Will I really save money in the winter?

The calendar says mid-October, but it feels more like the middle of winter. Here in Chicago it’s cold, windy and rainy. I’d love to do nothing more tonight than go home, grab a blanket and cruise Netflix.

My budget thinks this is a great idea. And the thought of saving money because I’ll be staying in more is almost enough to warm me up.

But then I realize that, like previous years, my spending won’t so much decline this winter as it will shift. I’ll save in some areas and splurge in others – well, OK, heat isn’t necessarily a splurge.

I took a closer look at some of my personal seasonal spending habits and saw a few clear trends:

Summer

• I spend more on entertainment in the summer. Hey, summer up here is short and you’ve got to take advantage: Baseball, block parties, music festivals, patios.
• I spend less on transportation. The nice weather makes it easy to walk or bike. Even entertainment can be cheap, as a day in the park doesn’t cost anything.
• Energy bills are low. A fan and an open window is usually enough to keep me cool.

Winter

• I spend less on entertainment. As I said above, on many winter nights I’m perfectly content to stay warm with a movie, book or board game.
• I spend more on transportation. When it’s 0 degrees, a Cab ride is heaven.
• I spend way more on heat. Naturally, I’m pretty conscious when it comes to turning up the gas. I wear sweaters inside and use blankets and even an old fashioned hot water bottle. But you can still burn through a lot of gas just getting your house above 70 degrees. Also, since I’m home more, I’m using more lights, keeping the TV and computer on longer and even cooking more – and all of this means higher energy bills.

By changing a few of my habits I’m able to adjust for annual increases in basic costs. But just because I get by doesn’t mean I’m saving as much as I could.

So as the weather decides to skip fall and head straight into winter, now is a good time to reevaluate my seasonal spending habits.

Old habits die hard, and they can also lead us into debt. But by taking advantage of the changing weather and our natural changes in behavior we might have more success in dropping bad habits and starting new ones.

For example, some of my fixed costs aren’t up for discussion at any time of year. I want a good Internet connection at home. However, because it’s just now getting cold, I’ve yet to take my first cold weather cab of the year. I could make a resolution to wear another layer, stand closer to the heat lamps and stay away from extra cab rides.

Most of my cab rides are around $8-10. If I cut out just 5 rides a year that could be $50 in my pocket. A small sacrifice could result in a big gain.

What are some of your seasonal spending habits? As the trees are dropping leaves, maybe now is a good time to drop some of your worst spending habits.

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