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.
I think January went very well financially!!
ReplyDeleteWell done! My January was horrendous, I'd budgeted for car service, MOT, insurance and tax. But not for a new vacuum cleaner, new patio door, and glasses repair. YOU get extra Brownie Points for cancelling Radio Times though - I am convinced that lots of people sign up for those offers them forget to cancel on time and end up paying mire than they'd intended!
ReplyDeletehaving worked in sales, I can confirm that the reason people are pushed to pay by Direct Debit is because most people don't check their bank statements and memberships/subscriptions just keep on rolling out of their account.
Deleterather than take more stuff to landfill, I have found a local repair, recycle and reuse community led shed project that takes old appliances and strips them for parts to facilitate repairs to other broken appliances when parts are not available. They do all sorts of things, from repairing electricals, making fire pits out of washing machine drums, clothing care and repair, mosaics out of broken china . . . anything to reduce landfill.
ReplyDeleteWhat new hoover did you get? I have a very elderly Dyson Animal but it isn't picking up hair well now, despite a new roller head for it. But I am NOT tempted to pay £650 for a new Dyson one!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about grocery prices still increasing as it is a struggle to keep spendings down. I have had the girls here this week, so extra spent on food (and wine) for that.
I managed to get a goodly pile of books off to charity, along with some of Tam's clothing (she chose it, not me!!), and I do hope I will be bringing home less after the Antiques Fair!
Well done on your January low spend! Just one coffee out was an achievement, I've also kept this down because the weather has been so filthy. Funnily enough we also had to replace the vacuum cleaner but it had given good service for a very long time and didn't owe us anything. The Radio Times offer worked out well too.
ReplyDeleteHope February will go well. The Council tax holidays for a couple of months are welcome although I know we're still paying the same amount overall!
Penny
Saving electricity by staying in bed. That made me laugh. I have managed that on the cold, wet days of January. We go to bed earlier in winter too. I top up the teapot and fill the vacuum flask.
ReplyDelete