Silly question about budgeting

Help_required_5

I have very erratic spending behaviour and am really struggling to put up a realistic budget. Does anyone have any tips on what to set aside every month and how do you stick to the set budget?

I have set a budget for myself and have been keeping a spending diary for the last couple of months. I find myself fiddling with the budget and moving things around so for example I may have a going out / eating out budget of £50 and odds and sods budget of £50, if I spend more than £50 on eating out I tend to "borrow" the difference from odds and sods budget(or rather shove the eating expense to it). Is that weird? Or is that how it is normally done? (I am really sorry for being so silly, I had/have never kept a budget before)

Thanks

Danstar_2

iPhone app 'iXpenseIt'

Lokolo

I do that OP don't worry.

My overall aim is just to not overspend.

Help_required_5

Danstar wrote: »

iPhone app 'iXpenseIt'

Would love to get an iPhone! If do get one I will certainly get the app but for now it has to be the old school excel and spending diary!

Help_required_5

Lokolo wrote: »

I do that OP don't worry.

My overall aim is just to not overspend.

Thanks, thats what I sort of think as well but then I constantly find myself "borrowing" from one budget or the other (my ultimate aim is to stick to budget and any underspends should go into a savings pot)

When are you getting the Mazda 3? I love the car, haven't found a decent 2nd hand yet. Hopefully I will get one soon!

Danstar_2

Help_required wrote: »

Would love to get an iPhone! If do get one I will certainly get the app but for now it has to be the old school excel and spending diary!

No shame in that, I did it after freshers week realising I blowed a months allowance in two weeks on my CC.

Lokolo

Help_required wrote: »

Thanks, thats what I sort of think as well but then I constantly find myself "borrowing" from one budget or the other (my ultimate aim is to stick to budget and any underspends should go into a savings pot)

When are you getting the Mazda 3? I love the car, haven't found a decent 2nd hand yet. Hopefully I will get one soon!

Yeh I currently estimate I will spend £20 on Entertainment, but I don't end up doing that and spend it on my Alcohol Fund instead. Meh nevermind

Mazda3 will be coming when I graduate, don't want to get one yet as I don't want to take it to uni.

As long as my crappy car survives the next year I'll be happy!

Help_required_5

Lokolo wrote: »

Yeh I currently estimate I will spend £20 on Entertainment, but I don't end up doing that and spend it on my Alcohol Fund instead. Meh nevermind

Mazda3 will be coming when I graduate, don't want to get one yet as I don't want to take it to uni.

As long as my crappy car survives the next year I'll be happy!

Ah, I thought I might get you to review it before I took a plunge!

You have got some fund going there for a student (particularly if you have got both the savings and car one), well done!

Help_required_5

Danstar wrote: »

No shame in that, I did it after freshers week realising I blowed a months allowance in two weeks on my CC.

Tempted to get an iphone 4g but just can't see myself spending that much and locking myself in a long contract! Never had a contract in my life, always been on PAYG!

Danstar_2

Help_required wrote: »

Tempted to get an iphone 4g but just can't see myself spending that much and locking myself in a long contract! Never had a contract in my life, always been on PAYG!

I used to have a contract that my dad paid as part of my allowance but after going over it several times it was moved onto pay monthly as you can get some very good deals after being with them a while.

my iPhone was a present because I didn't want to get tied into a contract, my dad pays £25 a month for 2,400 (it was 1,200 but they doubled it) unlimited texts (plus 1,200 or 2,400 I can't remember as an allowance which is only used when I go abroad) unlimited internet, unlimited picture messages. Thats on O2

Help_required_5

Danstar wrote: »

I used to have a contract that my dad paid as part of my allowance but after going over it several times it was moved onto pay monthly as you can get some very good deals after being with them a while.

my iPhone was a present because I didn't want to get tied into a contract, my dad pays £25 a month for 2,400 (it was 1,200 but they doubled it) unlimited texts (plus 1,200 or 2,400 I can't remember as an allowance which is only used when I go abroad) unlimited internet, unlimited picture messages. Thats on O2

Fair dos! Hopefully you won't be going over this time!