Many people will be planning their finances over the coming weeks to stretch that early December pay slip to the end of January.
Businesses across the country will have paid their staff early in order to ensure they’re covered for the Christmas season - but many are then left struggling to make it to the first payslip of 2023.
According to experts, there are many things you can do to make your money go the extra mile over the coming weeks like cooking in bulk and checking your monthly subscriptions.
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Consumer expert, John Stirzaker from NetVoucherCodes said: “A lot of people get paid early in December to help fund their Christmas which is great at the time but it can often leave us feeling like the next payday is miles away which can be difficult, especially in today’s climate.
“January tends to feel like a bit of a tough month for most people but there are a few things you can do to help ease the financial pressure like cancelling unwanted and unused subscriptions.
"Other ways to help lighten the load in January include cooking in bulk and avoiding January sales.”
So, here’s how to survive the wait until January payday:
Shop smarter
An obvious solution is to refrain from doing any unnecessary shopping on clothes and luxury items that you can go without.
However, it’s not always that simple and if you do find yourself having to buy something try using price comparison websites or look for discount codes.
Cook in bulk
Instead of cooking a separate meal each night why not try meal prepping and cooking in bulk. This way you can freeze your food and take it out when you need it.
This is cheaper than buying ingredients for a different meal each night and not only does it save you money, but it saves you time as well in the week whilst you’re busy working.
Avoid unnecessary spending
It can be very tempting to grab that coffee on the way to work or pop out and buy lunch while on your break. Try making a coffee before you leave and consider meal prepping for the week ahead. That way you won’t be tempted to buy lunch knowing you have plenty to last you for the week.
Dry January
If there’s ever a time to do it, you may as well stop drinking with the rest of the nation. As well as being good for your health, you’ll also find it’s good for your bank account.You’d be surprised how much money you save in a few weeks when you aren’t spending it on alcohol.
Sell unwanted items
Social plans tend to die down in January with everyone in similar financial situations so this should give you some free time to go through and clear out any unwanted items.
And perhaps you’ve been given things at Christmas that could replace other items you have. Selling these online is a great way to get a bit of extra money in January.
Check monthly subscriptions
Collectively, Brits have been known to spend around £1.8 billion on unwanted subscriptions a year.
Now is a good time to go through your subscriptions and cancel any that you do not use or need or maybe even put some on hold until the next payday.
Think about gym memberships, streaming services and delivery subscriptions.
Don’t be tempted by January sales
January sales can be very tempting and you may be thinking if there’s any time to grab a bargain it’s now. But the truth is if you didn’t need it in time for Black Friday or Christmas, then you probably don’t need it now.
Avoid racking up unnecessary debt
A lot of retailers now offer a buy now pay later scheme and whilst these might seem like a good idea now, they’ll be an unnecessary worry come January.
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