Staying Warm on a Budget

If you live out of home you are most likely aware of the expensive costs that come with trying to keep your house warm. In my share house we don't use our heaters, as it is very expensive to heat all the rooms. Here are a few tips for surviving the cold, without breaking the bank.

1. Rug up

I know this is seems simple, but some people don't get it. I have heard of people who like to be able to walk around in their shorts and t-shirt whilst inside, but this comes with huge costs. Every degree higher you go over 18 degrees, increases your energy use by 10%. So pull out the throw rug, put on some extra layers and invest in a hot water bottle. 

2. Consume Warm Food and Drinks

Eating healthy hot dinners such as stews with lots of vegetables will keep you toasty and boost your immune system. Stews cook on a low heat which will stop your oven overusing energy. Drink lots of tea or even just hot water to keep you warm and hydrated.

3. Get Active

The really cold days are the best time to get your housework done. Keeping moving will automatically warm you up, burn those extra kilojoules and keep your home clean :).

4.Use Natural Heating

We often get some sunny winter days, so don't keep your house closed up during the day. Open up your curtains to let the light in, and when the sun goes down close them to trap the warm air. 

Get Your Soup On

I often struggle to eat healthy when i dont have a lot of money, espeically when you can get some 2 minute noodles for 99c. You need to consider the ramifications of not eating well. When the cold weather creeps in your body needs those extra vitamins to fight off those winter nasties.

I dont know about you but im a massive soup fan and it is so incredibly cheap to make. Here are my two favourite recipes and approximate costs to make them.

Chicken Noodle with Corn and Spring Onion

1 x Continental Chicken Simmer Soup Sachet - 99c

4 x Cups of water

1x Tin of Corn Cernals - 99c

1/2 Roast Chicken - $4.99

1/6 pack of Oodon Japanese Noodles - 50c

2 Spring onion stems - 30c

This soup i usually get about 4 servings out of making it $1.94 per serve.

Pumpkin Soup

1kg Pumpkin - 99c

1L Chicken Stock - $1.25 (depending on what you get)

1 Brown Onion - 60c

2 Carrots- 80c

Little bit of Nutmeg

Little bit of Chilli Flakes

2 Cloves of Garlic - 50c

1/2 cup of cream - 80c

This recipe makes around 3- 4 serves m aking it approximatly $1.45 per serve

Wait For Cheaper Fuel Day

With the rising fuel prices its ok to be a little bit stingy. I consider myself to be a bit of a fuel natzy. I watch the petrol stations like a hawk to try and get the cheapest fuel price i can for the week. Fuel pricing tends to change patterns with the current cheaper days being Thursday and Friday and the largest rise occuring around Monday. It may only add an extra dollar here and there to your weekly spend, but adding that up becomes a much larger total... think about it

Shop at the Market

   Today I paid a visit to my local market and made quite a saving. I bought my fruit, vege and eggs from the market and then went to the supermarket for the rest of my items. All together these items cost me $28. I saved approximatly $8- $12 by shopping at the market.

DIY Decorations

The Christmas season is fast approaching and tomorrow is the 1st of December... Time to get up all those beautiful christmas decorations. 

But why spend a lot of money? My little DIY christmas  tree only cost me $6.... So it takes a bit of muscle, but all you have to do it find a nice twiggy tree and give it a chop. Get some white spray paint and spray the branches. I got the decorations really cheap from kmart and used a vase i already had... and now we have a funky modern Christmas tree :)...  

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Buy Factory Seconds

I picked up these awesome pair of 'Bang' shorts for $10 at a fatory seconds shop because the zip was broken. I payed an extra $20 to have the zip replaced by a seamstress and now I have a perfect pair of shorts that only cost me $30. The fabric is beautiful, and looking at other items in the shop they potentially retailed at aroud $200.

Make Your Own

I recently had my 21st Birthday, and to celebrate the occassion I had a Dessert Party :). It is amazing how much you can save by making your own scrumptious goods. Including items such as Vanilla slice, cake pops, lemon kisses, mousse cups, toasted marshmellows, blackforest cake and the list goes on. Some items were also purchased from the previously mentioned webiste "Groupon" which was also a great saving :). So make use of your cullinary skills and get baking!