3 ways to protect your finances this upcoming winter season

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Winter is coming, and with it comes the prospect of some bleak months of financial distress. It's really no secret that the final quarter of the year is where most people fall into money problems. There are different reasons for this, all of which will be discussed throughout this post. Today, we're going to walk you through some simple steps that'll protect your finances during this upcoming winter, addressing some of the main financial concerns you'll have...

Shop smarter at Christmas
Yes, most of us end up in a bit of debt around January because of heavy Christmas spending. If you're not careful, you can really go overboard with your spending, leaving you in financial distress. The trick is to shop smarter in the build-up to Christmas. This means getting some of your shopping done as early as possible, taking advantage of any deals you can find. Shopping on Black Friday for gifts is smart as you can get some absolute bargains. Also, pay for expensive things on your credit card - it gives you some extra time before you can pay for them, allowing you to manage your finances better. It's not a good idea to spend thousands of dollars in such a short period - break it up with your credit card!

Get your plumbing checked out
Winter is the time of year where most plumbing problems happen. The air gets colder, freezing pipes and causing them to burst. You can face all sorts of costly problems, which is why you need a plumbing assessment ASAP. Get a plumber to your home and they can check everything from the rubber gasket material to the health of your pipes. If they spot any potential problems, they can fix them for far less than if you left them and they caused leaks in your home. This can, potentially, help you save thousands of dollars in extensive plumbing repairs this winter. 

Insulate your home
Energy prices are rising, which is why you need to use as little gas as possible in the coming winter months. Understandably, you may need to have your heating on to keep everyone warm and cozy this winter. However, you can reduce how much energy is used by insulating your home correctly. Use draft excluders to stop cold air from entering your property, get thick curtains to trap heat in rooms, lay down rugs, upgrade your loft insulation, and so on. The warmer you can make your home without needing the heating on, the less energy you will use. Apparently, if you turn the thermostat back between 7-10 degrees from what you'd normally have it on, you can save 10% on your energy bills per year. It is definitely possible to do this if you are insulating your home correctly!

There you go; three ways to protect your finances this upcoming winter. It's all about shopping smarter during the festive period, keeping your plumbing in check, and lowering the cost of your winter energy bills. These ideas will help you save money and enter the new year in a better financial position.