Feeling a bit meh! Five frugal things

We are finally headed towards the end of my no spend January – just a week to go! It has felt like a long month. Nothing much happens in January, does it? As I have been feeling a bit meh (that is, under the weather!), I haven’t achieved much, but here is this week’s five frugal things.

Watching my overdraft

As I said on Instagram a couple of days ago, it wasn’t in the too distant past that I would be well into my over draft by now, all spent out from Christmas but waiting for my next pay day. I wouldn’t say I am flush, but I didn’t get overdrawn.

This is just as well as I read recently that my bank, among others, have started charging almost 40% interest on overdrafts, even planned ones!! Not impressed by this at all. It has made me think about moving to one of the online banks like Monzo or Starling, who aren’t currently charging such ridiculous rates.

I don’t use the overdraft often, but occasionally it has served as a safety net. Now I will have to keep a very close eye to make sure I don’t go into it.

We didn’t spend wildly at Christmas, but more than I would ideally like, particularly on food and drink. I have resolved to simplify further next year and spend even less. I have already been saving towards next year though, as this takes the financial worry out of the whole occasion.

Sun Savers and being brave

I was contacted by a lady from the Sun a few weeks ago. They have a group on Facebook called the Sun Savers, and feature various money saving tips and offers. I recorded a little Skype interview with them for their weekly Sun Savers Show, which was interesting and fun.

Things like this make me super nervous, but one of my new year’s resolutions is to do things that make me slightly uncomfortable. As Richard Branson would say, ‘Screw it, let’s do it!’. If you want to watch the show, with me (heavily edited lol) follow this link.

Sowing the seeds

I have barely looked at the garden for a couple of months, let alone done any work on it. Mr S was out there doing a few jobs last weekend though.

However, seeing this lovely array of seeds in Wilko the other day did make me think we should start to plan our vegetable garden for this year. As I am on my no spend January I didn’t buy any (just cat food, which is an essential), but I will be going back to get some as they were very well priced.

Wilko is great for garden stuff generally I think. Are you growing any of your own food this year?

Feeling below par

I have been feeling physically low since Christmas, mainly due to a terrible cough that just will not shift. Finally, I relented and went to check with the GP that I don’t have an infection as my ribs have been so painful. She said I have a touch of pleurisy.

There’s not much I can do except inhale steam and apply the Vicks!

I don’t know if it is the cough or fibromyalgia, but I have also felt really tired. My regular morning yoga helps but I am frustrated at how unproductive I am.

I have been reading up a bit on how to eat for fibromyalgia. It seems cutting out sugar and caffeine, as well as eating low carb, are all approaches that are worth a try.

I can’t quite give up my morning proper cup of tea but I have started drinking decaff the rest of the day. Cutting out sugar is a good thing to do anyway. I haven’t been eating much but I am thinking of cutting it out altogether. It can’t hurt! I will have to incorporate these ideas into next week’s meal plan and start then I think.

Planning our holidays

We still haven’t made any firm decisions about holidays this year, apart from going back to Wales. We go most years and love it so much.

Because it is super cheap and affordable, we have booked into our usual old fashioned caravan on a little permaculture farm in mid Wales. It’s so lovely there; very basic, but completely surrounded by lush green countryside with no wi-fi. It does us good to have a bit of a digital detox once in a while!

Hopefully, having a holiday to look forward to will stop me feeling a bit meh, and give me some energy.

Have you managed any little frugal wins this week? If you are joining me on no spend January, how is yours going?

As usual, I’m linking up with this Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Frugal Friday’ linky.