Frugal but happy in winter?

jd1000

Last winter we went on a real money saving drive, turning lights off and changing to energy saving bulbs etc. It was quite depressing.

Does anyone have some tips of how to stay cheerful during the dark winter months (I love christmas!) without getting bored/depressed

esmf73

From a few threads that I've read a lot of people used candles, the twinkling of candlelight is magical!

Perhaps start a new craft that can be tied in with OS ways - knitting, card making etc? Or ensure that once a week you get out for a nice day out - can be OS - take a picnic, go to a favourite spot, get out in the sunshine - or the brisk wind!

Odette

Snuggles in bed :beer:

rachbc

open fires, walks and bike rides, good books, early nights!

Nitha

PJs, candles and hot chocolate - lush!

tallyhoh

Making your own decorations with cones etc collected on walks. Making your own prezzies for relatives, little jars of jam or cakes etc.

kunekune

It may be that you suffer from seasonal affective disorder, so that lack of light was a big issue (it would be in my family). Perhaps the energy saving bulbs were one step too far - and yes, I know it's hard to find anything else, obviously the highers-up don't think SAD is a real problem. The candle idea might help, also perhaps get a few table lamps to brighten up the room?

toolittletime

We've got a sofa bed in the living room and when it's miserable and horrible outside the kids gather together all the duvets and blankets and we pull the sofa bed out and all pile on to watch dvds - warm and cosy!

We use candles a lot too - and the log burner adds heat and real atmosphere.

winniepooh

rachbc wrote: »

open fires, walks and bike rides, good books, early nights!

sounds fab. I wish we had a real fire.

Getting the candles ready, got new pj's coming. Just need a big fleecy blanket now.

celyn90

kunekune wrote: »

It may be that you suffer from seasonal affective disorder, so that lack of light was a big issue (it would be in my family). Perhaps the energy saving bulbs were one step too far - and yes, I know it's hard to find anything else, obviously the highers-up don't think SAD is a real problem. The candle idea might help, also perhaps get a few table lamps to brighten up the room?

I can't do energy saving bulb either, I hate them. Daylight bulbs are the way forward, I used to buy them in hobbycraft. I figure if I try to keep ones off I'm not using, then I don't actually waste that much power.

Otherwise, bring winter foliage in to brighten the place up, make sure the house is aired and not stuffy, have something in the house that smells nice, change the linen frequently and keep the place tidy so your not depressed by pile of things to do Try to get outside at least once a day

Zazen999

jd1000 wrote: »

Last winter we went on a real money saving drive, turning lights off and changing to energy saving bulbs etc. It was quite depressing.

Does anyone have some tips of how to stay cheerful during the dark winter months (I love christmas!) without getting bored/depressed

Woodburner; cinnamon bread and scented candles. Snuggles.