How to make your money last through January

THE festive season is expensive and most people will be paid around December 16, hopefully with a Christmas bonus, but this money will have to stretch until the end of January, with many people not realising this time frame is actually about six weeks.

Budget

Pay all your accounts first (bond, rent, lights and water, rates, telephone account, and whatever other monthly accounts you may have).

Go easy on Christmas gifts. Decide how many gifts you need to buy and a roundabout figure of how much you wish to spend on each, and stick to it!

The shops will be full of luxury food items over this festive time and it’s wonderful to have treats, but only buy these if you can really afford them. Rather than buy expensive biscuits and cakes, bake your own.

Put money away for each week in January for food, petrol, etc, so you don’t spend it all in December. Some people find it helpful if they draw the money and put a weekly amount into envelopes, numbering them one to four. Don’t dip into week two if it’s only week one.

Look out for food and toiletry specials and buy weekly, especially for meat, vegetables and fruit. A monthly shop can cost more.

Even though many of you will want to eat more healthily after Christmas, eating this way can cost more. In January rather eat more economically, with pasta, potatoes or rice, using less meat. Once a week have a meatless day.

Meal ideas without meat

Eggs are a good source of protein and an omelette with chopped onions and tomatoes is very tasty. Serve with a slice of wholewheat toast.

Or try pasta with herb and tomato sauce with grated cheese, or vegetable lasagne. Creamed mushrooms on toast is also easy and delicious.

It won’t kill you to cut back for a few weeks, and you won’t be going into February in debt.