Do little amounts really help?

fairylights_2

In July/August/September every time I saved ANY money - be it on a buy one get one free, cheaper bus ticket, second over first class post - I put it on to the credit card. I was amazed to find there is a limit to the smallest amount of money you can put on to your card through online banking!

Still, I got a twisted joy from them having to print out my payments in on multiple sheets, and it definitely helped clearing the balance bit by bit. In a way, I think little payments are sometimes easier because you look at £5 and think "well, it's a bottle of wine" and survive without, where our £250 payment per month is more than half our car insurance per year.

lottie26_2

I do the same as southernscouser but I staple my reciepts into my diary I'm more lazy. :rotfl:

Old_iron_balls

Ive found it helps if you create a simple spreadsheet so you can actully see your balances reducing each time you make an overpayment.
£5, £10 etc etc it all counts

in*the*red_6

Old_iron_balls wrote:

Ive found it helps if you create a simple spreadsheet so you can actully see your balances reducing each time you make an overpayment.
£5, £10 etc etc it all counts

That's right, the next normal payment on my flexible loan was due to be £175 but as I'm about to get £15 cash on collection for something I've sold on ebay I've just increased the payment on my spreadsheet to £190 (so only a small amount really). This means that I pay £32 pounds less over the whole term and the loan will be paid off a month before it would have been. Hope this makes sense but that £15 will double it's worth (kind of) by throwing it at the debts now!

ITR

dinkylou

lottie26 wrote:

I do the same as southernscouser but I staple my reciepts into my diary I'm more lazy. :rotfl:

I've also got a 'diary' but mine is a simple spreadsheet that I created.

It's similar to martins budget sheet but I put actual amounts I've spent in it as I'm on the computer during the week.

That way I can see exactly what I've spent for each month and where. It also helps to have each months totals together so I can see where I've been going wrong and exactly how much I overspend by during the year.

toontastic

Don't suppose you fancy adding that spreadsheet somewhere