I dislike February for a number of reasons. First, it’s just sort of a gray month. Sure, you’ve got Valentine’s in there, and it sort of perks things up for a bit, but the rest of the month is just gray. There’s an impatient feeling about it, like it’s waiting for spring. Second, you never know if you’re going to have sunshine or snow. Is it jacket weather, or coat weather? The unpredictability is psychologically disturbing.
And the reason I even bring it up today … February is a short month, and for most people, a short month means a short paycheck.
Today when I pulled up our bank statement and discovered that my husband’s paycheck was fully $200 less than usual, I had cause to reflect, and with that reflection came some wonderful ideas that I wish I’d had a month ago. Yes, hindsight is 20/20. But rather than wait eleven months to share my ideas with you, I shall impart them now.
1. Plan ahead and save. Most employees manage to score some overtime throughout the holiday season, and most of them use that extra cash for holiday gift buying. Nothing wrong with that, but what about tucking some away? Then, when February hits and your paycheck is a little less, you have a tidbit to fall back on.
2. Make your shopping list accordingly. Because February has fewer days, that means fewer meals to prepare, and you can make your February grocery shopping trip a little smaller. In that way, the money you save on those meals can go toward the debts that aren’t adjustable, like rent. (Too bad rent isn’t a daily charge … we could save some money on that in February, too!)
3. Be more creative with your Valentine’s Day celebration, and use the money saved as a backup for bills. Most truly romantic ideas aren’t expensive, so skip the dozen roses, write her a poem, and save that $50 for bills. She’ll find it incredibly romantic that all the bills are paid, she’ll love the poem, and you might get some brownie points for being so forward thinking. (You might want to still get her chocolate … just sayin’.)
4. Keep in mind that because February has fewer days, you can adjust your monthly gas budget, too. Be a little more conservative with what you put in the tank during the second half of the month, and save that money for bills.
With a little planning, you can avoid some of the pitfalls that come about with a smaller paycheck. Just remember this advice in a year, the next time February rolls around …
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Ways to Save at the Grocery Store