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Original poster

January budget plans!

12 replies

Travelfairy · 20/12/2025 23:39

Just want to write this down somewhere and hopefully get other tips!
Salary has to last almost 6 weeks 🫣🫣
Christmas is sorted thankfully but want to actually have a frugal January and not just fantasise about one 😂😂 its DS bday in Feb so don't want to go into Feb with CC debt.

Things I am going to do
Not eat out/take away apart from use up some vouchers we have/get over Christmas.
Not buy any more cosmetics and use up whatever I have/get as gifts even if not usual brand etc
No clothes buying in sales mo matter how tempting.
No hair colour appointment in Jan (do at home) and no BIAB nails.
Meal plan and budget groceries. Use exclusively Lidl/Aldi.

Feel free to add any ideas :)

OP posts:
Cornishclio · 21/12/2025 00:00

Can you move your salary into savings and transfer back on date you would normally get paid so it lasts a month as usual? Cull unnecessary subscriptions.

Original poster
Travelfairy · 21/12/2025 09:36

Yes I am doing that also and have split the grocery budget in 6 to access each week...
Dont have any unnecessary subscriptions thankfully

OP posts:
bleakmidwintering · 21/12/2025 09:38

Find a cheaper Mounjaro supplier. That’s pretty much my January saving plan.

Lennonjingles · 21/12/2025 09:54

Check what food you have in freezer and cupboards, meal plan and stick to it, don’t wonder into aisles in supermarkets that don’t have food. Cheap shampoo, toilet rolls etc won’t hurt. If you have freezer room, buy up lots of cheap veg this week, prep and par boil, then freeze.

NotBreckfastAtTiffanysItsBreckfastInSouthampton · 21/12/2025 10:37

It doesn't have to be six weeks? It's a normal length month with a bit of temptation at the begining.

Limth · 21/12/2025 10:38

Vegetable soup could be your friend throughout January - a different vegetable soup topped up with cheap-ish bread three times a week?

This week, Morrisons have bags of vegetables for 5p 😲

DP's salary drops by £50K in 2026 so I'm thinking about how to economise too. January is the month of subscription-culling for me.

BuddhaAtSea · 21/12/2025 11:16

I actually have a January sales budget, which doesn’t help with your question, but I see it as actual budgeting. Stuff I need, but can wait till the sales are on. Wrapping paper, cards, underwear, boots. Then: holidays, plane tickets, courses etc. I pay myself a 13th salary in December, I have a regular saver that matures and those money are aside for this.

Original poster
Travelfairy · 21/12/2025 13:21

NotBreckfastAtTiffanysItsBreckfastInSouthampton · 21/12/2025 10:37

It doesn't have to be six weeks? It's a normal length month with a bit of temptation at the begining.

The way my pay fell its 17th Dec to 28th Jan. So yes I have put some money into revolut pockets etc but between pay checks its 6 weeks

OP posts:
Original poster
Travelfairy · 21/12/2025 13:24

BuddhaAtSea · 21/12/2025 11:16

I actually have a January sales budget, which doesn’t help with your question, but I see it as actual budgeting. Stuff I need, but can wait till the sales are on. Wrapping paper, cards, underwear, boots. Then: holidays, plane tickets, courses etc. I pay myself a 13th salary in December, I have a regular saver that matures and those money are aside for this.

We will possibly book a holiday alright for later in year but separate savings for that.
I'm a suckered for the sales so that'll be a challenge! I had my eye on a lovely new coat and it actually went to half price last week so I treated myself! But now I need to knuckle down for January!

OP posts:
Roleonspring · 21/12/2025 15:13

If I was you I'd set some short term goals to get to the end of January and some long term habit changes.
When I took ill health retirement I suddenly had a reduced income I went through everything logically and now reassess regularly.
Easy things to do would be meal plan every meal, but specifically using up whats already in the kitchen (shopping list or online shop to avoid impulse buying). Batch cook some meals and bulk out with cheaper foods. Like a previous poster has said I make a weekly batch of vegetable soup for lunch this week's soup was leek and potato and cost 20p a portion.
Google cheap meal recipes and try these.
Long-term things I did were had all my money payed into current account A and then left in what was needed for all bills (which you check cancel anything that you dont need and get the best deals for everything else). The money is then split between savings and current account B. Then you can easily work out what you have for the month.
Other things I do are extend the time between grocery trips so I started off weekly then went to every 8 days and the 8th day you eat leftovers/Beans on toast etc.
Have calender alerts on your phone to review things regularly such as mobile phone contracts /gas and electricity.
Every November I swap bank accounts to get a switch reward. But don't do this if your applying for credit soon. I'll postpone doing it next year till I've remortgaged.
When you want to buy something pop it in the basket and leave it, then in a while ask yourself if you really need it.
Try no spend days or weeks.
Avoid places where you may spend. Dont have automatic sign in for online shops. Dont store your bank details in Google pay etc manually put them in it will make you think about the need.

Original poster
Travelfairy · 21/12/2025 17:33

Roleonspring · 21/12/2025 15:13

If I was you I'd set some short term goals to get to the end of January and some long term habit changes.
When I took ill health retirement I suddenly had a reduced income I went through everything logically and now reassess regularly.
Easy things to do would be meal plan every meal, but specifically using up whats already in the kitchen (shopping list or online shop to avoid impulse buying). Batch cook some meals and bulk out with cheaper foods. Like a previous poster has said I make a weekly batch of vegetable soup for lunch this week's soup was leek and potato and cost 20p a portion.
Google cheap meal recipes and try these.
Long-term things I did were had all my money payed into current account A and then left in what was needed for all bills (which you check cancel anything that you dont need and get the best deals for everything else). The money is then split between savings and current account B. Then you can easily work out what you have for the month.
Other things I do are extend the time between grocery trips so I started off weekly then went to every 8 days and the 8th day you eat leftovers/Beans on toast etc.
Have calender alerts on your phone to review things regularly such as mobile phone contracts /gas and electricity.
Every November I swap bank accounts to get a switch reward. But don't do this if your applying for credit soon. I'll postpone doing it next year till I've remortgaged.
When you want to buy something pop it in the basket and leave it, then in a while ask yourself if you really need it.
Try no spend days or weeks.
Avoid places where you may spend. Dont have automatic sign in for online shops. Dont store your bank details in Google pay etc manually put them in it will make you think about the need.

Some really great ideas here, thank you for typing them all out

OP posts:
Fatmumslim01 · 26/12/2025 19:58

bleakmidwintering · 21/12/2025 09:38

Find a cheaper Mounjaro supplier. That’s pretty much my January saving plan.

@bleakmidwintering have you heard of the "monj" comparison site it's a great resource. I switch suppliers most months to save money

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