16 Boredom Busters that Can Save You Money

There are times of the year  when it is too cold, too gray, too muddy, and overall too yucky to spend time outside or to runaway to someplace warm and fun.

Cabin Fever that rolls into Spring Fever can be a great motivator to actually get all of that dumb little stuff you have to (or should do) projects once and for all.

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16 Ideas to Help You Beat Spring Fever, Cabin Fever and the Winter Blues

1.  Shop your house - Reorganize one kitchen cupboard, closet shelf, drawer etc. bit by bit when time permits. I consider myself organized but this Spring Fever buster taught me my family has Out of Sight Out of Mind Disease. I always find  stuff I forgot we had. I either put it to good use or donate it since I clearly wasn’t missing it.

Did I mention I need to start shuffling things in my cupboards on the regular? Also, I should drink tea more often.

2  Do a New Recipe night. One family I know picks a new recipe from Pinterest (if you want ideas you can follow me @condoblues on Pinterest) shops for the ingredients if needed (or maybe try using something you found in suggestion Number One), makes it, and enjoys dinner. This is a fantastic way to get picky eaters more likely to try new foods!

3. Start a new hobby  Take a Free Craftsy Class and learn something new!

I have learned so many baking tips and recipes after trying Bluprint and  I believe in it so strongly that I have no problem recommending it to you (and using my affiliate links to do it!)

4. Start or finish a fiddly (or sorta anal retentive) money saving project. Some examples might be:

• Filing/organizing financial paperwork in one place – bills, medical records, yearly tax returns/info
• Do a DIY energy audit (which will be super easy if you have all of your utility bills for the year in the same place!)
• Write the date you open a new package or size or something to track how long it lasts your family. This is usually a one time project per new sized item.
• Decant your staples into clear food storage containers and time and containers permit. I originally put everything in reused glass jars  because we had ants. After I finished I accidentally started to money on groceries because I could see exactly how much I had and stopped buying doubles, what I should use first, and keeps everything fresher, longer
• Track your utility use, bills, and spending in Quicken 
• Set up a budget
• Create or update a grocery Price Book
• Calculate the unit price for the household staples you buy

5.  Try making your own DIY cleaners. People complain they don’t have the time to make their own cleaners to save money.

In all honesty folks, 16 DIY Cleaners I make here use 3 ingredients or less and often less than 10 minutes to make.

6.  Try replacing a disposable option with a reusable option. For example, I gave up shaving with a disposable razor and tried an electric razor. Yep they have women's electric shavers too!

I bought the Panasonic Close Curves Wet/Dry Ladies Shaver from Amazon which works great if I need a leg touch up in the middle of the day when changing from pants to a skirt or to shorts for a workout.  Not shaving at all would be even cheaper but that is. Never. Going. To. Happen. Ever.

7.  Plan a vacation or project for later in the year.

8. Paint! – this is a suggestion from the Condo Blues/Lazy Budget Chef Facebook page, give us a Like to get in on the conversation!

9. Pick up an old forgotten hobby.  

I was able to start playing in a concert band this year with my old high school instrument.  It is a little frustrating to be practically a beginner again but my band friends are very supportive and won’t let me quit on myself. 

10. Have a Spa Day  I found a much better deal to buy a 40% off a professional massage using Groupon and remembered to buy it through the Ibotta app to also earn a 6% rebate. Best of all I don’t have to do it myself. Go me!

11. Make something Bonus points if you use something you already have on hand.

I sewed these reusable cloth gift bags (learn how here)  to simplify my Christmas gift wrapping and use my costuming fabric scraps. The best part was by doing this project in January and February, I didn’t have to try to fit it in during the busy Christmas season!

12. Have a game night. If everyone is busy, try going old school and play solitaire with real playing cards.

13. Mall walk When we got more snow than the dog is tall, I used to do this at a mall that allowed dogs. It’s not my favorite but at least it got us out of the house and moving.

14. Do a Deep or Spring Clean It will give you a chance to try that new DIY cleaning supply or shop your house!

My one ingredient DIY scouring powder – baking soda. I add a small squirt is dish washing detergent if it needs extra cleaning oomph

15. Donate, sell, or repurpose something you no longer use, doesn’t fit, etc

Read my post 20 New Ways to Use and Repurpose Old Towels here.

16. Fix or repair something, or find a repair person to do it for you. For example, the seams of the storage bags that came with our folding camp chairs were shredded beyond repair. I sewed new carrying bags using the original bags drawstring and carrying strap. 

 Read how to make a camp chair storage bag on my DIY blog Condo Blues here!. 

What are your boredom busters?


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