CHARLOTTE PERCIVAL learns how to curb the spending in 2007

WE MIGHT have made different resolutions, but most of us will have one thing in common in January - we are all broke.

Festive celebrations and sales spending sprees have swallowed most of our wages and pay day is not even close.

But apparently we should take heart about our seasonal poverty - pop queens Girls Aloud are skint too. Despite their designer labels and champagnes-fuelled lifestyles, the girl band reportedly blew last year's profits partying.

Their new accounts show a loss of £28,305, according to their company Tapeview, with band member Nicola admitting: "I spend my money on stupid things I don't really need."

Most of us feel the pinch in January, but make the same mistakes each year, says Martin Lewis, of www.MoneySavingExpert.com "Every January people are always skint," said Martin. "They're skint for a number of reasons - because they overspent on Christmas, but also because people tend to be paid early.

"In the most expensive month in the year, many people have to last up to 40 days on one pay packet, which leaves a lot of people in trouble in January."

To keep your finances in check, you need to draw up a spending plan, says financial advisor Stuart Matheson, of Grosvenor Financial Consultants in Swinegate, York.

"Being thrifty is about getting value for money rather than just buying cheap," he said. "Quite often you get what you pay for and it's about what will give you the most money in your pocket at the end of the day without sacrificing quality."

Stuart recommends visititing www.MoneySavingExpert.Com to help make the right changes to your lifestyle. It can give you tips on the best interest rates for loans and credit cards, too.

For it to work, you must be realistic about what you can change - and be prepared to stick to it.

"Have a look at how to save in those areas but then devise a plan and a budget," he said. "If you don't do that well you'll find not a lot has changed in January 2008."


Thrifty Ways for Modern Days, edited by Martin Lewis, is published by Vermilion, priced £7.99. Available now.


Tips for thrifty living
Clothes

* Brighten up your wardrobe by throwing a clothes-swapping party with your mates.

* Sell unwanted togs on eBay.

* Check out charity shops for second-hand bargains.

Food

* Organise your cupboards to make things easier to find and stop you duplicating shopping.

* Make a meal plan so you know exactly what to buy and use a hand basket rather than a trolley at the supermarket so there is less room for extra items - and join a supermarket saver card scheme.

Beauty

Resist expensive miracle cures' and concoct some of your own instead. Pull out free sachets of shampoo and moisturiser from magazines for weekends away.

Home-made beauty treats:

Facial exfoliator for sensitive skin

Mix two heaped teaspoons of fine oatmeal with two teaspoons of double cream, apply to the skin and rub with a very light action, using the balls of your fingers, then rinse off. Apply mixture once or twice a week to get remove dead skin cells.

Cleansing mask

Mix two heaped teaspoons of gram flour with one teaspoons of water and one of runny honey. Apply to your skin and leave for five to seven minutes.

Hair conditioner

Massage a beaten egg into wet hair, taking extra care with your scalp. Rinse thoroughly after one minute and massage in two tablespoons of mayonnaise, paying attention to the tips of your hair. Let it sit for two or three minutes or for deeper conditioning, wrap your head in a towel for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water then wash with your normal shampoo. It is better done over a sink than in the shower.

Hand cream

Mix together one tablespoon of olive oil and one tablespoon of sugar, massage into your hands, leave for two minutes and rinse off. Great for tired feet too.

Leisure

* Now is the time to try out that fitness DVD you got at Christmas to save on a gym membership.

* Cutting back on nights out does not mean you cannot see your friends - try free or cheaper activities such as walking or swimming. Hold video nights and get everyone to bring a video and make your own pizzas instead of ordering takeout.

* If there is a birthday coming up, consider gift vouchers for services such as ironing, babysitting or mowing the lawn.

Home

* Have a use-up' month and don't buy any new products until you have used the old ones.

* Turn old or odd socks into dusters and car cleaning rags and reuse supermarket plastic bags as bin liners.