Cheep entertainment

January often starts out as a rather bleugh sort of time here at Frugal Follies.  Somehow Christmas isn't quite over, the weather is a bit grim, and my get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone.  Planning is quite exciting but action is lacking.  Ho hum.  

I look out of my window and it's not the prettiest of sights.  The glorious lights of Christmas are disappearing and the flowers of spring are still a while away.   It's raining or it's foggy.

But bleugh isn't really an option!  I don't want to feel this way!  I need plans.  I've decided that my first plan is to revive my bird table.  I ran out of wild bird seed a while ago and the bird table has been sadly neglected.  I received some gift tokens for Christmas.  So, I have now bought new bird food, Jack has moved the bird table so I can see it from my window and the birds can be watched again.  

Things are looking up already.

What will 2017 bring?

In answer to my own question - I really don't know what 2017 will bring!  What I do know is that whatever happens, it will cost!

I know many costs - energy costs, water charges, council tax all leap to mind.

Other things I more-or-less know.  Broadband, telephone. petrol.

Some things should be readily controlled but have a way of wheedling money from my purse - groceries and socialising nudge my conscience here.

For some costs I have a rough idea but there could be nasty shocks.  The item hammering my brain is the cost of repair and service of my car.  It's needed incredibly little attention thus far but that can't last.  I'm putting a little aside every month against the dreadful day and hoping that it won't be too dreadful.

So, what I need is a "cushion" fund.  This isn't really an emergency fund, more a way of levelling out the bumps in spending.  This month I'm going to try and wallop the grocery bill and wallop it hard.  There's loads of stuff in the cupboards and the freezer, and the winter vegetables are just about ready in the garden.  (The Brussels sprouts are already being eaten.)  

I shall be ready financially for whatever 2017 may bring - hope you will be too.