Get organised for 2011

kezlou

Great idea :T:T

Think i'll do the same, i've got a small pocket diary which i can keep in my purse. So guess what i'll be taking out with me from now on.

I really need to get organised. I'm determined to pay some smallish debts and i think this is the way to do it.

Roll on 2011!

oldtrout

For years, I have used an academic diary, ie one which runs from mid-year to the following mid-year, usually July/Aug. Not sure they have them in Poundland but I get mine fairly cheap from ebay.

Previously, by the time I'd remembered to get a new diary, I found I was always so busy around Nov/Dec time, that filling in relevant dates in the new diary was a bit of a chore and I had to rush it. Now I can do it during the relatively quieter months of the summer.

I also have a income/outgoings spreadsheet which I update once a week and reconcile with the bank statement online.

Watalie

oldtrout wrote: »

For years, I have used an academic diary, ie one which runs from mid-year to the following mid-year, usually July/Aug. Not sure they have them in Poundland but I get mine fairly cheap from ebay.

Previously, by the time I'd remembered to get a new diary, I found I was always so busy around Nov/Dec time, that filling in relevant dates in the new diary was a bit of a chore and I had to rush it. Now I can do it during the relatively quieter months of the summer.

I also have a income/outgoings spreadsheet which I update once a week and reconcile with the bank statement online.

Me too but I'm more than a little obsessive I have it open all through the day and check my bank regularly. Even though I could tell you to the penny how much is in my account, I still double check.

My OH says I'm a psycho control freak..... he's dead right!! :rotfl: :rotfl:

cally6008

How's everyone doing ?

December is tight at the moment but at least bills are paid, roof over head and food in cupboard. Christmas is pretty much cancelled though, just no spare cash at all whatsoever. Plus the car needs two front tyres, a service, taxed at end of month .. any donations welcome ..lol

Had a little stroke of luck yesterday though, The Sun was running the "is there money in this envelope" promotion. Yes there was money in that envelope, got £10

dfw123

cally6008 wrote: »

How's everyone doing ?

December is tight at the moment but at least bills are paid, roof over head and food in cupboard. Christmas is pretty much cancelled though, just no spare cash at all whatsoever. Plus the car needs two front tyres, a service, taxed at end of month .. any donations welcome ..lol

Had a little stroke of luck yesterday though, The Sun was running the "is there money in this envelope" promotion. Yes there was money in that envelope, got £10

Well done for the £10! i got £0! :P not long til 2011 now, and its all UPHILL from thereon!!!

apuskiduski

Thanks for the tip. I have an A4 lined book (bought cheaply in a sale). At the front of the book are four pages set aside for my monthly bills and due dates of major outgoings such as house insurance, car tax and passport renewals etc. (One page is for each quarter so I can see how figures change over the year) Income - outgoings is listed so I can see disposable income and a weekly budget calculated.

I write everything that I buy cash or on credit card in this book. I have columns for my 2 current accounts and the credit cards that I use and pay off every month. Every time I purchase ANYTHING, or a direct debit or standing order is deducted I complete all the columns so that I know at any one time exactly how much money I have in the bank or owing.

By doing this exercise for the past 23 years we have been able to pay off lumps of our mortgage, have foreign holidays and have savings plans for the kids' university costs. I'm a teacher and my husband is a civil engineer who has always suffered from not knowing if his work is there or not, so this plan has helped us through many difficult times. Paper and pen works every time for me.

I use a tiny pocket notebook when I'm doing Christmas shopping so I don't get shopping amnesia - which is easy to do these days.
These then get transferred into the A4 book with a coffee and biscuit before the things are even out of the carrier bags!!!
Sometimes I feel like I should have a quill and a lecturn like Bob Cratchett, but hey ho, the benefits speak for themselves. I casually mentioned the book to three colleagues and they were beside themselves with how much it got their finances under control - good luck to anyone becoming more organised with their money!

MRS_A_3

Hello everyone

I've been inspired by this thread so I made my own diary using the calendar on microsoft works.

I've input all my monthly bills onto the monthly page and then I went onto the weekly pages and printed them all off and have them in my file. This way at a glance I can see how many bills I have and when they're due and also record any daily spends - which I hope will be few and far between.

I've just done to the end of January 2011 so far but I can print the rest as and when. I have found this really useful since we get paid a week early in December I needed to know how much money I must put to one side to cover all my bills up to pay day in January.

I'm trying to come up with a plan to pay half of my car finance off early so I can hand it back. I will have paid half in a year's time but I want to bring it forward by at least one month. I know that doesn't sound like a lot but we're both on DMPs so every penny counts and once I see the back of my car I will be able to more than double my DMP payments and get rid of the debt in 4 years (ish) instead of 8.

Getting rid of the dreaded debt is my motivation.

cally6008

:wall:. :wall:. :wall:

Money comes in, money goes out.

Gone over limit on credit card without realising :mad:

Did try to save money to go towards next gas bill but going to use that today, at least the bank balance won't be going over its limit

MRS_A_3

Aw Cally, sorry to hear about your struggles.

I'm sure things can only look up, just keep positive.

I feel a bit bad now for what I'm about to say but I'm so chuffed. Recently I received a beatiful new A4 2011 diary for free!

It is a small blessing and one which I intend to use and treasure so please, please keep all of your tips coming so many more of us novices can benefit from your advice.

Missis A xx

cally6008

Back to square one ...

OH crashed car, wrote it off, waiting to hear how much he getting, had to pay £50 for hire car deposit which he gets back on return of car.

Still don't know what's happening with xmas yet as meant to be going to parents but not looking likely