Your spending diaries - show us a photo of it

Butterfliesarepretty

I used to keep a spending book years ago.

I would like some tips on what you use and what balance you start with.

Can someone show me some pics of one page of your spending diary so I can start mine on the 15th when I get paid?

tellmeitsfriday

I just use a simple spreadsheet with a total at the bottom... you could use a little notebook just as easily though x

Tixy

Hi

Some people just use a simple notebook or specific cashbook, others like spreadsheets or you could consider something like www.spendingdiary.com Might be worth a look at the latter for ideas at least.

I would start with your bank balance the day before payday and then have the first entry being your wages going in.
When I'm doing my spending diary properly (not always) I have 2 balances in 2 columns 1 for bank and 1 for cash, but if I'm doing a rough diary I just do it for my bank balance and bank spends alone. But I know this isn't as accurate for me, but it is much quicker.

niccatw

I'm with Tixy on that one. I usually do a rough one with the bank balance, 'cos I'm lazy! But I really need to keep a cash one as that's what really cuts down my spending!

I tend to use the http://www.spendingdiary.com/ for speed and for when I've gotten out of the habit of keeping my notebook one properly (I just get all my receipts and put them in, then freak myself out at how much I've spent which spurs me on to keep up with my note book)

Which most basically has columns for date, in, out, type of out (d/d, cash, from ATM) reason for spending, running balance...

david_hellier

I suggest you start at the you deduct all monthly bills from your salary and with the rest divide it by 4.33. This will give you a weekly spending amount. In a notebook write this amount in at the beginning of the week. Deduct all spending from this through the week. Try and get to the end of the week with some left. Carry forward or save this amount. That way you know you have not overspent. Any notebook will do but you can buy a spending diary lined out for this.

dancingfairy

I pretty much do what David has suggested - I have my weekly limit written down and then I just write down what I've spent and a running total.
What you put in it is up to you - some people like to put everything down - essentials and all - personally I've worked out what I've got after bills and only use it for 'frivilous' or one-off purchases as I know that my bills are sorted.
You could always just go to a cash machine once a week /month - get out your 'spare' cash for frivilous things and put it into little envelopes - then each week you are only allowed to spend what is in that envelope - any left over goes into the next envelope etc - and any receipts you get can go into the envelope then you know exactly what you spent it all on.
df