Monday 31 January 2022

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


32 comments:

  1. Yes, Dear January…a month for bolting the door, pulling the curtains, and snuggling with a good book. X

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  2. February I don't mind, whatever the weather - it's shorter! And only 4 weeks to go till Caravan Day!

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    1. I have to wait an extra few days for what I'm looking forward to....carboot sales on the first weekend in March!

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  3. I agree Sue. I know we should not wish our lives away but I am very glad to get to 31st January this year. It has felt endless and grey.

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    1. I'm looking forward to a bit of warmth - I always reckon I should have been born somewhere warmer!

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  4. January has been a roller-coaster month for me - highs (seeing a dentist!) and lows (some sad things) but I have realised that in January I've met quite a few more people from the village. I hope February proves bright and cheerful for all of us.

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    1. February WILL be better. If we say it loud enough it will happen

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  5. I've quite enjoyed January apart from a few sad days. It's better when the sun shines and, thinking back, we have had a fair share of sunny days. Not a hint of snow but, as you say, February is often more the snow month than January.
    Time will tell.
    xx

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    1. The days go so fast and in just 28 days we will know what February was like!

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  6. January always feels like a trudge. It's often gloomy and its after all the adrenaline of Christmas. Sending hugs x

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    1. I'm a fan of light and warmth, so roll on spring

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  7. I accept I'm odd but I prefer the winter months as I feel the heat dreadfully and hate the really hot days in the summer months. Aside have you tried using Petrolprices.com - if you log in it tells you the cheapest petrol / diesel in your area. It's saved us hundreds since I started using it. Fiona x

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    1. Being out in the country there are so few petrol stations. I've looked online and normally people get a list of their 5 nearest petrol stations - my postcode only comes up with 2!
      My nearest is just up the road but is the only one within about 6 miles so I try and fill up when I am out doing food shopping and a Co-op garage is always cheapest but is in the wrong direction!

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  8. I don't mind any month. They have to be accepted for any natural occurence in order for the next month to contain the progression of the seasons. A bit fanciful but those are my thoughts on January.

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    1. Very true but I'm glad to see the back of it every year!

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  9. If someone said pick your favorite month it would not be January, but I don't mind it has something to offer. a chance to slow down and tuck in.
    have a great week
    Cathy

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    1. I seem to have had quite a lazy month which I don't really like

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  10. I have a daughter who was born February 1st 1963 - yes the year of the big freeze. We were living in a rented house with huge rooms with little coal fires. It had snowed and continued to snow for what seemed like forever. Here’s hoping you don’t get a February like that one.
    Melbourne has had a scorching hot and humid January this year February might be the same….guess which I prefer - hint….not the white one😊😎

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    1. I was 8 in 1963 and remember slipping and sliding and being wrapped up with hat and scarves and welly boots walking to school everyday. We only had coal fires at home and no heat in bedrooms and the water pipes burst out in the driveway but it's left no other memories!

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  11. I really don't mind January or February as I love the colder, wilder months. It's the hottest days of Summer that I really dislike, after all it's easier to wrap up warm than it is to cool yourself down and I guess it's also because I am a real home-bird, preferring to stay in much more and the colder weather is a good excuse just to do that.

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    1. I'm the opposite - I should have been born somewhere warmer!

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  12. Oh! Carboot sales start up in March! How exciting is that! I will be there in March! Maybe I can find one!

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    1. Where in the UK will you be staying?

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    2. Sue, could you send me a comment w your email? I will not publish it but if I put that sort of info out publicly they both would be very unhappy

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  13. January has never been my favourite month and I am always pleased to say goodbye to it and luckily Feb is a short month and a getting lighter month. Luckily we have had a lot of sunshine in Jan this year and that has kept the central heating bills down.

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  14. January has been cold and the snow cover is 24 to 30 inches deep (depending on the snow drift). The sun is brilliant today and the snow covered ground is sparkling in the sunlight. It's really quite scenic but still very cold. Tall boots and dressing in layers will be key for being outside walking my Bernese Mountain dog who loves the snow.

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    1. We might see some snow - but no sign of it yet

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  15. January isn't my favourite month, but as snow and ice and cold are a given where I (foolishly lol) moved to I decided about four years ago to finally just embrace it. I bundle up in several layers and head out and try to look for beauty around me. It helps that I decided to do this about the same time I took up photography lol.

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    1. You definitely picked a chilly part of the US! but your photos of the ice shapes on the lake are beautiful

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  16. Gasoline in January: None. The car was snowed in until today.

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