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Original poster

January skintness

38 replies

Hardrocker · 04/01/2024 17:32

Hi,

I’ve just paid d off our Xmas credit card bill, on top of a New Years break in Devon, and now we’re a bit skint until 25th Jan!

I’ve been through the cupboards and freezer and have done a big Aldi shop and have meal planned etc

I’ll just need to buy fresh bread/ milk and packed lunch items etc

we have the grand sun of £417 to last until 25th. All bills etc are paid but This Feria tight!

anyone else feeling the january pinch?

OP posts:
WombatBombat · 04/01/2024 18:25

So nearly £20 per day with all bills etc paid for, most of the food in and just top up food to get?

Unless you’re going to say you’ve got 25 kids and drive a tank that needs 2000l of fuel, that should easily be manageable!

MikeRafone · 04/01/2024 18:42

how many of you are there? If there is 10 of you maybe it will be a pinch - but if there is 5 of you £20 a day after all bills are paid and you have a large grocery shop for the next week - is not exactly a pinch for many of us, it'd be a normal month for many

Favouritefruits · 04/01/2024 18:50

Yes we don’t have much spare atm anyway with the mortgage doubling last month and now we’ve had a £1,100 tax bill, I know it could be worse….

IIdentifyAsInnocent · 04/01/2024 18:52

Hardrocker · 04/01/2024 17:32

Hi,

I’ve just paid d off our Xmas credit card bill, on top of a New Years break in Devon, and now we’re a bit skint until 25th Jan!

I’ve been through the cupboards and freezer and have done a big Aldi shop and have meal planned etc

I’ll just need to buy fresh bread/ milk and packed lunch items etc

we have the grand sun of £417 to last until 25th. All bills etc are paid but This Feria tight!

anyone else feeling the january pinch?

You aren't skint.

IIdentifyAsInnocent · 04/01/2024 18:55

Pushed send too soon. Over £400 left after bills and food is the opposite of skint. It might be less than you are used to but blimey I'd love that left at the end of the month (or the beginning)

NoSquirrels · 04/01/2024 18:56

If all you’ll genuinely need to buy is milk, fresh bread/veg and packed lunches then £417 is loads. Plenty of people spend less than that on their total monthly food costs.

But if you also need fuel, miscellaneous back to school costs (that school trip you didn’t know about, school swimming contribution, last minute emergency stationery, replacement football socks etc), weekend entertainment (birthday party at soft play etc then yes, it’ll go down fast. So challenge yourself not to use the credit card.

ProjectsGalore · 04/01/2024 19:13

Stealth boast? This is a million miles away from what being skint means.

1975wasthebest · 04/01/2024 19:24

You aren’t in the slightest bit skint and your post may be insulting to people who are.

MeMyBooksAndMyCats · 04/01/2024 19:57

£20 a day is hardly skint lol.

forgotname · 04/01/2024 20:01

🤨🙄 this must be a joke Lol

Wish i had £417 left after paying all bills.

Well jel... enjoy your month

Gnomegnomegnome · 04/01/2024 20:04

I put money aside all year for Christmas and holidays so don’t have January skintness but never have £417 left after bills and food are sorted.

What needs to be paid from that? What’s worrying you?

Hedjwitch · 04/01/2024 20:05

I think you will manage if its just food. What else do you need to pay for? Fuel? Public transport?

rainpleasestop · 04/01/2024 20:18

I've got £370 til 31st Jan everything paid save some fresh bits of food and I'm sure you'll manage, I know I will!! Unless you have other outgoings you've not mentioned? I may need some fuel as well, still it will be more than enough. Skint is £20 left

Original poster
Hardrocker · 04/01/2024 20:36

1975wasthebest · 04/01/2024 19:24

You aren’t in the slightest bit skint and your post may be insulting to people who are.

Sorry but that wasn’t my intention. Isn’t this a forum to discuss money?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hardrocker · 04/01/2024 20:37

Hedjwitch · 04/01/2024 20:05

I think you will manage if its just food. What else do you need to pay for? Fuel? Public transport?

It should just be fresh food and a bit if fuel

OP posts:
Original poster
Hardrocker · 04/01/2024 20:39

Gnomegnomegnome · 04/01/2024 20:04

I put money aside all year for Christmas and holidays so don’t have January skintness but never have £417 left after bills and food are sorted.

What needs to be paid from that? What’s worrying you?

It’s just a bit less than normal so I worry. I am a worrier!

OP posts:
Ap24 · 04/01/2024 20:39

We are not struggling but I like to cut back and be more frugal in January. It feels like the perfect time of year to go through the finances, make goals and plans and generally get on top of spending. There are loads of communities online who are doing similar and trying to clear out their freezers or kick off saving for next Xmas. Might be worth checking them out for some tips? The MSE forums are a good place to start.

mrsbyers · 04/01/2024 20:41

We’ve set a target to spend £100 on groceries between now and end of montn mainly milk bread and fresh veggies -but that’s just for two of us

keylemon · 04/01/2024 20:44

I agree OP January is always a hard month for most. I have a similar amount so a bit scare that something unexpected comes up. We did not do as much as previous years but the costs of things are so high. Let’s hope the month goes fast.

ConsuelaHammock · 04/01/2024 22:43

Why would you go away on a holiday if you don’t have much money?? That’s not very sensible.
No. I’m not skint this month because I don’t spend too much on unnecessary crap and weekends away which I can’t afford!

Letterbix · 04/01/2024 22:45

Lol I have £53 to last until the 27th
And I didn't have a holiday recently

You aren't skint 🙄🙄🙄

Princesspollyyy · 04/01/2024 22:46

I have £203 until 23rd... 😵‍💫😵‍💫

Forgotmylogindetails · 04/01/2024 22:53

Are you taking the piss ?

Scarletttulips · 04/01/2024 23:03

I go ‘skint’ January.

I never look in the sales.

I don’t book holidays.

I check my account daily.

Usually something comes up and I’m glad I refrained from spending.

Is so easy to get into the spend habit having forked out in extra food, gifts, nights out etc, it adds up! By making a decision not to keep spending sets you up nicely for the new year.

RethinkingLife · 04/01/2024 23:06

Ap24 · 04/01/2024 20:39

We are not struggling but I like to cut back and be more frugal in January. It feels like the perfect time of year to go through the finances, make goals and plans and generally get on top of spending. There are loads of communities online who are doing similar and trying to clear out their freezers or kick off saving for next Xmas. Might be worth checking them out for some tips? The MSE forums are a good place to start.

There's a Pantry Challenge thread and several threads about No Spend January, No Spend 2024 etc.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/cost_of_living/4974829-pantry-challenge-2024?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/cost_of_living/4971065-no-spend-january?page=1

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/cost_of_living/4969232-no-spend-2024?

Pantry Challenge 2024 | Mumsnet

A relative has downsized. I 'inherited' a mass of pantry items she couldn't take with her. They range from the exotic to the everyday. A lot of them a...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/cost_of_living/4974829-pantry-challenge-2024?reply=131966972