A Spendaholic in need of continuos shopping and a naughty debt!

jwil

Posh wrote: »

Hi, I am reading through your diary and thought it a good idea to share my experiences with you. I get my monthly bank statement, some highlighter pens and a calculator and divide everything off into categories (Essential Items, Fuel, Direct Debits/Bills, Cash & Waste).
Colour each item in depending on category and total them up at the bottom and see how much you are spending on each.
I then try and cut back by £20 or so on the Cash and the Waste category each month. (I've only been doing it a few months but it's working ok).
I have now started to allow myself £15 p/week to spend on whatever I like, I transfer this from my current account to a spare account and only use that card. This way I shouldn't need to withdraw cash at all...I hope this helps. As I read through more I'll see if I can help you anymore.

That sounds really good Posh, I might try and pinch some of your ideas, thanks!

Posh

If it helps, I do a stock take of what food I have in the kitchen and then plan my meals for the week, can I make enough food with what I have, or do I need to pop to the shops for a couple of bits?
I've a little book with it all written in and I take it to the shops with me, then when I see something on offer I can look in the book and say 'no, I don't need that, I've still got 4 tins at home'...I also keep coupons and money off vouchers in this book and before I go to Asda I always look on mysupermarket.com to see what deals are on and roughly how much I will spend.

With regard to the credit card statement. You will know in your heat roughly how much is on it, so open it, look at it and you will feel better. The reality will kick in but at least you won't be worrying (or hoping that someone has paid it off for you and it's nil now). I've been there and done that, I knew what the letters would say but still chose to ignore them, it doesn't help.

Well done on the ebaying, how much have you made from it so far? I've run out of things to sell now, I am watching a pair of shoes, a dress and a bag, all identical to what I have at home and they aren't selling at all...maybe I'll keep them for a little longer!

Good Luck, I'll pop back and see how you are getting on in a couple of days.
P x

Posh

jwil wrote: »

That sounds really good Posh, I might try and pinch some of your ideas, thanks!

You are welcome! It makes your statment colourful if nothing else! You can see where the bulk of money is being spent and is it on rubbish (probably) or essential items (not likely as nothing left!!).

I have been in debt, heavily, but I am at the other side now. There is light at the end of the (very long) tunnel but we can all get there if we keep at it.
P x:T

unsavy_with_£

jackieb wrote: »

Remember you can double your Tesco vouchers - but only in lots of £5, so you'd have £32 of vouchers instead of £17.

I do think they use washing up liquid a lot of time on How Clean is your House. Sometimes they soak pots and pans in biological washing powder to break down the grease. You'll should nip over on the old-style board on here. They have lots of good tips.

Thank you, I will go do that!

Is there a board with tips like that on, will go have a look. See I dont spend enough time going through this site! I really need to do more surfing.

jackieb

It's here. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=33
You'll probably spend ages on there, and they're all friendly, helpful and encouraging.

unsavy_with_£

jackieb wrote: »

I've bought an A4 diary for next year, with one page per day. I always have a diary in my handbag but thought a big one for the house would be good, so I can write down my daily spends in it. Can't do that in my handbag sized one. And hopefully my dh will write down his spends too.

Thats such a great idea, somewhere where you can see every spend right in front you. lets hope the dh will use the diary also!

May go to the market and have a look at the diaries

jackieb

I think mine was £3 from Asda. Well I defintiely know it was from Asda lol, I just think it was £3.

I'm also going to use it as an organiser - with all my work shifts (I work irregular hours), family's appointments, to-do lists, etc.

unsavy_with_£

Posh wrote: »

Hi, I am reading through your diary and thought it a good idea to share my experiences with you. I get my monthly bank statement, some highlighter pens and a calculator and divide everything off into categories (Essential Items, Fuel, Direct Debits/Bills, Cash & Waste).
Colour each item in depending on category and total them up at the bottom and see how much you are spending on each.
I then try and cut back by £20 or so on the Cash and the Waste category each month. (I've only been doing it a few months but it's working ok).
I have now started to allow myself £15 p/week to spend on whatever I like, I transfer this from my current account to a spare account and only use that card. This way I shouldn't need to withdraw cash at all...I hope this helps. As I read through more I'll see if I can help you anymore.

Hi Posh, welcome to the thread, thank you for your tips, do you find it hard to cut back on things? I think thats a good idea to go through my bank statements, something I really dont do.

unsavy_with_£

Posh wrote: »

If it helps, I do a stock take of what food I have in the kitchen and then plan my meals for the week, can I make enough food with what I have, or do I need to pop to the shops for a couple of bits?
I've a little book with it all written in and I take it to the shops with me, then when I see something on offer I can look in the book and say 'no, I don't need that, I've still got 4 tins at home'...I also keep coupons and money off vouchers in this book and before I go to Asda I always look on mysupermarket.com to see what deals are on and roughly how much I will spend.

With regard to the credit card statement. You will know in your heat roughly how much is on it, so open it, look at it and you will feel better. The reality will kick in but at least you won't be worrying (or hoping that someone has paid it off for you and it's nil now). I've been there and done that, I knew what the letters would say but still chose to ignore them, it doesn't help.

Well done on the ebaying, how much have you made from it so far? I've run out of things to sell now, I am watching a pair of shoes, a dress and a bag, all identical to what I have at home and they aren't selling at all...maybe I'll keep them for a little longer!

Good Luck, I'll pop back and see how you are getting on in a couple of days.
P x

i like that term stock take! Something that I dont do! Even though I have started doing meal plans (partly because I am on a diet) but I have found it helps with the shopping.

Thats really good about the little book and take that with you, vouchers are something I rarely remember to take, told you I am disorganised.

You are so right about the credit card statement, I know its bad. I just need to do it. But I hate doing it, I hate it every month.

Will have to total all the ebay sales once Ive posted them tomorrow then Ill let you know. Am going to use the paypal postage so it comes straight out of my paypal account - thanks Jwil x - then that money will go towards the credit card!

thats a shame they arent selling - could it be the way they are listed? Do you need them or is it time for a change?

Thank you for the tips, they are really good!! x

unsavy_with_£

Posh wrote: »

You are welcome! It makes your statment colourful if nothing else! You can see where the bulk of money is being spent and is it on rubbish (probably) or essential items (not likely as nothing left!!).

I have been in debt, heavily, but I am at the other side now. There is light at the end of the (very long) tunnel but we can all get there if we keep at it.
P x:T

Well done Posh!