At the start of every year I have a go at working out a financial plan for the year ahead. Of course you are always going to have some months with additional outgoings. Unfortunately I planned it wrong and even though my children are separated by 5 years, their birthdays fall within a couple of days of each other, so in our house March and April are pretty expensive months. My daughter is always easy to buy for, give her a piece of silver jewellery and she is more than happy. My son on the other hand is a bit difficult to buy for as he is quite fussy. He doesn’t like any sort of men’s jewellery, so this is never an option. It was his 18th birthday last year and we decided to treat him to a flying lesson from our local airport. This caused a massive row, but that is another tale to tell!!

Come August we are always short of funds due to the fact that we always take our holiday in this month. Given the choice I wouldn’t, but with a daughter still at school, it’s tricky to take holiday other than the school holidays. It’s totally unreasonable though as you end up paying double for your holiday, just because the travel firms know you have to take your holidays then.

September is also an expensive month as it is my hubby’s birthday and our anniversary. Last year was our 20th Anniversary and even though I dropped many a hint, the silver earrings I wanted never did materialise. This year for our 21st anniversary, he had better get it right, otherwise I can foresee big problems.

Once birthdays and anniversaries are out of the way, so the build up to Christmas begins and money just flies out the window. It is such a hard way to live, saving for this and that and reaching the end of the year, and then come January having to start all over again.

What needs to occur is a big fat win on the Lottery. Having taken part since it began way back in November 1994, surely it must be my time to win! Just imagine how much beautiful jewellery I could get myself and no worries that my husband has got me the wrong gift – AGAIN!!