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StitcherWe’re now entering the coldest season of the year—and dare we say, the costliest too. This may not be news, but here’s your PSA: Bills are coming up. You’ve got time to prepare, and that time is now. In this episode, Jen and Jill dive into the surprising link between cold weather and higher spending habits, backed by a fascinating study, plus ways to prepare for the coldest, costliest season of the year.
Give yourself grace in the psychology of cold and darkness during winter seasons.
Sponsors:
- Spring. The next season on the calendar. And if you want to be ready for our What To Budget For This Spring episode, you’re gonna want to start saving, and you should start saving in a high yield savings account, preferably at CIT, they’ve really got a great APY. Be ready for whatever spring springs on you.
Check out some relevant episodes
The Costliest Season
This article by Spectrum News tells an interesting study about how cold temperatures may be a contributing factor to making us buy more than we would otherwise.
What Jen + Jill have to say:
Jill dives into a fascinating study conducted by marketing professors at the University of Oxford and the City University of New York, which suggests that cold weather prompts us to spend more than we normally would. She sees this as a great reminder that our spending decisions can shift with the seasons.
Jen, on the other hand, agrees that it’s not entirely our fault—there are many factors influencing our spending. Rather than making excuses, they believe this insight can help us stay mindful of our habits and make smarter choices!
How to Keep Your Finances Cozy This Winter
This article by Harvard Federal Credit Union rundown of what expenses to expect when the cold weather hits, and how to mitigate some of the costs.
What Jen + Jill have to say:
Jill suggests prepping for winter by budgeting ahead for heating bills, exploring ways to reduce energy costs like sealing air leaks or layering up, and meal planning with seasonal ingredients to save on rising grocery prices. She also recommends using bulk buying and local food pantries to stretch your food budget.
Jen highlights the importance of early prep to save money, like shopping for secondhand winter gear, handling home repairs before the cold sets in, and winterizing your car to avoid bigger costs later. They both recommend planning ahead to reduce the shock of seasonal costs for your future savings.
What’s a winter expense that somehow always seems to surprise you?
For Jill, it’s vehicle registration and food spending during December and January, while for Jen, it’s the increase in taxes and insurance every February.
Bill of The Week
Thank you Liz for sharing about your medical bill you didn’t pay on your emergency surgery ($7,000 billed but should have been less than $1,000 total).
Thanks so Much for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening. We love love love reading your kind reviews and we especially loved this one from:
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Real budget talk that won’t bore you to death
Listening to these fantastic ladies is entertaining, motivating, and educational. It seems like many budget podcasts and blogs are geared toward stay-at-home moms, or moms in general, and while that’s not totally abandoned on this show, it’s great to get some perspective from folks in a similar time of life. Maybe married a couple of years, no kids yet, killin’ that debt. I feel like they’ve really cornered budgeting for millennials, they’d really be beneficial for anybody. Even my husband likes them! Usually he’s only “tolerating” the podcasts I play but not with Frugal Friends! Thanks ladies for inspiration, self-deprecating humor, and realness.
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