Frugal Ways To Beat the Winter Blahs

by Veronica Bowman

By mid-winter, it can get pretty hard to beat the winter blahs that creep in. Try these frugal ways to brighten winter days instead without breaking your budget.

By mid-winter, it’s hard to feel the same excitement and appreciation we felt for winter at the beginning of the season.

There’s a certain anticipation of change at the beginning of each season and winter is no exception. You just can’t wait to pull out your favorite winter sweater or remove that warm cozy blanket from storage. Holiday excitement adds to the welcoming feeling we have for winter.

But, after the holidays, the cold winter days begin to seem long, boring, and possibly even depressing. There are various ways to brighten those winter days without breaking your budget.

Add some color to the gray winter days.

Wear something colorful. You don’t have to buy anything new. You can combine or layer a brightly colored summer item with your winter attire.

Or, you can use accessories to brighten up your winter wardrobe. Something as simple as vibrant colored jewelry, sparkling hair accessories, wild and crazy socks, a kaleidoscope tie, brightly colored gloves, or a multi-colored scarf can lift your spirit.

Brighten up your home to banish winter blahs.

Re-purpose some of the energizing red holiday decorations you used. Lighting is an important factor in setting the mood in a room. And with LED bulbs adding some lighting only costs pennies.

You can find inexpensive rugs or pillows to add a splash of color to a room. Another way to brighten a room is with colorful wall art. This can be in the form of paintings, a scenic calendar, summer vacation photos, or woven wall hangings.

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Laughter is good for the soul in any season.

You can lift your mood by watching a hilarious movie. A humorous book can have the same effect. Don’t rule out joke books even if that is not your typical type of reading material.

Borrow a book or movie from your friend or local library if you don’t want to spend the money to buy one.

Have a hotdog lunch on a blanket in the family room while watching a comedy marathon on television. Bake one of your favorite wintertime desserts and enjoy it without guilt.

Get outside and enjoy winter’s beauty

Sometimes, the feeling of being confined to the indoors contributes to the sadness and winter blahs that engulfs us on a day in winter.

It is important to remember that winter is not a season of confinement. There are many natural beauties to be enjoyed during the winter. A long walk on a winter day or learning a winter sport is a fantastic way to beat the winter blahs.

If possible, take a mini-vacation in winter. Generally, travel is less expensive in winter. Rates are down. You can find some excellent off-season packages and travel plans.

Eat a healthy diet during the winter months.

Sickness can hurt your budget.

Illness often increases the feelings of sadness that often come with winter. Exercise and proper nutrition are essential in winter. You also need to get the proper amount of sleep in winter. A lack of sleep makes you more susceptible to illness. People often think of winter as a time of withdrawal and hibernation, yet they find a good night’s sleep to be an elusive goal.

Adopt a pre-bedtime ritual that will help you relax and encourage sleep. And, remember that there’s nothing wrong with taking a short nap to renew your physical energy and your mind.

Related: 8 No-Cost Ways to Get to Sleep

With the variety of budget-friendly ways to beat the winter blahs, there is no reason to feel that winter is just something to be endured.

Reviewed February 2023

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