I’ve lived in Minnesota for most of my life and if there’s one thing I know it is how to handle being snowed in.

I’ve learned how to keep my pantry stocked up, be prepared for any illnesses, and how to stay warm in cold weather.

But even when you know all those things, being stuck inside for long periods of time can really wear you down.  It can put even the happiest of people on edge.

So here are some things you can do to stay occupied during bad winter weather.

10 Frugal Things To Do When You’re Snowed In

Cook and bake.

You should already have plenty of food on hand.  Now you’ve got time, so go ahead and start cooking and baking.  You can make up a bunch of meals to put in the freezer that you can take out on busy nights.  You can bake some bread or make some treats.  You’ll get some of the meal prep done in advance and you’ll be heating up the house by using your oven and stove top.

Clip and organize coupons.

If you’ve been suffering from a little coupon fatigue, now is a great time to sit on the couch and get those coupons back in order. You can print new coupons, clip coupons from the paper and purge the expired ones in your coupon collection.  You’ll be ready to save the next time you head to the store.

Make money.

Just because you’re snowed in, doesn’t mean you can’t make money! List some stuff to sell on eBay or Craigslist.  Work on earning some free gift cards from Swagbucks or make a little extra cash taking online surveys.  Those little bits of money you make can add up and perhaps help you pay for a vacation someplace warm next winter.

Clean.

Okay, this isn’t the most fun thing to do, but it is frugal.  Whenever life gets busy, it’s easy to let the house get a little messy and disorganized.  Take advantage of the time stuck at home to give the house a good cleaning.  Declutter that pantry and clean out that overflowing closet.  Then bask in your accomplishment.

Shop the sales online.

Now, this is tricky.  We all know how easy it is to fall prey to impulse buys when shopping online.  So make a shopping list of things you need and then look for great deals.  For example, now is a fantastic time of year to take advantage of winter clothing clearance sales.  Look for online coupon codes and earn cash back through places like Ebates. You’ll be able to stock up for next year at a significant savings.  Not sure you trust yourself not to buy?  Make wish lists instead. It can be fun to dream.

Play games or do puzzles.

Grab the family and work on a puzzle together or break out your favorite board game.  You could play video games together or work on word puzzles.  It’s relatively easy to find cheap puzzles and games to keep on hand for exactly this type of situation.

Get crafty.

Use what you’ve got around the house to create some home decor.  Do some sewing or knitting.  Work on a scrapbook.  Pick up the colored pencils and print some free coloring pages to keep busy.  It’s good to get those creative juices flowing.

Call a friend.

In this world of texting and Facebook, we often forget the beauty and simplicity of a simple phone call.  Pick up the phone and call a friend or relative you haven’t talked to in awhile.  If you really want to use technology, then make it a point to see your friend via Skype or FaceTime.  You’ll enjoy spending time getting caught up and it will be free or nearly free.

Exercise.

Feeling antsy?  Get moving.  If it’s not too cold, you can head outside to play in the snow in your backyard.  Otherwise, turn on some music and have a dance party inside or try some frugal fitness in your living room.  You’ll warm up and burn off some calories!

Staying home during severe weather is almost always the safest option.  And staying home can be a real money saver, too, especially when you discover frugal things to do.