Normally I don’t pay a massive amount of attention to my bank account, but last year was mega expensive (3 holidays, a new kitchen and various other purchases that added up – I’m pretty sure I spent £1500 on performance and concert tickets alone).

So after Christmas, when I carried on spending like I normally do, my bank account started crying. I didn’t envisage spending much in December after we got back from Vegas (other than the cost of going to Joe’s parents), but then there was a whole load of things when we got back.

In the past few weeks, I’ve spent:

• £280 on the gas and electricity bill
• £200+ at the vets’ for five cats’ injections and worming (total figure not yet in as they need another round of injections, which will probably be another £150 minimum)
• £25 on a concert t-shirt
• £240 on online grocery shopping (we hosted a New Year party, so we don’t actually have as much food as we normally would)
• £920 on clearing my credit card (Vegas expenses)
• £40 on a room escape experience
• £120 on travel
• £100 on other food and day to day experiences
• £12 on the TV licence
• £20 on domain renewals
• £25 on Star Wars tickets
• £50 on theatre tickets to see The Mousetrap
• £48 on theatre tickets to see Dick Whittington with a friend’s child
• £16 on tickets to a talk on designing the original NES by its creator
• £25 on 25 new books – bargain
• £46 on this year’s Christmas presents. What can I say, I like to be organised.

I’m not going to add that up. I’ve probably missed a lot of stuff off that list as it is…and I still have various bills to come out for Sky, Netflix, my VPS, and other things. I am very broke. Yes, it’s my own fault. But looking at this list shows me just how much my outlook has changed compared to this time last year. Despite the weather being just as rubbish, I’m out and about doing things and keeping on top of the must-dos. All I need to do is get back on track with my websites and tidy up a few loose ends in my life generally, and I’ll be set up for a great year.

But let’s just say I’m still counting the minutes until pay day ;)