Get organised for 2011

Susi_Wa

What a great idea, thanks!

I've already got a diary so shall be scribbling away as soon as I can muster the brain power to think!

We did start the daily spend diary but gradually forgot about it. Have to say that it did make a difference seeing where all the pennies go! Now I check the bank every day, have a spreadsheet with all the bank spends on it and compare the difference month to month. Not actually saving any money yet but not spending as much and a heck-of-a-lot more in control of our spending which is a great feeling!

cally6008

Argh, is there a word for being too organised ?

I've just done the old cats tablet diary for the next year, marked in every 28 days for tablets (I did have this down as 1st of every month so good job I've redone it properly) and the 2 x 6 monthly booster checks plus 4 x med checks (managed to jig this to clash with the booster checks and needing tablets, lol) - Now just need to be sly with appointments and book them when OH is free to drive us to vets, Lol

I can't add the costs in just yet as VAT goes up January 1st 2011 and she's on senior plan so gets a discount on medication, not sure how much.

GreyhoundAngel

Fab idea Calley,

I started something similar not only to track my "earnings" while I was doing lots of little things like M/Shops, Temp work etc but to also try and keep track of WHEN I'd get the money from each :cool:

The idea was to try and help me budget with a fluctuating income, but like others, I lost my way a bit with it.

This is a good wake up call for me to return to being organised, as I am going to have a lot of work to do on budgeting for normal bills & monthly payment etc, AND debt busting and overpaying house finance!

Thanks for the Kick up the wotsit !!!! :rotfl:

G:A x

twinmum07

Such a simple idea but such a good one too! Off cheap diary hunting now

cally6008

I have a YAY and a FLIP ARGH, lol.

YAY - The vet has changed a brand of old cat tablets to a generic one just on the market and it is cheaper than her normal one, it saves approx £5 per month

FLIP ARGH - I had sorted her tablets out to be every 28 days and these new tablets come in 15's (half tablet once a day) so 30 days worth. Two days over 12 months is 24 days lol so might get away with only 12 lots of tablets and not 13 lots.

My brain hurts. Bit annoyed cos receptionist didnt give me the itemised receipt for tablets but they are brilliant so a quick phone call on monday should sort me out with correct price. Then again, I'll leave it for now as I know rough price for december tablets and then price changes in january due to vat increase anyway.

Went on Feline Fayre website (cat food, high meat, low in fat) and found the typical analysis of other pouches in their range. Asda sell the range but Asda website not got this info on so pleased as Asda stock the other flavours and it's 4 for £1 at the moment or 33p each. It's more MSE to go to BM bargains in town (only 20p per pouch) as opposed to bus ride to Asda (walk up takes one hour so would bus back unless timed right with OH at work up that part of town) but old cat getting sick of just 2 flavours of food already. Gawd, she's one spoilt cat!

savingcaz

Great idea, will aim to do the same here too!!

BringtheStoneshome

Great post.

Getting organised and budgeted it brilliant.

I have just posted elsewhere about how I got angry with debt a year ago and started to budget and pay it off (simply telling myself I could not have it if I could not afford it). I have slipped in places but overall been fairly rigid. As a result I reduced c£8.5k down to c£6.5k (24% paid) in one year. With a my big loan likely to fall completely (9 months early) I will now experience a snowball effect so a big bill (such a s the car) will not hit so hard.

The three old Gets...............Get budgeted, Get rid of debt, Get a life!

dfw123

I'm really going to sit down one day soon and put everything for next year into my diary, i just remembered a little thing - my passport needs renewing, so that'll be going in the diary now too! i shall jot down everything i remember and work out a strict budget. also put away a bit for emergency like anything for the car!

also my spending diary is going well so far!

As long as i keep checking these forums it will give me the inspiration i need to keep it up and be debt free eventually!
Thanks to all the MSE's out there, you've really been a great help. don't know what i'd have done without you all!
xx

jude_the_obscure

Hi folks

I got myself out of debt by micromanaging my money when I was on JSE. I listed all my bills for the year and worked out how much each was per fortnight. (I was paid fortnightly.) I added some columns for unknown expenses like birthday/christmas presents & car repairs and allowed a fortnightly sum for each.

Then every time my money came in it was allocated to the expenses. What was left was what I had for food, petrol, treats (cheap but psychologocally important) etc.

I recorded EVERY transaction through my bank, like supermarket shopping with plastic, rent, cash withdrawals etc straight away and worked out my new balance.

I was really impressed how soon my finances were under my control and how much better off I was without any extra coming in. The trick was to keep the records on paper and readily accessible so I stuck to my rule of recording everything and I always knew what I had.

I eventually got a job and more income but I kept it up and it really worked. Then I got a computer (about 20 years ago) so I started a spreadsheet. Guess what - it was too much hassle to log on for every transaction and my good intentions fell by the wayside very quickly. It didn't matter too much because my income was good, but now I'm retired and on a low income again, and things are slipping. I've spent way too much on plants and I'm in the red again.

Thanks for the inspiration Cally. I'm going back to my paper records and I KNOW it will work.

Good luck, everyone.

BigMummaF

kiwibabe wrote: »

....dug out my old filofax, and will scourer ebay for a cheap diary refill....

WH$mith are a good price for these

My trouble is I work out a system for doing things when I set up my records, then change to another a few weeks in & end up totally confusing myself Perhaps by signing up with you guys here, it'll help keep me focused. I can but try...