How Do You Keep a Record?

moggins · 13 May 2005 at 8:54AM

I've been trying to balance my grocery budget over the last few months to find out what I am spending the most on but it's getting harder and harder.

In the days when I used the supermarket for most of my shopping I could keep my till receipts to look back on but now I'm using local small shops, farmers markets etc it's not so easy as most of the time you don't get given a receipt

I've been thinking about carrying a small cash book that will fit in my handbag and writing everything down when I buy it but fear this will make me appear rather anal

How does everyone else cope with this?

spendaholic · 13 May 2005 at 9:01AM

If I see someone jotting something down in a little cash book I don't think: "Blimey, how anal." I think, "Wow, wish I was that organised."

Who cares what people think anyway? Maybe they've never had a debt problem or don't know how to recognise one when they have.

Get your mini cash book and write everything down if that's what you want to do. At some point you may find you're doing it in your head anyway, but in the meantime ...

rchddap1 · 13 May 2005 at 9:05AM

I agree. If you want to write things down in a little book then do so. What does it matter what other people think or say. At the end of the day you will end up saving money, whereas chances are they don't think carefully about what they buy and so end up overspending.

I have to admit that I don't write things down, but I have practically created a shopping list and budget spreadsheet in my head.

Good luck to you.

Lillibet_2 · 13 May 2005 at 9:07AM

I used to use a little cash book & always found it worked well, I don't recall ever getting any funny looks or comments. Of course that was before I graduated onto a A5 3 inch thick diary with built in calculator!

Alternatively maybe get a cheap little PDA? I got 2 last year for Xmas pressies for £3.50 each, the size of the small diaries & way cooler! Wish I had kept one for myself now:o

Curry_Queen · 13 May 2005 at 9:16AM

This is where I occassionally fall down on my budget sheet as I often forget to add cash purchases to it, although they are few and far between as 99% of my shopping is done online, but for example just this week I've had to send DS out to get coffee and milk.

It depends whether you want to record things to the exact penny or do a rough estimation. When I used to be able to get out and go shopping I'd keep a rough idea in my head of what I'd spent, rounded to the nearest pound, but then if you're anything like me the memory will fail you and you'll sit there racking your brains trying to figure out where that £10 went LOL!

If I were to put myself in your shoes now I think I would definitely carry a little notebook in my pocket to jot things down in, and I have been known to do that in the past when working to a tight budget, and I don't think there's any reason to feel anal or embarrased by it

Edit: Actually that's just reminded talking of coffee ... I gave him £2 to go get some (Nescafe 100g is usually £1.63 in Tesco) and he came back a few minutes later asking for more money as they wanted £2.25 for it at the corner shop!!!!! :eek: ... I made the poor lad trek up the other end of village to the Co-op where he still ended up paying £1.79 for it but no way was I paying over £2 :mad:

apprentice_tycoon · 13 May 2005 at 9:25AM

I'm afraid that I don't write things down in the shop but when I get home. As I unpack the shopping I can still remember what they all cost and then I get my book out

moggins · 13 May 2005 at 9:27AM

I wish I had a memory like that, sometimes I can only just remember what I've spent when I leave the shop

What is a PDA? I've heard of them but don't know exactly what they are?

Lillibet_2 · 13 May 2005 at 9:34AM

moggins wrote:

What is a PDA? I've heard of them but don't know exactly what they are?

Personal Diary Assistant I think but am not certain, basically a little electronic diary/address book/budget sheet/scheduler thingy which you can or cannot plug into your PC depending on how upscale you chose to go (for £3.50 definitely not upscale & very simple to use) Money saving beacuse you don't have to buy a new diary each year!

Bargain_Rzl · 13 May 2005 at 10:01AM

moggins wrote:

I wish I had a memory like that, sometimes I can only just remember what I've spent when I leave the shop

What is a PDA? I've heard of them but don't know exactly what they are?

Think it stands for Personal Digital Assistant actually. A personal organiser, like a filofax only electronic rather than paper. Some have electronic pens so you can use them like a notepad.

apprentice_tycoon · 13 May 2005 at 10:19AM

moggins wrote:

I wish I had a memory like that, sometimes I can only just remember what I've spent when I leave the shop

The memory isn't THAT good! I don't write down the individual item prices, just the amount spent in each shop, I'm only in 2 or 3 shops on each outing so I can remember those

Eliza252 · 13 May 2005 at 10:24AM

I have a little cash book which i write ting in straight away - it tends to make staff much nicer to you! They get a bit edgy and start thinking your a mystery shopper or something!

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