I know! It’s only just about to turn October but… January can feel like a tricky month for most of us and I plan on setting us up for success. After the early December pay, January often leaves a longer gap between paydays – sometimes around five to six weeks. That means I need to plan ahead and make sure we have enough funds to get through those weeks. Starting the year intentionally is important to me, so I’m investing time now to review our plan and set ourselves up for success in January.
Beyond finances, January can feel a little gloomy. Shorter, colder days mixed with the excitement and hope of a new year can be emotionally challenging. I know many of my readers feel the same, so I wanted to share how I’m planning to tackle January head-on.
Financial Preparation
Budgeting
To cover those tricky weeks, I’m planning exactly what we need to get through, considering the bare essentials:
- Food shops – one large shop and one smaller top-up
- Petrol
- Direct debits – most come out after payday, but a couple of subscriptions come out slightly before
I know the figure I need start saving, so that will all go into a Monzo pot labelled “January Funds”. I’ll use our September, October, and November pay for this, keeping December pay untouched. I’m going to put December pay into a separate pot to access on my usual payday. Pair this with the January Funds strategy, and the month, things will feel far less stressful financially.
Emergency Fund
We all hear about emergency funds, but ours seemed to get used too often. I’m taking a new approach:
- Emergency Fund Pot 1 (Do Not Touch) – a separate account to slowly build a true rainy-day fund.
- Emergency Fund Pot 2 – a Monzo pot for smaller, easily accessible emergencies, like forgotten subscriptions or random expenses.
Cutting Non-Essential Spending
- Double-check repeat orders to avoid surprises in January.
- Pause some subscriptions, but keep the ones we genuinely use a lot, like Netflix – I justify it for cosy winter nights.
- Adjust dining out and takeaway habits: we’ll stick to one takeaway and one cinema night, cooking the other nights for movie nights at home.
- Look for January offers and deals. With our January Funds pot, we can take advantage of promotions and discounts without stress.
Mental Preparation
Reflect and Set Goals
The slower, colder months are perfect for reflection. I’ll review the previous year, consider improvements, and lay out achievable goals for the year ahead. I like using a planner or notes to set the foundations for what’s to come.
Self-Care
We’re doing “Project Pan” again, using up beauty, skincare, and pantry products before buying new ones. It’s a creative way to take care of ourselves and make the most of what we have.
Exercise and Diet
January is prime time for health goals. Instead of waiting until the first day of the year, I’m starting to prepare now – planning workouts, meals, and supplements to stay healthy. This helps avoid feeling like I’ve already failed, especially if I get hit with a seasonal cold.
Connect with Loved Ones
Maintaining friendships and family connections is key. We’ll plan winter walks, cosy talks, and meaningful time together.
Seek Professional Help if Needed
I usually manage winter well, but we’ll use our Lumie light therapy if needed. And if things get tough, I have access to mental health support through work’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
January is going to be a month of mindfulness, intentionality, and self-compassion. We’ll embrace cosy nights with hot water bottles, hot chocolate, and plenty of family time. By planning ahead financially and mentally, we’re ready to start the year strong and feel secure every step of the way.
