02-01-25 and the Eighth Day of Christmas.

Morning!
Yesterday may have been cold, windy and very damp but it started off most encouragingly with me paying for six weeks of fitness classes and the remainder of what I owe for the Potters weekend and the balance still looking reasonably healthy.

What I use is a home made Excel spreadsheet that took me absolutely ages to put together because I had to look up everything but now it is done I just copy from one 'book' to the next.  Basically, everything that I know will come out during the month is shown as having come out on the first of each month - all the standing orders, regular payments, etc, plus an amount for petrol, classes, etc.  If any entries don't have to be paid (e.g. this month I won't be getting any wonky pods because I have enough, nor will I need petrol, I think) I just zero it for that month.
The aim is that it shows the final balance for the end of the month from the start of the month so I know exactly what I have to spend and all I have to do is to input any spending - food shopping, etc, and I know exactly where I am.  I have a horror of going overdrawn or getting into any debt so yesterday's figures made me happy.

The rest of the day was spent doing a bit of housework, some clearing up, some crochet and getting prepped for the evening - and the evening was lovely.  Less pressure than Christmas Day 

and the whole family here  - Beth, Alex, Dave and Anna.

And now January properly starts for me.

On the Eighth Day of Christmas

I gave unto myself . . .

Show-er gel

Two bits of  puzzle 

One coffee pod 

And a cho-co-late liqueur

(raspberry flavoured today)

On the Twelfth Day I will go through the lot - consider yourself warned!

The shower gel (which I will also use in the bath) is 'vanilla snowflakes and toffee sprinkles' and I sincerely hope I won't end up as sticky as the name suggests.  I got it in Home Bargains and it smells absolutely lovely.

And here's four more sections of the puzzle - two for yesterday and two for today.  Getting easier and coming along nicely.

Today I'm starting to get back to normal again as I pop over to Chris for the first coffee and chat of the New Year and we will have a lot to talk about, I am sure.

Low Spend January started yesterday with some big payments out but it's not a contradiction in terms really and today I start Dry January too, like a lot of people.  

There's no fitness classes this week but everything starts up again on Monday.

As usual, I have a little list of things I want to achieve today.

Take all the rubbish out.  I have a disgracefully large pile of bottles and cans from last night plus card too, filling the bag I use to carry the rubbish out so that's all going into the recycling bags and boxes ready for Saturday's collection..

I'm bringing the decoration boxes down from the little room so I can start putting bits and bobs away - but they do need a clear out before I start putting things in.  That shouldn't take too long, I hope.

I have some carrots and parsnips that I got really cheap before Christmas and I ought to prep and freeze them soon - maybe I will do that tomorrow?

And finally, I want to finish the freezer audit because it's getting a lot colder so will be perfect for getting out all the frozen stuff and giving the freezer a much needed defrost.  I'd also like to audit my shelf stable stuff too.

Yup - the holiday time is over and real life resumes.

What are you doing today?  

Stay safe, warm and cosy.  xx