January is a particularly difficult month as we try to recover from all the Christmas expenses and making our money stretch further having been paid earlier in December.

It's a dark and cold month when we have to keep a close eye on the finances but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on looking after yourself or having some fun.

Here are some of the FREE ways you can keep fit and look good in the new year.

Hair

Haircuts are usually unnecessarily expensive but they don’t have to be. There are lots of services all over London that provide free haircuts if you are willing to be flexible. For example Toni and Guy has lots of people training who need to practice on someone. You can get a great haircut for absolutely nothing. To find these hidden gems look on local Facebook groups and even Facebook groups specifically for free haircuts.

Beauty

If you search for beauty academies in south London then you can find lots of training beauticians who need people to practice on. This is a great way of getting free makeovers and make-up tips and you will also be helping possible future beauticians to the stars.

Walks

Nunhead Cemetery Tour

One of the most beautiful and serene cemeteries in south London, Nunhead Cemetery has some cracking views that can’t be replicated anywhere else. The sheer vastness of it allows for a good 1.5 to 2-hour walk inside its borders. FONC (Friends of Nunhead Cemetery) offers some guided tours that are free to join, so if you’re keen to explore you can get some extra dinner party conversation knowledge in your bank.

Wandsworth to Carshalton

For those that favour long-distance walks, The Wandle Trail is for you. A 12-mile hike from Wandsworth to Carshalton, this lovely trail includes more than 10 parks and green spaces. As well as this, there are numerous cafes, pubs and restaurants and attractions such as Merton Abbey Mills, Deen City Farm and Wandsworth Museum. This route is also great for cyclists.

Blackheath to Greenwich

Walking from the charming village of Blackheath over the vast heath and through Greenwich Park proves to be a great walk if you enjoy a good view. Also on this stroll is the famous Point Hill, a quaint viewing point towards the end of Blackheath that provides a landscape view of London that is hard to match.

Exercise

Ourparks is a great service that provides free exercise classes all over London delivered by fully qualified and registered coaches. The classes last an hour and you need to book but they all cover something different such as bootcamps and yoga.

Check out the website to see what is near you. 

Museums

There are many great museums that are all free to visit and explore. In south London they include the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, Crystal Palace Museum and the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill.