With Groundhog Day just a few days away you may want to do a little thinking about how you’re going to prepare for the upcoming Spring months. Whether the little guy sees his shadow and goes back to bed or decides it’s time to come out and play, a little preparation can take you a long way when it comes to saving money throughout the upcoming season. Don’t stress out though as there’s a few things you can do to cut down on spending that will cost you little to nothing. So, whether you’re dealing with the unexpected late season snow or you’re enjoying a book on the beach, these tips will help you get ready for the upcoming change without forcing you to go overboard on spending when the weather decides to turn up the thermostat.
1. Try on Old Clothes
It’s almost time to pack away your winter clothes and enjoy a nice shopping spree for the upcoming seasons! However, before you decide to drop some money on new styles you may want to do a little inventory of what you already have in your collection. Before you do this you may want to go through your winter clothes. Try on items before packing them away so you’ll know if they’re going to be something you’d like to wear next season. Make sure they fit comfortably, look nice and don’t have a lot of damage. When you’re satisfied with your clothes pack them away and put the rejects in a bag. Then, pull out the clothes you packed away from last Spring and Summer. This requires the same process and will offer a pretty good refresher as to what you already own. When you’ve picked the cream of the crop hang them up and toss the rejects in the bag. You can either donate these to charity for a tax deduction, sell them in a yard sale or pass them on to friends and family. If you do decide to sell them it will give you an extra boost for the new items you’ll need to make your wardrobe complete.
2. Interior Cleaning
You’ve probably already made plans to do some Spring Cleaning but there’s a few things you may want to do in order to make the cleaning process flow smoother. For starters, flip your mattress. This should be done every few months but it often gets forgotten. Flipping it can help save on wear and tear which will allow your mattress to last longer. When you’ve finished here store away the extra linens that you won’t need when the weather heats up. This will eliminate household clutter so you can make a quick sweep of the home when you do get to cleaning. You should also go through your pantry and refrigerator. Pull out items that have been in there too long so you can take inventory and cleaning won’t require as much sorting and organizing. Finally, deep clean your carpets. It’ll get out the excess dust from winter which will cut down on allergies in the home.
3. Outdoor Maintenance
The outside of your home needs a little TLC too, but make sure to plan these projects around the weather. The first thing you should check is the gutters to make sure they’re ready to handle the rain that will be heading in your direction soon. You should also give the roof a once over to make sure you won’t have to deal with a leak during a season when it’s hard to get a contractor in to fix it. Another good idea is to check out the foundation of your home to make sure there were no cracks during the winter. You should also do the same for your walkway to prevent injuries. All of these items will let you know the state your home is in so you can catch a problem before it costs you a fortune. When you’ve done your once over then take to the yard. Debris like branches and leftover leaves should be cleared away to make Spring planting easier and to promote safety. You should also do some quick pruning and trim tree branches, particularly if they broke during a winter storm. Finally, change the light bulbs in your security and porch lights to keep the home safer.
4. Inspect Insulation
Chances are, if your insulation isn’t up to par you probably noticed it during the winter time. However, if you don’t run the heater often or you live in a mild climate then you may be in the dark over your insulation. The good news is it doesn’t take a whole lot to figure out if you’re dealing with a problem or not. Usually, if you walk around the doors and windows and feel a bit of a draft then you may need to do something about the problem. If you’re still not certain what’s up then you can ask a professional to come out. Typically you can find someone to help you with this for fairly cheap. Sometimes power companies will even send one out for absolutely nothing in order to help prevent a future power usage problem. If you are having problems with your insulation then catching it early is a good sign, of course, there are also fairly cheap ways to help fix the insulation temporarily so your power bill doesn’t sky rocket during air conditioning season.
5. Plant Seedlings
Spring can be pretty unpredictable at times, so if you like to plant in the garden you may want to start with seedlings in order to save some money. You can buy an inexpensive kit at most places that sell gardening supplies and if you’re not sure about the whole concept you can easily start out with the smallest on the market. Some websites also offer tips to build your own kits which may save even more money if you already have the supplies on hand. The seedling kit will allow you to keep a wide assortment of plants and flowers indoors so you won’t waste money if the weather decides to take a turn for the worse. The best thing is, if you choose to grow food you won’t have to wait long in order to get your plants blooming with delicious treats. You can even plant seedlings to ensure you have an abundance of food to choose from every week which will make your grocery bill drop.
6. Organize paperwork
Paperwork tends to pile up throughout the year which can be a huge frustration when it comes to Spring Cleaning as well as filing taxes. Of course, if you’re trapped indoors due to the weather then you may want grab your pile of papers and start sorting. Typically we end up with a lot of junk mail that mixes in with the important stuff, which can be a big problem when it comes to sensitive items. If you can, come up with a cheap filing system to help you get organized so you won’t lose out on paperwork you may need in the future. Try to shred documents you don’t need any more to avoid your sensitive information going out into the world. With your paperwork filed and ready to go for tax day you’ll be able to easily work through your home’s mess sooner without having to worry about throwing away something important.
7. Food Prep
If you’re a huge fan of winter foods then stock up now before they disappear for a few seasons. You don’t have to eat all of the food now, of course, so don’t worry that the money will be wasted. Rather, use the food to can or create pre-made meals. You may also want to stock up on food before Spring begins. Separate the food into different meals plans so you can enjoy the convenience of cooking in a hurry. This is especially great for Spring when kids tend to be into sports and other activities that keep the family away from the home more often. You should also make sure you have meals prepared to cook in the crock pot. This won’t just save time but will help you avoid turning on the oven when the weather is too warm. With your meals prepped and ready to go you can spend less on groceries while saving a whole lot of time and space.
8. Renew
Before the weather makes turns around you should go through the home and swap out items that may need a replacement. One of the best places to begin is with your filters. During the winter your home’s air filters are probably going to gather a lot of dust, thus replacing them will help cut down on allergies as well as how much you pay for other air filtration in the home. You should also change your water filters to ensure the family has plenty of clean water to keep them hydrated as the weather changes. Another item that needs swapped out is lightbulbs. You may want to swap out brighter bulbs for a lower watt due to the days being longer and you should always pick bulbs that are energy efficient. When you’re finished with items around the house you may want to look in the bathroom for items that need refreshing. For instance, a toothbrush is only meant to last a few months and if your family faced the cold or flu then there may be germs lingering. You should also get rid of old makeup and sun screen and buy all new materials!
9. Update Emergency Supplies
With Spring comes bad weather in many areas so make sure your family is prepared. One way to do this is to update your emergency food supply. You can easily fill this with excess canned goods or you can shop in bulk for dry foods that will last for years. When you’re satisfied with your food and water supply make sure you have an adequate first aid kit. You should think out of the box when it comes to this and add supplies that can help in case you can’t get to a medical facility. You should also stock allergy medications and fever reducers. Finally, add a battery operated radio and flashlight with a set of extra batteries. Blankets and excess clothes could also be beneficial.
10. Plan your Spring Break
Before Spring sets in take a few minutes to plan out your Spring Break before other people beat you to it! While the weather is still cold you should decide where you’re going to vacation and check out hotels and flights. By shopping early you’ll be able to save quite a bit of money on each of the items you need to buy and you’ll be able to pick the cream of the crop when it comes to hotels. You’ll also be able to book items like scuba diving without having to worry about price hikes or the company being sold out. This will also allow you more time to let your office know you’ll need the time off so you can be absolutely carefree when your vacation finally arrives. Of course, if you don’t plan on leaving for your Spring Break then this period can be spent planning activities to do with friends and family so you won’t have to worry about last minute planning when the time comes.
Groundhog Day may not seem like a huge holiday, but it does offer you a chance to get your home and future plans ready for the upcoming seasons of fun. With a few tips to help you cut down on costs you’ll have your family prepared for Spring time without feeling bogged down by clutter or home repairs!
