Budgeting can be a bit like a diet, we realise the benefits we could accrue if we stick to them, but the temptation to renegade on them is often so enticing. We at the career break café believe in a healthy financial diet, rather than undergoing financial ‘cold turkey’ for 6 months.

Because life’s to short, we think that where ever you are and whatever you are doing you should make the most of it. Thus, removing everything you enjoy in life is only likely to make you slightly depressed and add to the pressure you have in preparing for your break. Therefore in this section we introduce Jackson’s rotational financial diet.

Jackson’s rotational financial diet is similar in principle to the Atkin’s diet where you cut out carb’s from your diet, in the vein of losing some weight. However, the financial version works, by you thinking of 10 aspects of expenditure you can easily cut out for a period of a month, and then choosing 3 of them to abstain from for a month. Once the month is over you can then swap these 3 with the other remaining elements. This way you can choose to keep the elements of expenditure you enjoy, so the task of budgeting isn’t too painful.

For example: If I was heading on my career break in 6 months time, and I want to cut down on my expenditure I would first assess where I could save money, by judging my current spending.

• £4 per day using the tube (£80 a month)
• £2.35 for a shop bought coffee (£47 a month)
• £3 for a shop bought sandwich (60 a month)
• £30 per month for gym membership (£30)
• £8 a night for entry to a club (£32 per month)
• £1 for a newspaper (£20 per month)
• £25 having a meal out (£100 per month)
• 50p for a snack (£10 per month)
• £30 new item of clothing (£120 per month)
• £5 for a couple of beers a few nights a week (£240)
• £5 every few days for fags (£60)

I feel that I could quite easily cut 3 of these elements out for a month. Thus for March:

• I would not get the tube, but rather I would walk or use my old bike.
• I would skip the meal out for a few weeks, and cook for friends and get them to cook for me!
• Lastly, I would bring in a flask of coffee or a bottle of water, instead of going out for coffee.

The amount of cash I would have saved could be in the region of £230 for March, without really radically changing my life. Thus when it came to April, I could either choose, to change the elements that I’m skipping with some new ones, maintain the status quo, or even add a couple more elements to the status quo!

However, if you’re in dire need of cash, then you can attempt to save money by abstaining from as many unnecessary purchases as possible, but don’t get down in the mouth if you elect for a couple of post-work beer’s on Friday night. Just enjoy what you’re doing and make the most out of it. If you really do want to save some money here a few of ideas:

• When it comes to birthday present and cards, try and make them; not only are they cheaper but it can be quite fun baking a cake, while the recipient will see the effort you’ve gone to.
• If you want to reduce your food bill, see what you can find out-doors, try making some nettle soup, or wild berry pies with the berries you’ll find on hedge rows.
• Buy some hair clippers (£10) and cut your own hair.
• Shower at the gym to save on your own water bill.
• Pick up the free newspaper on public transport, to avoid buying one, and then sell it on at work!
• I was slightly skint before heading to East Africa a few years ago and couldn’t afford to get my mother and sister birthday presents. But to get round this problem I created a gift certificate promising a gift of some form, from somewhere on my travels.
• Cancel your mobile phone contract and switch to pay-as-you-go, this way you’ll be able to see how much you’re spending.

When it comes to budgeting, its one of those things that you can do to the extreme, and save yourself a lot of money if you’re; smart, prudent and thrifty. But, for most of us going on a break; the best bet is to just cut down on large purchases, and remove a couple of those little indulgence you have frequently, so that you can rein in your spending a touch.