
Now that the festive season has come and gone, the month of January is not exactly a jolly one for many of us. Dubbed as ‘Januworry’, this month tends to bring feelings of despair as the days seem longer and budgets are tighter.
As long as January can feel, there are some tips that you can use to get through the month. In this blog post, we share how you can make it through the ‘Januworry’ blues.
Create a Budget
When it comes to navigating ‘Januworry’, you’ve got to be realistic. This means calculating your monthly income and listing your monthly expenses. You’ll want to avoid purchasing unnecessarily on items like extra entertainment and luxury goods. Review your spending habits, and if need be, adjust accordingly so that you cancreate a budgetthat you can stick to without going into unnecessary debt.
Apply for a Small Loan to Help
If, aftercreating a budgeting plan, you still see yourself needing a small loan to help with getting ready for school or work in January, take a look at howFASTAcan help you.
Access up to R8000 with this small, short term loan to help ease the financial strain that January can be without putting you in a tough situation. Withrepayment plansof 3 monthly instalments, you can be rest assured that FASTA can help you get through the month and give you peace of mind.
Shop for Bargain Deals
While you don’t want to spend on items you don’t need, it is worth your while to look for bargain deals that will benefit you during January. Whether you need to buy in bulk for household essentials or make use of points you’ve earned from loyalty cards to buy items that assist with getting ready for work and school, look out for the grocery stores and retailers that have great savings on what you need to get through January.
Don’t Miss Monthly Payments
As financially straining as January can be, what you don’t want to do is start skipping payments. This will have a negative effect on yourcredit score, which runs the risk of you losing out on certain products in your financial future.
Try make sure that your payments are done on time to keep your credit score healthy and your financial fitness in top shape. To learn more about credit scores, take a look at this post from our partnerClearScore.
Sell Unwanted Goods Online
While January can be about spending less money to get by, why not make an effort to make some extra money by selling your unwanted goods online. Much like spring cleaning, take a thorough look through your home and remove the items that you no longer need or use, or haven’t worn in the last half year. Then, sell them online on platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
Just like we advised you to look for bargain deals, price your items reasonably so that it is a bargain deal for someone else. This can be a great way to get additional cash flow for the month, and relieve some financial pressure from you.
Hopefully, the simple tips we’ve shared in this blog post will help January be less stressful. A top tip to remember when it comes to getting through January, however, is being prepared for any unexpected or last minute circumstances. You want to be prepared for events such as vehicle repairs, utility bills and more. Let FASTA help you with access to credit for these moments so that you have access to credit in a fast, secure and simple manner