How to keep on track

Quenastoise

I have various accounts with Barclays - it's a doodle to use them with online banking

rising_from_the_ashes

Had a bit of a "lightbulb" moment last night: Xmas 2009 = £0, Xmas 2010 = -£1200. Have managed to account for this nearly to the penny!

Was seconded at work for a couple of years which brought in an extra £300/month (net). I was "good" and used £200/month to pay off the remainder of my debts until they were cleared. However, the extra £100 went on bits & pieces (no excuses, I spent it) and hadn't bought clothes etc for around 4 years so was desperate!

Returned to own job Jan 2010 (therefore -£300/month). Although the £200 had never existed in real terms, I was still £100/month down which corresponds exactly to the amount I overspent last year.

Doesn't change the end result but at least I've got an explanation for it - and therefore know what I need to cut down by (and pay the £1200 back!).

I was so disappointed in myself after finally being in the black for the 1st time since 2000.

On the bright side, pots now set up on bank account with varying (little) amounts in them, signed up for NSD challenge and new spending diary bought (I tried this before but just noted down cc spending - everything's going in this one) - hope this keeps me on the straight & narrow!