When the weather gets cold, you become a total homebody. All you want to do is stay indoors and surround yourself with creature comforts, like warm seasonal drinks and brand-new books that you’re dying to crack into.
While there’s nothing wrong with surrounding yourself with creature comforts, there is something wrong with blowing your budget on them. Are there ways to get cozy on the cheap? Of course! Look at these tips.
New Books
You want to curl up and read some good books. So, why not browse a bookstore and bring a haul of new books home? Well, because buying a stack of new books will take a chunk out of your paycheck.
If you want to curl up with a book, try these savvy alternatives that won’t cost you a thing:
- Read the books that are already sitting on your bookcase and have gone ignored.
- Use your library card to take out books from your local library for free. You can also take out ebooks and audiobooks through the Libby app.
- Find a Free Little Library in your area. Swap a book from the case with one of your own books that you don’t want anymore.
- Host a book swap with friends and trade your favorite reads for the season.
Cozy Drinks
Coffee shops have released their seasonal drink menus, so you might be tempted to buy yourself one of these limited drinks every day of the week. Obviously, this daily habit will cost you. On average, a single grande pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks costs $5. A daily PSL will cost you $150 in the span of a month.
If you really enjoy the taste of pumpkin spice, you could purchase the non-dairy pumpkin spice creamer and use it to flavor the cups of coffee you brew at home. There are other creamer flavors that you can stock in your fridge, like caramel and white chocolate.
Game Night
There’s nothing quite like inviting friends over for a chill board game night. But stocking up your shelf with board games can cost a lot, especially when certain games can run at $50 each. How can you host a game night without spending a fortune?
- Purchase classic games like Scrabble, Clue and Pictionary. These can be found at popular retailers for $20 or less.
- BYOBG (Bring Your Own Board Game). Ask each guest to bring a game that they like. Then you don’t have to be the only one responsible for buying games.
- Check out your local library. Lots of libraries carry board games that patrons can borrow for a short period of time.
- Consider getting party game apps like Gogogo!, Heads up! or Trivia 360. These are usually free to download with the potential for in-app purchases.
The Problem with Overspending on Non-Essentials
Books, board games and seasonal drinks are great, but they’re not essential. If your budget is tight, you shouldn’t be spending money on non-essential purchases. Doing this could lead you to some serious financial missteps, like overdrawing your checking account or racking up a high balance on your credit card.
At the very least, you might not have any extra cash to handle a surprise expense that comes your way. In that case, you could apply for a personal loan for help. You don’t need to book an appointment at your local bank branch to do this. You don’t even need to leave your house — you can apply online anytime, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. With an approved personal loan, you could use borrowed funds to pay off your surprise expense and move forward.
Loans are only meant for emergencies. They should never be used for non-emergency purchases, including books and board games.
Your seasonal comforts don’t have to come at a high price. You can stay cozy on a tight budget!
