January Finances Round Up

 January spending and saving, or did Just-Stay-in January help finances?

Income was the usual State Pension and County Council Spouses Pension and income from the downshifting savings.

Regular outgoings are the  direct debits for Council Tax, charity, phones and broadband and the monthly electric bill. They came to £337 this month.

Other Spending: - 

The Xmas present finds bought last month but counted in this years Christmas accounts £20.75.

Kitchen stuff was Smol tabs and Rinse Aid for the dishwasher plus de-scaler for coffee machine.

Bathroom things - soap, 14 month supply of loo rolls from "Who Gives a Crap" .

Laundry tabs also from Smol. 

Postage stamps.

At Superdrug - some plaster tape, new tub of cod-liver oil capsules and cotton buds.

From Hardware shop - a new battery for the doorbell (but it still didn't work so that was money wasted!) Not going far so only one lot of fuel top-up needed for the car = £23

Gifts - I sent a some flowers to ED as a surprise thank you for hosting us all in the holiday cottage at Christmas. Plus MGS Birthday present.

Food spending was average, despite eating lots from the freezer, just showing how food prices are still going up. Some of the spending at the end of the month was for batch cooking for the freezer. Just one coffee out with a Greggs bacon roll. - Now £3.15.

My personal spending was a hair cut, exercise group and some photos printed.

Looking after the pennies..................

• Ate from the freezer for main part of  main meal  after Christmas and most of January. 
• Cancelled Radio Times after the 10 weeks for £10 offer. It worked well for December, Christmas and New Year.
• Bread from the bread-maker 50/50 wholemeal/white all month.
• Dishwasher only used every other day
• Washing machine on just twice a week
• Nothing much needing ironing in winter
• Lots of lovely library books for free
• Sent a box of books off to 'We sell Books' = £22 
• Moved savings money into ISA
• Shut curtains as soon as it's dark to keep in heat.
• Get up late enough to not need lights in the mornings! 
• In the right place to get half dozen eggs for £1 from the roadside stall once during the month
• Nothing spent on clothes, makeup etc etc

Out of the house this month has gone.... the old hoover to the tip plus the big cardboard box that the new hoover came in,  a bag of odd bits and bobs not used for ages plus some books to charity shop as well as the books to We Sell Books. 

Going forward to February............ I'll probably need some heating oil plus there is the half year water/sewer bill but there's no Council tax. I'm aiming for another low spend month again staying mostly at home.