Question about Spending Diaries

GreyPilgrim

Spreadsheet make it so easy! I only spend on the credit card because I loose cash has a tendency to vanish...If I only spend on cards, then I can only spend in places that accept cards (so temptation in the canteen or walking past a corner shop isn't a problem).

At the start of the month I record my salary (money in) in one column, all the bills in another column, and then as my spending registeres on my statements, I enter them onto the spreadsheet one by one, so I can subtract the bills and spends away from the salary and see how much I have left.

It really does turn you into a nerd, this debt free wanabee-ness

James240

KatrinaC wrote:

I run a spreadsheet system because I'm a bit of an obsessive scientist type geek and I like to be able to analyse things in a dozen different ways (by day, week, month, expenditure type, where I spend my money, what the item cost last time I bought it, what it cost last time I bought it at another shop...).

My MIL, on the other hand, keeps a small A6 note book in her bag and writes things in during the day as she spends.

Bizarrely, her five minute a day system works better than my three hour a week one, although mine does have more pretty colours:rolleyes:

Kat

you knkow what i do that as well got a wicked spreadsheet done on Excel and i can anaylize everything on it lolAlthough it is easier using pen and paper :rotfl:

GreyPilgrim

James240 wrote:

you knkow what i do that as well got a wicked spreadsheet done on Excel and i can anaylize everything on it lolAlthough it is easier using pen and paper :rotfl:

I've written a function that:

Looks at what date you're at
Works out how many days to the end of the month
Looks at how much you have left (money in minus money out)
Shows you how much you have left to spend per day.

The geeks shall inherit the earth

DontDoDebtKids

Stupid question I know, but...

Do you only record what spending you do "personally" and not, say, what bills have come out of your bank account that day? Or do you write down everything (i.e. refer to internet banking and write down what's gone out that day)?

Cheers!

Annie_Fanny

Don't forget this peeps! Someone posted it a while back!

http://www.pocketmod.com/

DontDoDebtKids

Annie_Fanny wrote:

Don't forget this peeps! Someone posted it a while back!

http://www.pocketmod.com/

I just made one of these to try it out. Absolutely inspired!!!

kevtrader

I'm thinking of doing one of these now with all the different ideas people have put down!

ZTD

calleyw wrote:

And I thought computers where suppose to make life easier and we would have paperless offices.

Whenever I hear the term "paperless office" I reach for my print button.

LookingAhead

DontDoDebtKids wrote:

Stupid question I know, but...

Do you only record what spending you do "personally" and not, say, what bills have come out of your bank account that day? Or do you write down everything (i.e. refer to internet banking and write down what's gone out that day)?

Cheers!

Personally I write down (in a notepad) anything that I have used cash, a cheque, Switch or VISA for, which is over & above the mortgage & usual direct debits i.e. gas, phone etc. Anything at all.

Annie_Fanny

ZTD wrote:

Whenever I hear the term "paperless office" I reach for my print button.

Hee hee hee!