How to get money ready for winter

Winter brings with it plenty of festive cheer, but also colder, darker days for several months of the year. Less daylight and a drop in temperatures can quickly take a toll on your wallet if you’re not prepared. Here are a few ways to make sure your budget is ready for the months ahead.

Reduce energy costs before they become a problem

Cold weather is synonymous with higher energy bills. But there are steps you can take to reduce your energy bills even if you’re dreading putting on the heating.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• seal drafts around doors and windows by using DIY methods like weather strips, foam tape and door sweeps
• consider thermal curtains or blinds if you’re looking to replace them; they’ll keep the heat in as long as you keep them closed
• put on cozy jumpers and wrap up in throws to keep warm so you don’t have to put the heating on right away
• check if you’re eligible for support like the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment or Household Support Fund

Forget spring cleaning – have an autumn declutter instead

Need to make some extra cash? Why not spend a rainy weekend decluttering. From old clothes you no longer wear to toys and board games your family’s outgrown, there’s plenty to sell on sites like Vinted, Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

Savvy shoppers will be looking for Christmas bargains this time of year, so it’s a great opportunity to tidy your home and make some extra cash to see you through the next few months.

Make sure your car is winter-ready

Cars and cold weather don’t work well together. Treacherous road conditions and plummeting temperatures put more strain on your car and make it more likely you’ll experience a breakdown.

But there are a few things you can do to prep your car for the colder months:

• Use RAC’s FORCES acronym to do your winter checks; fuel, oil, rubber (tyre read and pressure as well as wipers), coolant, electrics (lights, indicators, batteries) and screen wash
• Have an ice scraper and de-icer handy in your car so you can quickly de-ice the car and set off in the morning
• Get yourself some jump leads as a flat battery is more likely in colder weather and you may need to jump start your car
• Pack some essentials before you set off on a long journey; blankets, extra jumpers, a thermos, a first aid kit, and a few snacks can make it easier to deal with a winter breakdown

These tips should hopefully keep your car running and your bills down.

Keep your home safe

Burglars often take advantage of longer, darker evenings. But there are steps you can take to make your home less attractive:

• get yourself a smart doorbell that picks up movement and records videos; these can put off burglars who want to stay anonymous
• make sure tools and ladders are locked safely and ideally out of sight
• store valuables like expensive jewellery and watches as well as large amounts of cash in a safe
• make sure keys aren’t left in external doors even if they’re locked; if they’re visible from outside, thieves can break glass doors to retrieve them

If you’re planning on visiting family for Christmas and you know you’ll be away for a few days, the police.uk website has a few extra trips on keeping your home safe while travelling.

Start getting ready for Christmas now

Christmas is all about festive cheer, good food, and getting the family together to make some memories. But, it can also get expensive fast.

Between elaborate gift expectations, expensive dinners, and often overpriced Christmas-themed activities, the costs can rack up fast.

Here are a few ways to get ahead:

• suggest a Secret Santa style of gifting for the adults in the family; rather than buying something for everyone, you only buy a present for one person
• shop early; from Prime Day deals to Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts, there are lots of opportunities to make big savings if you’re organised
• use online marketplaces like Vinted or Facebook Marketplace; yes, the items are usually second hand, but lots are brand new with tags and come with big discounts
• if you’re hosting Christmas, stock up on the non-perishables early; from wine deals to pretzels, it’s best to spread the cost over several months

Christmas doesn't have to cost a fortune to be special. A festive movie night in with hot chocolate and snacks can be just as lovely as expensive days out ice skating and visiting Santa's grotto.