When we talk about “January” we refer to the period after Christmas when we have to cut costs as we spent too much money on meals, gifts and parties during the Christmas holiday and it’s quite difficult for us to make ends meet. If you are thrifty (and you’re not unemployed, something almost miraculous these days), you can always be comfortable, but if you’re a spendthrift get ready to spend a frightful month.
What can you do to go through the month in the best way possible? Here you have some tips:
First, tighten up the budget. You must take into account not only the expenses you had but also that in January the price of everything goes up: the electricity bill, the gas, water … You know, you have to rationalize expenses. Better times lie ahead …
Second: Do not let yourself go by the consumers fever during the sales. Buy only what you need. That same can be applied to everyday purchases. It can help you make a shopping list every time you go to the supermarket and, the most important thing, do not go shopping on an empty stomach. 
Picture’s source: TaxBrackets.org
The third thing: Stick to the essentials. If you are paying for the maintenance fee of a credit card you do not use or if you have been paying the gym membership fee and do not show up there, cancel these costs. We must not waste the money.
The fourth, switch to store brands, that is, products that belong to a chain, usually a supermarket. These products have the same quality as other brands and are cheaper.
And finally, take the opportunity to visit your parents, in-laws, cousins, brothers, neighbours … Although it’s not the most appropriate thing to do, lunch or dinner for free is also a good solution not to finish the month with one hand in the back and the other in the front.
Of course, when you begin February remember that you were short of money during the past month and don’t take a step back to return to your previous lifestyle (and expenses) …
Vocabulary:
apretarse el cinturón: cut costs
llegar a final de mes: make ends meet
(estar) parado: be unemployed
estar desahogado: be comfortable
(ser un) manirroto: be a spendthrift
de aúpa: frightful
ajustar el presupuesto: tighten up the budget
racionalizar: rationalize
dejarse llevar: let oneself go
fiebre consumista: consumers fever
estómago vacío: on an empty stomach
Ceñirse: stick to
Mantenimiento: maintenance fee
Cuota: membership fee
Aparecer: show up
Despilfarrar: waste
marcas blancas: store brands
calidad: quality
de gorra: free
con una mano delante y otra detrás: one hand in the back and the other in the front
(estar) apretado: be short of money
dar un paso atrás: take one step back
Read in Spanish.
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