The arrival of March brings the start of daylight savings time, the first day of spring and hopefully some pleasant weather as well. If you live in an area with cold winter months, the first few days that don’t require heavy jackets feel like a real cause for celebration. Before you run out the door, consider a few ideas to avoid common pitfalls and save money this month.
Read on to discover the items to buy, foods to cook and steps to stretch your budget in March.
[See: 10 Big Ways to Boost Your Budget — Without Skimping on Your Daily Latte.]
Look ahead and consider what’s on sale now. With warm weather on the horizon, you’re probably thinking shorts and spring jackets, new plants and landscaping ideas and even summer vacations. Instead, take a minute to consider your gear and apparel from this winter. If there is anything rundown or in need of replacement, now is the time to get it. Winter coats, sports equipment, ski and snowboard gear are on sale during March as stores clear out their inventory. Take note of what you have, including all of your kids’ winter gear. If you know they won’t fit into those winter jackets next year, buy some now that are slightly big and thank yourself later.
Another item that is often available at a considerable discount in March is luggage. Spring break and summer vacations are around the corner, but before their arrival, you can get great deals on new luggage and travel accessories at department stores such as Macy’s and JCPenney.
Try new recipes with seasonal produce. Tired of winter stews and roasts? March is the perfect time to try a few new recipes with produce that is in-season and less expensive. Add some color and nutrients to your cooking with green vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, spinach, scallions and asparagus. Ward off any remaining winter illness with citrus fruits such as grapefruit, tangerines and Cara Cara oranges.
After St. Patrick’s Day, take advantage of traditional fare that will be slashed in price. Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots are all featured in holiday dishes. You can even freeze meat or meals and plan ahead for several months. Don’t forget to label dishes with dates and descriptions, which will be helpful when you forget the contents of your freezer later.
[See: 11 Expenses Destroying Your Budget.]
Get creative with cabin fever. The arrival of March brings a few beautiful, warm days and then suddenly, you’re right back into winter. This frustrating time of year can be unpredictable, and is often when cabin fever sets in. It can be tempting to pile the family into the car and head to a movie or arcade, where it’s too easy to spend hundreds of dollars in an afternoon. Instead of fighting cabin fever with pricey outings, get creative with indoor activities.
March is National Craft Month, which often means many home improvement and craft stores will offer a selection of free or inexpensive do-it-yourself classes. Check the calendars and social media pages of your local stores for upcoming DIY events. Not only can you have a low-cost afternoon out of the house, you may learn something as well. Your area gardening center is another possibility for educational classes, especially if it has greenhouses and indoor space. Get the whole family to brush up on plant knowledge and gardening tips, and you’ll be ready for outdoor activities next month.
[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]
Turn down the heat. A shoulder season like spring gives you a rare opportunity for pleasant temperatures where you can avoid both heat and air conditioning. Open your windows and put on another layer if it’s a little chilly. Not only will you conserve energy and save money on your utilities, you can air out your home and welcome in the fresh scent of spring.
Spring clean your home … and your finances. Once you can crack open the windows, it’s time for giving your home a top-to-bottom deep clean. Spring cleaning might mean washing floors and dusting bookshelves, as well as going through your closet and garage and finding old items you no longer use. Separate everything into three piles — toss, donate and sell — and make some money from your once-loved items.
Look beyond your home and do some spring cleaning of your finances, too. Review the last few months of expenses. Is there anything you are spending money on unnecessarily, such as an unused gym membership or too many video-streaming subscriptions? If you notice certain patterns where you are overspending, such as dining out at the end of the week or getting one too many happy hour cocktails with co-workers, tighten up your budget and come up with a plan to avoid those high expenditures.
More from U.S. News
12 Millennial-Inspired Ways to Spend Less
5 Ways to Cut Spending in March 2018 originally appeared on usnews.com
