Ideas for cutting costs in autumn

As summer ends and the cooler weather arrives, we can’t help but think about what autumn brings along. The days are getting shorter, there is less light. The weather is getting cooler, and we’ll soon have to turn on the heating. All this means that we’ll also consume more electricity. Children return to school and start their extra-curricular activities and it’s often in autumn that we notice they have outgrown their clothes and shoes. It all means that you'll be feeling the pinch. Looking at the price hikes of many goods and services, it’s understandable that people are wondering how to cope. In this article, we’ve put together some suggestions that might be useful for you and your family.

New school year – big spending?

The new school year inevitably brings with it a range of various costs – from clothes to school supplies and equipment for extra-curricular activities. How can these costs be kept under control? Buy less! Before you head to the shops to stock up on everything your children need, carefully check which items are left over from last year! Unused notebooks, stationery, or a well-preserved backpack and pens? However, if you do need to get these things, ask your friends and relatives – maybe they have something they don’t need that could be useful for your family. At the same time, you can offer them items that your family no longer needs, but which could come in handy for another family.

You can also try to sell well-kept articles on the secondary market – the social networking era has opened up unprecedented opportunities to sell new and second-hand items via Facebook, for example.

Buy smartly!

When you go shopping, stick to the list you’ve prepared in advance! It’s important to distinguish between the things you want and need. Not everything we want is what we really need. Discuss your shopping list with your children – this will involve them in the financial planning process and give them new skills that will definitely benefit them in the future, too. When finishing the list, agree with your children that nothing will be impulsively added to the shopping trolley in the shop.

Today’s digital age and the restrictions imposed because of the pandemic have boosted the development of e-commerce, making online shopping more convenient than ever. Buy online, compare prices, find the best deals, and use promo codes!

Energy efficiency in your home

People keep speculating on how high the energy bills could rise with the arrival of the cold. Dark and wet weather takes its toll – electricity is expensive, but you can’t live without it. So how can you reduce electricity consumption in your household?

Use only energy-saving light bulbs! Replace incandescent or halogen light bulbs with LED bulbs! Although LED light bulbs are more expensive, they consume less electricity and have a longer lifespan, so they’re definitely worth it in the long run. When making tea or coffee, boil only as much water as you really need! The smaller the quantity of water, the faster it boils. Defrost your freezer regularly! The thicker the layer of ice that builds up in the freezer, the more energy the fridge consumes. Unplug electrical appliances when you leave home! The TV consumes electricity even when it’s switched off. Finally, find out what electricity packages are available on the market and choose the best deal.

However, if you can invest in solar panels or make your home more heat-efficient, your energy bills will also be lower in the future. It will definitely pay off in the long run.

Advantages of harvesting

An autumn day feeds a whole winter, as the saying goes. This means that different harvests will be ready and people should have plenty to eat. Now is the perfect time to replenish your winter food stocks with a variety of preserves! Gherkins, tomatoes in their own juice, pickled pumpkins, various sauces, salads, and even dried garden or forest produce. Dried apples, for example, are a nice snack in winter, but they can also be made into a vitamin-rich tea. The options are many and varied.

If you haven’t been to the forest yet, now is the time to treat yourself to a nice trip there to pick berries or mushrooms. It’s also a great way to get some fresh air. When in the forest, take care of nature and bring any rubbish back with you.

Responsible financial planning

The above suggestions should not be taken as financial advice, but rather as ideas to try. The financial situation of each person and family is individual and it’s always worth considering your own situation and means. Be sure to consider saving as well! Fixed-term deposits are a good solution that helps avoid spending money on impulse purchases, as your money is deposited for a fixed period of time and also earns something extra.

We remind you that all financial decisions require careful consideration.