Januworry: How to Get Through January When December Cleaned You Out

January pay seems to arrive in March. The bonus is gone, school costs are due and the fridge still needs filling.

You are not bad with money. Januworry is just badly timed. Here is a plan for the next few weeks.

Step 1: what absolutely has to be paid in Januworry?

Make a short list with dates:

• Rent or bond.
• Electricity and water.
• Transport to work.
• Food.
• School costs due this month.
• Debt repayments that carry penalties or risk, such as vehicle finance.

Everything else is flexible for a few weeks.

Step 2: what can wait or shrink?

Even R500 recovered helps. Here is a hypothetical example: R150 of subscriptions, R200 of takeaways and R150 of shopping gives R500 back.

What could your four weeks look like?

This keeps Januworry to a short, planned stretch instead of a constant worry.

Step 3: how do you stretch groceries?

• Plan meals for the week before you shop.
• Buy staples in bulk, such as maize meal, rice, beans and frozen vegetables.
• Use what is in the cupboard first.
• Compare prices per kilogram, not per pack.

Step 4: who should you call?

If a payment will be late, call before the due date. Ask the creditor for a few days or a smaller payment. Many will agree.

Send the request in writing so there is a record. See what to do when you cannot pay your debts.

Step 5: what about school costs?

Ask the school about instalments or exemption. See school fees in January and school costs and loans.

Should you take a loan to survive Januworry?

A loan in January can make February worse, because the repayment arrives before you have recovered. A first one-month R1,000 loan costs about R309 at the legal maximums. If you must borrow:

• Borrow the smallest amount that solves the problem.
• Use a registered lender. Check the NCR register.
• Get the total repayment in rand. See pre-agreement quotes.
• Make sure the due date is after payday.

See emergency loans for cheaper options first. Be careful with offers that arrive in January promising “no checks” or “guaranteed” approval. See online loan scams.

How do you avoid Januworry next year?

• Save a little each month for December and January. See sinking funds.
• Plan December before it starts. See December budget survival.
• Build an emergency fund. See emergency fund.

What does a daily limit look like in Januworry?

When money must last until payday, a daily limit turns the problem into a number. Here is a hypothetical example. You have R2,400 left after must-pay bills, and payday is 24 days away.

Decide how the R100 is used: food, transport and airtime. Write the day’s spending in a note. If you spend R120 on Tuesday, aim for R80 on Wednesday.

If you keep to the limit, you reach payday without borrowing, and you can see it working. A number is easier to follow than a feeling.

How do you plan cheap, filling meals?

Food is the biggest flexible cost in a tight month, and Januworry often calls for a plan. A simple approach:

1. Check the cupboard and freezer first, and plan meals around what you have.
2. Build meals on staples, such as maize meal, rice, beans, lentils, eggs, cabbage and frozen vegetables.
3. Cook larger amounts, and eat leftovers for lunch.
4. Shop once a week with a list, and avoid small trips for extras.
5. Compare unit prices, as described in cost of living.

Cheap does not have to mean boring. Soup, stew and pap with relish can feed a family for a few rand a plate, and they use less electricity when cooked in batches. See saving electricity.

How do you ask for time in January?

People are often more willing to help in January than you expect, because they know it is a hard month. Short, clear messages work well.

To a landlord: “I will pay my rent in full, but I need until the 28th this month. Could we agree on that date in writing?”

To an employer: “Could I have an advance of R___ on my salary, repaid over two months? I am happy to sign an agreement.”

To a school: “I would like to pay the fees in instalments of R___ from February. Could you confirm in writing?”

Offer a date and an amount in each, and keep the reply. See salary advances and school fees in January for more.

How do you make good decisions when money is short?

Stress makes people choose quick fixes, such as a loan or a store account. A few rules help:

• Wait 24 hours before any money decision over R500.
• Write down the total cost, not only the instalment.
• Ask one person you trust before you borrow.
• Remember it is temporary. Januworry ends when payday arrives.

If you feel the pressure building, talk to someone. Stress about money is common, and sharing it makes it easier to think.

How do you prevent Januworry next year?

The fix is a small, regular saving for the months that hurt. A “January fund” of R200 a month, started in February, gives you R2,200 by December. Combined with a plan for December, it turns a hard month into an ordinary one.

Start with whatever you can. Even R100 a month is R1,100 by December, which can cover a week of groceries or a school bill. Set the debit order today, while the pain of this January is fresh.

What can the people around you do?

You do not have to carry Januworry alone. Tell one trusted person that money is tight this month. Ask a relative to share a lift, a neighbour to swap groceries or a friend to join a cheap, free outing.

Many people are in the same position, and it helps to say so. If children are involved, explain in simple terms that this month needs extra care with money, and give them a small part in the plan.

Frequently asked questions