Do you all write down everything you spend? 2 May 2006 at 11:30AM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Debt-Free Wannabe 39 replies 1.7K views

loopyloulou_3

I don't at the moment, but am thinking that maybe I should? I have a friend who does and she says it stops her forgetting the little things she has brought.

I don't tend to buy it if I don't need it, althought sometimes go off the rails but maybe it would give me a shock to see what I do spend in black and white! :eek:

Queen.Bess

HI Loopyloulou! I've thought about this too and tried to start last month, I carried a small notebook in my handbag and wrote all cash and card purchases. But Igot to about the 10th April before I forgot! However it's now at the beginning of a new month again and I'm sure I could try again, expecially as it's the 2nd of the month and I've not spent anything this month!

So I will, if you will!

loopyloulou_3

sounds like a plan - i have got a little notebook and will start from today!! (although today has been a rather expensive one so far!)

rlm_3

Same here! I tried this a couple of moths ago but forgot to do it towards the end of the month...I've drawn out in cash all the money for this month (leaving enough in for DDs and the likes). I'm making a note of each purchase and working out how much I have left for the month. We'll see how it goes. Yesterday I forgot was doing this and put £15 for petrol on my card. It was a good job I'd left a bit in my account for emergencies!:doh:

Emmzi

Obsessively, and then it goes into the spreadsheet.

Once you see a pie chart showing you that almost half of your earnings are going on debt....

Heth_2

I'm not in debt (aprat from the mortgage) but my husband and I do this anyway so we can keep track of how much we spend. We have a budget for each month, with a load od columns on an excel spreadsheet for stuff like food, car insurance, bills, etc... and each time we spend money on the card or take out cash (rare as we usually use the card) we make a note of it. It really helps to see where your money is going to.

jesster_2

Yes! I write everything down like a lunatic! But I think the reason why it works is I write it down BEFORE I spend it, i.e. I write down what my budget is and then subtract each spend from it.

I have a little notebook, which has a page at the start of each month outlining what's coming in and what's going out that month. Then following that I have a page for each week in the month outlining how my weekly "food and fun" budget (£25) will be spent.

Then I keep a running total of what I have left to see me through the week, which i usually keep in cash in my wallet.

If I've allocated a set amount for, say, a weekend away or friends coming to visit, then I won't write down everything then, I just make sure I stay within the budget I've allowed.

It IS anal, and people DO take the mick out of me... but I like too much being in control of it all!

southernscouser

I've noted down every single penny I've spent since 1st October last year!

For example I can tell you since then I have spent £667.54 on petrol or £101.68 on toiletries. Sad I know but it helps me understand where my money goes!

moozie_2

Yes My spending diary is an excel spreadsheet where I record all spending by cash or card. It's very helpful to see a running total for the month.

Especially now that I am starting to build a budget for the first time ever. I need the spending diary so I can see how well I am doing with my budget. It really helps to see it written down and at first I was very surprised to see how much I spend over a month. I didn't think it was anywhere near that amount but every little thing adds up to a big figure in the end :eek:

Bunnie1982

I'm like moozie and keep a spending diary on an excel spreadsheet, also keep receipts so I can see what I have brought

Dr.Lou

I'm not doing it at the moment, but I've done it before for a couple of months. It s really useful!