December and end of year

I only purchased the buttons for boys jackets and some braid for my Christmas cushion, December is always a low spend month. I do pop everything on these list's there is no point doing this I if cheat at it. 

 So it's my end of year review, I'm sorry if this bores you, please pop back next post. I am known as the queen of the spread sheets, I do love them. I find information breakdown so very interesting, 

Here is my list from previous years, and I'm pleased, this is never really about saving money, it's more checking where I spend my money.

This chart shows the breakdown on different crafts and the garden, I like this chart it shows what I am currently doing, gardening will always be top of the list. I have looked back and I can honestly say I spent about £200 sorting the green house and a couple of other things, which were structure items and not general gardening.  I spent less on yarn this year, nothing on card making, I do have a good stash for most crafts and I am using what I have, unless I see something special, 

I was given a flowering cactus and my Orchids are still blooming, the 2 amaryllis now have buds, I got just one new plant which did not last long, I have loads of silk flowers, Ivy and Holly which I use every year. I am mega pleased with myself, for years I had fresh flowers every week, I decided this year I would see if I could do without, and I've been really good, I think I have probably saved at least £20 each month. 

My clothes spend was £224.46, I did get myself a good coat in the Joules winter sale included in this amount, and a reduced Clarks sandals at a price not to pass plus free delivery. I still have loads in my wardrobe, but I will need more jumpers and underwear next year, so I will be checking the January sales, I don't like to buy items at full price. 

On the whole we have had a good year, we stayed on budget over Christmas, the biggest increase was on food, but we have got stocks of most things, with lockdowns, Brexit we decided we needed to have 3 months larder stock. We are now back in lockdown, which I'm happy to do, hiding from people carrying the virus is our only hope, stay safe. 

Heating is on more but we are still staying within our monthly budget, we do have a reasonable credit on our account ready for the winter surge in cost. On the whole our monthly outgoing are level and not going up. 

Our household waste has reduced, having the new local fruit and veg shop has really helped, we are not saving money, but no packing and being able to pick loose items helped with no having to eat things before they go off. We stopped buying so much new household stuff and clothes, we are mindful of using what we have, the days of replacing for a newer model has long gone. In the last few years hubby has gotten on board with me and now understands what we are doing, not huge major things but little simple things which all add to the bigger issues we are all trying to sort with environment and how we live our lives, commercialism is now global, 24 hours every day, our government needs it, it brings in taxes, but we are happy to have left it out of our lives.