Easy way of organising

carlih1

Hi

Thanks all for your reponses. I guess it is just easier to sit on it and let time run away with you. BUT i do know i need to get organised and that is why i posted, i wanted to know what people did every day to give myself inpiration, which i have got some ideas, really like the notebook suggestions, although i prefer uusing the pc but the notebook is easier as it is on you all of the time.

I tried to upload that poket thing but it wouldn't let me as i am having a few pc problems at the mo.

Anyway thanx again.

c x

heppy23

I use quicken software to keep on top of what is going out.

However I was finding I need to keep the bill money and other money separate.

What I have done is to work out what money that bill account needs per year and divide it by 52 (i get paid weekly).

When my wages go in I take out the amount I was paid minus the amount needed for the bills.

I am going to "prime" the bill account by leaving £200 in then I will see how it goes from there. If it looks like it is creeping down below an average of £200 I will leave more in each week, if it is the other way I will leave less.

Molanole

I think the first place to start is here with Martin's excellent budget planner:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1089226742,17582,

It really is very simple to use and sets things out in such a user friendly format.

The way I have been organising things is to have a joint account with the OH which covers all of our utilities, council tax and food shopping each month. We both transfer a set amount into this the day we get paid. On the same day is when I pay the minimum amounts on all debt repayments. I don't keep a recrord of this but use internet banking to keep an eye on things each day, also having set everything out in the budget planner I know what I will then have left each month.

For any remaining cash I keep a very simple spending diary (just writing things down in a little book) to keep track of any miscellaneous expenditure (and there seems to be quite lot at the moment. The budget planner says that I can spend a maximum of £22 each week so I'm allowing myself £10 spend only.

Getting organised is a great feeling though. You'll feel more in control rather than letting everything control you.

Let us know how you are getting on!

Chortle_2

you'll get as many different responses as there are DFWs I think!

I am one of the exceptionally anal ones I am afraid... I can tell you not only the exact amount in any of my bank accounts at any given time, but also how that divides into 'pots' for each thing. I use both MS Money, and several spreadsheets

I have to agree with the others, until you know exactly where you are, however you acheive it, you will never get on top of your spending, or get debt free any quicker. (thats exactly how I got into debt in the first place, not keeping an eye on where I was... and look where I ended up :rotfl:)

If I were you, I'd start with Martins budget planner, and then each month, just after you get paid, work out how much needs to be 'assigned' to what. Then you will be left with your 'spare' money, and you can decide how much will be for 'you' and how much for the debt. For example, I've only just been paid, but I can tell you that once all my bills have come out, I've moved money to my debts and various savings accounts (where I 'stash' money each month towards birthdays/xmas/car insurance etc etc, and my £20 p/week 'personal' money has come out, I will have £38.17 left - providing nothing goes over budget. If I don't go over, (normally I am under ) it then gets moved into a savings account (which goes towards my debt) the night before I get paid again.

How you do it is all down to personal preference, but you DO need to do SOMETHING - overwise you will have no control over your own money.

If you are really struggling, it might be worth getting a copy of MS Money (about £25 in most places I think, but do it the MSE way and shop around if you do decide to get it) - it has really good budget/cashflow features and should help you to see the wood from the trees. It does take a while to set up, but it is worth it (I couldn't be without it now!)

HTH

CosmoCat

we might all have different ways of doing it, but i see there are a few basic principles

KNOW - your bank account, what goes in, what comes out
PLAN - what money comes from where, a budget plan
ORGANISE - whether it be a be different accounts, a pc or paper spreadsheet, software.

best of all you have to be AWARE. Have a daily relationship with your bank account, and your paper bills. I find it useful when paper bills come to highlight what day they will be taken out by ddebit in my bank (it's usually written on there). so if i'm not near a pc, i still have a useful record of what's coming out of my bank account.

all the best with your new money AWARENESS.

Calypso

Hi

I think doing the budget planner is an excellent way of keeping track of all outgoings and income. especially as you can go in and chnage it month by month if neccesary.

I also have two bank accounts - one for bills and one for spending, that way I know all our bills are paid.

With regard to keeping track of day to day spending, I have found keeping a notebook difficult and hubby keep s forgetting to use it so we saw on a programme the other day that somebody was using a big wipe board to keep track of their daily spending, daily bank account balance etc. We are going to give this a go as I think we will find this quite motivational in trying to help us keep track of everything. The guy on the programme certainly felt that was what worked for him.

I think that's part of it, finding what works for you as you are then more likely to stick to it.

Happy Organising!

Calypso
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