How do you stop squandering small bits of money?

tara747

shinyhead wrote: »

I live in digs during the week as I work away from home. The cost includes food and all I have to find is cash for tea and coffee. Other than that I try to spend zero each week. It was bloody hard at first as I'm like others on this thread and like to buy 'a little something' only I do it loads of times.

What really made me think a while ago was a quote on someone's signature, I think about many small leaks can still sink a battleship. Haven't had much of a problem since!

A little something every so often certainly adds up! I was in Dorothy Perkins earlier, got 2 pairs of earrings and a necklace all for £3.10 - all chuffed but do I really need them?

Ho hum. I need a padlock on my purse!!

peaceandfreedom

hypno06 wrote: »

But if I have a multi pack of 5 kit kats......you can bet your bottom dollar that I will eat all 5 in one day, thereby negating any saving.........:o

Aha, I'm a bit like that. I buy a large bar of Green & Black's dark chocolate to 'last me all week' and it's gone in 2 days. :whistle:

peaceandfreedom

tara747 wrote: »

Really? I didn't realise, maybe it's me who's useless!

I will stick with Excel too though, it allows me to chart my income and expenditure, savings etc - bascially my whole budget, also I can do forecasts and calculate how much I will have saved at any given point in the next two years...

*sad*

Not sad, sensible.

I keep all my records on Excel as well. I'll keep a paper notebook to keep track of daily spends, and then transfer it to excel. I think it'll make interesting reading.

peaceandfreedom

tallyhoh wrote: »

I calculate how long I have had to spend at work to buy fripperies. For example a coffee & cake would equal nearly one hours wages.

Now if your boss said to you "work one hours overtime & I will give you a cup of coffee & a cake" where would you tell him to go!??:p

Excellent point, tallyhoh, I like it :T

~Jem~

OMG im so in with this one! I was doing the budget planner on here earlier and when i checked my statements and actually LOOKED at how many times i use my card where i work (Tesco Express) i was SHOCKED!!!
£4.20one day, £1.17 then another quid or two THE SAME DAY, the next day maybe £12 cos i'm buying dinner for me and the fella....

Anyway over 3 months it averaged to over £40 a month!!!

peaceandfreedom

tara747 wrote: »

A little something every so often certainly adds up! I was in Dorothy Perkins earlier, got 2 pairs of earrings and a necklace all for £3.10 - all chuffed but do I really need them?

Ho hum. I need a padlock on my purse!!

Yeah, well I bought a pair of Skechers sandals in Barratts. They were £8 reduced from £20 but I don't need them. It's my daughter's fault - she made me buy them.;)

Anyway, I've seen sense now, they're going back. :A

Thing is, I've already promised myself that I wasn't buying any clothes or shoes this summer, I have plenty, I don't need any more. I have a TK Maxx voucher that I am allowing myself to use, but that's it. So the sandals have to go back.

tara747

peaceandfreedom wrote: »

Not sad, sensible.

I keep all my records on Excel as well. I'll keep a paper notebook to keep track of daily spends, and then transfer it to excel. I think it'll make interesting reading.

Oh yes, the daily spending diary is very interesting and useful! Just insert a comment next to the amount and then you can see where your money's really going.

tara747

peaceandfreedom wrote: »

Yeah, well I bought a pair of Skechers sandals in Barratts. They were £8 reduced from £20 but I don't need them. It's my daughter's fault - she made me buy them.;)

Anyway, I've seen sense now, they're going back. :A

Thing is, I've already promised myself that I wasn't buying any clothes or shoes this summer, I have plenty, I don't need any more. I have a TK Maxx voucher that I am allowing myself to use, but that's it. So the sandals have to go back.

I promised myself the same thing and actually haven't been too bad. I've bought a few things in the sales but literally waited till they were £5 (or £1 in the case of that jewellery today). I don't even go into shops unless they have a sale on, and I totally ignore the non-sale stuff. Works for me, I am happy to be kitted out nicely for peanuts. I'll leave the full-price stuff for daft people. Oh and I love charity shops for clothes!! I can't not buy any clothes ever, but I get a lot for very little.

tara747

peaceandfreedom wrote: »

Excellent point, tallyhoh, I like it :T

Me too, it's got to be the best demotivator ever! Thanks tallyhoh.

:T

tara747

OK, I was very tempted by a bus to work today (rain), but I resisted. I walked to work and saved £1.40 and then it stopped raining halfway there! Double reward.

:beer: