors, and nourish your body as well as your spirits. (Here’s how you learn without paying a bundle.)
Look sharp! Even though the holidays are over, continue wearing festive colors. Just because the weather is dreary doesn’t mean your wardrobe needs to be. Bright colors can have a profound impact on your mood.
Connect with others. Holiday parties and celebrations may be over but make sure you don’t suffer from a sense of social isolation. Cold weather isn’t as conducive to socializing as warm weather so it’s important to make the effort to get together with others regularly. Have a party for no particular reason; gather with friends or family for drinks or appetizers. Winter blahs put you in an isolated mindset. Maintaining social connections with others will help your mood stay high by helping you focus outward.
Exercise your creativity. If you have a hobby, work at it. If you don’t, Winter is a good time to take one up. Warmer weather tends to inspire us to garden, play sports and generally recreate. The need to be creative doesn’t stop when the temperature falls so carve out some time to partake of an activity that occupies your mind and nourishes your spirit.
Set new goals. It’s very inspiring to immerse yourself in a new endeavor. Maybe it’s losing weight, getting in shape, organizing your home or schedule, stopping a bad habit or starting a good one – it’s a great way to keep your mind off the Winter blahs. Maybe that’s another reason we make New Year’s resolutions…

It doesn’t cost a lot to pull yourself out of the Winter doldrums. The key is to surround yourself with reminders of those times when you feel more energetic and inspired. Think about what those things are for yourself and include them in your daily routine.

How do you fend off the Winter blahs?

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