Posted by It’s the middle of winter in central Minnesota and we have about 3 feet of snow on the ground. The temperature has been below freezing most days since early December this year. In past years, when I was working, we would go shopping or to the casino to get some walking exercise. Now my only form of exercise this winter has been shoveling snow. My morning routine is to get up and have a bowl of cereal or a bagel with a cup of coffee. I then sometimes watch a few of my favorite YouTube shows during breakfast. After that I get on the computer to do some stock research or some writing. After that, I usually have a sandwich or leftovers for lunch. In the afternoon I might clean the house, watch a movie, or take a nap depending on how I feel.
In the evening, after dinner, we like to watch real life crime, cooking, or survival shows. One survival show that has caught our interest is called “Alone”. They put 10 people in the wilderness and see who can last the longest. It kind of reminds me of my own living situation in some ways. Although we have a nice warm home, in the winter there is a feeling of isolation. I only go outside to shovel snow, get the mail, and pick up groceries. It can make you feel like you are wasting your life away. The days tick by as I go about my daily routines. I find ways to pass time as I wait for warmer weather to arrive. We have set our budget and do our best to live within it. However, having to limit spending to only the necessities can add to the feeling of being in survival mode. Except in this case, we can’t call someone and “tap out” of the contest.
I don’t have a money saving tip to share this time. Only to say that winter makes everything more difficult. You have to do what you can to keep your spirits up. Most of the people on “Alone” leave the contest because they are either physically exhausted or they miss their families too much. They get to the point where the $500,000 dollar prize is not worth the time away from their loved ones. The show is on HULU, if you are interested. Some aspects of the show remind me of my own trials having to endure the long cold winter. For us, the prize is the warmer weather that comes in April and May. For now, it is best to use this time to work on creative projects and think about plans for the future.