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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you will be skint in January?

225 replies

Freco010 · 28/12/2018 22:33

I’m just doing my budget for January and wondering if most people will be skint in January or do you budget and it’s not a problem?

OP posts:
Original poster
Freco010 · 29/12/2018 09:26

Sorry to hear from people having a tough time. Hope 2019 brings good things for you all!

OP posts:
dancinfeet · 29/12/2018 09:35

yes, but then I am skint every month, so nothing new there

Notacluethisxmas · 29/12/2018 09:39

I am not. But I get paid every four weeks. This year it works out I get paid on the 4th January. All my bills come out on the 1st. The money is there for them.

It's ds birthday at the beginning of March so will be not spending too much in Jan and feb to cover it.

choli · 29/12/2018 10:10

For those skint in January. Do you regret the Christmas spending or do you think it's worth it?

DyingMachine · 29/12/2018 10:22

No, far from it. However, this is the first time in a long time.

LoisWilkerson1 · 29/12/2018 10:29

Yes a little but because I overspent on some diy not really because of Christmas. I put away money for that. I have savings I can use unlike many so I don't like to use the word skint. A bit tight is better.

HKAB18 · 29/12/2018 10:30

No because I’m back from maternity and I did KIT days in November so I’m being paid for them as well. A year off has been worth it but I am so excited to be having money again!

stayingaliveisawayoflife · 29/12/2018 10:34

Yes but because I am the only earner in my family I pay for Christmas food etc. I also give my sister £300 to top up her universal credit so she can survive so it is tough.

formerbabe · 29/12/2018 10:44

No more skint in January than any other month.

I don't overspend at Christmas..I only buy Christmas presents for my dc and my niece...I buy over several months to spread the cost and so it's not a big rush. I spend a little more on food but not ridiculous amounts.

Girlicorne · 29/12/2018 10:46

No, DH gets paid weekly. Plus January is fairly low key, a lot of places shut for winter so our January days out will be to our two local theme parks or national trust places, both of which we have annual passes for.

insideoutsider · 29/12/2018 10:50

Nope. I don't over-spend at Christmas. I never understand why people spend money they don't have... this then teaches kids to the same. Only the profit makers are healthier for it while people go into debt accumulating meaningless 'stuff'.

Sorry about the rant.

Anyway, I get paid on Monday so hopefully, no issues for January.

I understand though OP, January is a good time for tightening financial belts and New years resolutions.

girlonatrain19 · 29/12/2018 10:52

No, because I budget and only buy what I can afford at Christmas. Also- it helps to buy a few Christmas bits each month from September time as you don't get overwhelmed with the cost in December.

I've seen so many parents on my Facebook literally buying mountains of presents for their children they can't afford! Then complaining afterwards about the amount spent.Hmm I even had a lady message me and ask me for £100 and she'd pay me back end of January because she'd spent to much on her kids at Christmas!

I don't have a lot of money myself, only bring in £630pm but I make it work and only buy presents for essential people. I'm 19 for reference and live in my own (rented) flat.

girlonatrain19 · 29/12/2018 10:55

@stayingaliveisawayoflife why don't any of your other family work? Or did you just mean your partner?

Why doesn't your sister work? (Sorry If it's a disability issue!) just wondering. That £300 probably would have been better spent getting her some more qualifications to improve her job prospects.

Oysterbabe · 29/12/2018 10:57

No, we're OK. We didn't spend more than we could afford at Christmas and I'm back at work after maternity so we have a bit more coming in than we did.

Schmoobarb · 29/12/2018 11:01

Not too bad, I get paid mid month which is good!

xJessica · 29/12/2018 11:02

No, we get paid early in December but don't touch the money till normal payday, tempting though it is to use it and we budget for Christmas and don't get into debt.

LokiDokiArtichoki · 29/12/2018 11:04

Not skint but not much spare.

I started a new job in October which pays weekly so will help as not got the long wait between paydays

Iputthescrewinthetuna · 29/12/2018 11:04

I am skint now, but it is 'planned skintness'
It is DDs bday next week, we never buy for it before xmas as we never know what family buy her.
We do make a plan though and do a strict budget for January. As I get paid early in dec (as most do) I refuse to use that pay until after my normal pay date.

FourFuxxakes · 29/12/2018 11:05

Yes. We are skint anyway. We spent as little as possible over Xmas (less than £200 for all food & gifts incl. £70 worth of vouchers) but we're still in the shit. We're due a gas/elec bill too. It's only going to be about £270 but I have no idea how we're going to pay it. Dh won't get a bonus at the end of January either because he couldn't hit his targets in December so it's going to be a flat wage for him. Here's hoping I get plenty of work so we can keep the wolf from the door.

GaryBaldbiscuit · 29/12/2018 11:07

I daren't check my bank account!

werideatdawn · 29/12/2018 11:07

Nope thankfully. No credit cards to pay back as didn't use them and DH got £50 Morrisons vouchers from work bonus so we're good. Couldn't cope with starting the year broke, it would give me massive anxiety.

5fivestar · 29/12/2018 11:08

No, but won’t be rolling in it either, hardly worked in December

WorraLiberty · 29/12/2018 11:08

January has always been hit and miss for us but should be ok this year.

Luckily my DH gets paid weekly, whereas I get paid monthly. That really helps otherwise we probably would've overspent his wages, like we overspent mine.

Gizlotsmum · 29/12/2018 11:08

It will be a bit tight. Dance class fees due and school trips to pay for plus quiet December for DH so lower wage ( commission based). But have reduced the amount I move to savings and will budget accordingly,

Lovingit81 · 29/12/2018 11:11

We will try to reign in spending in January to make up for Xmas but no we won't be skint.

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