End Of January

Thank Heavens it's the end of January - not a month I love. Especially as I was feeling under par for the last week. Of course it's quite likely that February will be worse weather-wise - it's more often the month we get snow, but hopefully any snow we have shouldn't linger too long. And it's always getting lighter.

Many years ago I decided the best way to get through January was to accept that it's gloomy and to enjoy indoor time - so there's not much to write about in the summing up of the ins, outs and frugal bits of the month.

Income was the usual 2 pensions and bits of interest from savings bonds, the only extra being the £10 evoucher from the Office of National Statistics.

 Expenses this month were not so bad................  2 lots of diesel for the car, the four weekly electric bill, phone bills. Food spending was low as many of the main things were from the freezer, bought before Christmas. Then  the usual house stuff like dishwasher tablets and washing soda for laundry - boring things that have to be bought.

The raspberry canes,  water butt and fixings and the bird feeding station and feed were the main extras. The bill for the December boiler repair arrived - when I'd nearly forgot it had been done - so that's been paid.

No clothes, shoes,haircuts, make up etc for me but I bought a pair of cheapish reading glasses, the pack of printed Pigeonposted letter and envelope combo, mentioned by Ang at Tracing Rainbows (the writing area were smaller than I thought, so wouldn't purchase again despite the gorgeous Angela Harding prints of hares and birds) and  I might have splashed out on a couple(or 3)  second-hand books - and found one interesting looking book for just 31p +postage (wonder if it will ever go back to the days when some Amazon books could be had for 1p?)

 

The only frugal things I can think of are the usual like mixing milk half and half with water, trying not to use the tumble dryer by picking the right days to do the washing, eating things from the freezer, trying to fill up with diesel at the petrol station that's 4p a litre cheaper than my nearest, using a small light for reading rather than the 10 overhead light-bulbs!,library books for free, charity shop birthday present and home made bread.
 

I'm still making sure that things no longer needed leave the house straightaway so out of the house have gone.................

9 books from my WWII shelves to charity shop

Some Christmas Decorations that I didn't use this year and won't use next.......... to charity shop

Cloth shopping bag to charity shop

 

Looking back at  February 2021 and I spent very little apart from having to fork out in advance for the first stay in the holiday let. Were we locked down through the month? - I can't remember although I do remember we had snow and the drifts against the garage door stopped me getting out for a week.. Hopefully this February will be very frugal too, depends on what exciting things I do!? 

 

Back Tomorrow

Sue