Keeping a list on how much spent

jcr16

I would like please to know the methods everyone finds easy to keep track of spending.

in the past i had a notebook and kept all recipts and when i got home i would sit down and write everything down. but i'm getting a bit forgetful at this. so sometimes i for get what i have bought but i check online banking and then get totals from there, but if i've spent cash then this don't work.

would i be better to keep a notebook in bag and write as i come out of a shop ? or shall i just try and train myself to rememeber.

all thoughts and ideas much welcomed.

as next month i am going to withdraw cash each week for shopping ( thanks to sarahsavers excellent advice ) i have a separate purse my hubby has bought me for this very job.

Thanks in advance

magni

I keep a notebook in my bag and write is it as soon as possible after the spend. It seems to be working ok. I'm new to this and have been doing it for 5 weeks now. It's surprising how much money I can actually spend:eek:

COOLTRIKERCHICK

i find that i need to write things down as soon as poss.. otherwise i will forget...

but i also find by writting things down... it makes you more aware of what you are spending.. and acts like a deterant.. so you dont buy those impluse buys...

hope that made sense... or is it only me that...by writting down what i spend.. stops me from spending as well

jcr16

yes i do also find that by writing down what i spent , makes me think before i spend again, as i don't wanna use up all my shopping budget .

i think i might use a nice small but handy notebook and keep it in my bag. and then each week/ or night transfer it into my household manual with more details.

V.Lucky

I have started this month too - just out of interest to see how much I do actually spend on shopping.

It has really made me aware of what I spend, went to Aldi on Fri for the shopping. They didn't have any tonic water (for my g&t lol), and I didn't want to go to Tesco and get some as I would be too tempted to spend more, so I have done without!! No g&t's all weekend for me.

Smashing

I'm far less likely to go for an impulse buy if I know I have to write it down and be held accountable for it in my spending diary.

bud-miser

Er... keep hold of your shop receipts...?

The supermarket ones are nearly all itemised these days.

iwanttosave_2

How about a pocket mod? You adapt it to how you want, print it off and fold it up to a nice tiny note book.

You can have all sorts of variations on there.

thriftmonster

I have a little notebook in my handbag that I push the receipts into and then write them up each evening

irchy_mum

magni wrote:

It's surprising how much money I can actually spend:eek:

I've started keeping a notebook in my bag, and I have been spending waaaaayyyy too much-it's actually quite an eye opener.:rolleyes:

mah_jong

Another vote for the pocket mod..... I keep it in the back of my purse (where the tenners used to be!!!) Now days its a pound coin and a switch card ..... I think I have every thing covered for emergancies and certainly no random buying!!!