Rejigging the budget and a definite plan

 I've been having another look at our budget and our Needs/Wants list for this year, and rejigging things a bit.  As my Carers Allowance, husband's Attendance Allowance and his state pension are paid every 4 weeks, rather than calendar monthly (so 13 payments a year instead of 12), every year we actually get a month where we get 2 of each, rather than one, which is really helpful.  Even more helpful is the fact that it's not all three in the same month, they're spread out over the year, so we get three months where we have a bonus amount, if you like.  Whereas husband's 3 small private pensions and my private pension are calendar monthly.

I've written all the dates down on the calendar and worked out when our 'bonus' months are, so we can then plan to get the more expensive things on our Needs/Wants list during those months.  So now we have a plan and timescale of things, it'll be easier - well, more encouraging - for us to stick to our budget and know what we're doing and when.

Thank you for all your recent comments.  Janet, yes we do have a Lidl in town - I don't tend to do much shopping in there, they seem to be a bit more chaotic and haphazard in their shelf stocking and they don't always have the things I want, which means I then have to go to another store.  However, I'll give it another go.  Unfortunately, though, I don't like their version of the latte instant coffees at all.  Never mind, there are others around that are acceptable.  We're going to have more days out this coming year, and if we happen to be near an Aldi then we'll pop in and see if they've got my favourite coffees (and our other favourite things) in - if they have, then we'll stock up!  Incidentally, I had a reply from Aldi, which was pretty much useless - they didn't answer my queries, glossed over my complaints, contradicted themselves in 2 consecutive sentences and finished up by breezily saying 'See you soon!'. 😒

It's sunny again this morning but still bitterly cold, more snow is forecast for the South but looking at the weather map, it appears we won't be getting any.  We obviously had a little flurry during the night, some of my bulb pots in the back garden have a light dusting of snow, although there's none on the ground.  Loads of my bulbs are coming through now, I'm really looking forward to seeing them in flower.