Reading Time: 4 minutes

The Never-Ending...January

The Never Ending Story January

No matter how many days there are on the calendar, January often feels like the longest month of the year.

After the joy and indulgence of the festive season, reality hits,  and suddenly bank balances are low, expenses are piling up, and payday feels like it’s a lifetime away.

This is why it is good to plan ahead for those long weeks between the December and January payday.

Back-to-School Blues

One reason January hits so hard is due to the wave of extra costs of going back-to-school.

Uniforms, shoes, and stationery lists seem to grow longer each year. Children somehow manage to outgrow all their clothes over the holidays, leaving parents scrambling to replace items at the worst possible time. And of course, there’s always a last-minute item — the “special” calculator or art supplies that didn’t make the initial list.

 

All that extra spending can leave you feeling worse than when Atreyu lost his horse Artax in the Swamp of Sadness in the 1984 classic Never Ending Story

December's Overspending Hangover

For many, having a bit too much fun in December can mean blowing your budget.

Gifts, big family meals, and unexpected outings add up quickly. Even with the best of intentions, January becomes a struggle as people deal with the fallout of overspending during the holidays.

It’s a reminder that festive fun often comes with a harsh financial backlash.

Survival Tips for January

Back-to-School Hack:

    • Reuse stationery and supplies from last year. Get your kids involved by decorating notebooks or reusing old pencil cases to make them feel fresh.
    • Check out 2nd hand stores or school swap groups for uniforms and shoes.
    • Spread out purchases (if your school allows it). Focus on essentials first, and buy extras later in February or March.

Raid the Pantry:

    • January is a great time to use every last item in the fridge and freezer. Empty them out by planning meals around all the toppings, packets of sauces and ingredients you have on hand. Most of that stuff has an expiry date anyway, may as well use it up now.

Cut Running Costs:

    • Switch off appliances and lights when not in use (even if it saves just a little, it’s a good mindset to get the family into).
    • Make use of natural light and cool early mornings rather than relying on air-conditioning. Open the windows early to let in cool air then shut all the doors, windows and curtains in the day as things heat up outside.
    • Feeling Hot? Head for a swim rather than run aircon. No beach nearby? Maybe a cool shower?
    • Do some DIY. Fix minor leaks or drips — every drop counts when the water bills come in (even the COJ have figured this out).

Free Entertainment:

    • Instead of expensive outings, plan fun at home: movie nights, picnics in the garden, or board games with the family.
    • Use free or low-cost community resources, like a day at the beach, parks, sports fields or libraries, to keep the kids entertained.

Shut That Purse Tight:

    • If something isn’t immediately necessary in Jan, then it can wait.
    • Avoid starting subscriptions or buying gadgets that could strain your budget even further.

Janu-worry Will Eventually End

January might feel endless, like waiting for a blue tick on a WhatsApp message, or sitting through the trailers at the movies — but just like those, it eventually ends.

If anything, January helps us develop some resilience and reminds us to plan smarter for the future. We won’t fall into the same traps next year, right? Right?

The good news for everyone is that time flies* and pretty soon February will come rolling around and with it that next paycheck.

January can feel like the longest month of the year but it is also a great time to spend a little extra free quality time with the family, to get a good low-cost start to the year.

*Just like how Falkor the Luckdragon flies and saved Atreyu from the Swamps of Sadness in the 1984 classic Never Ending Story