how to keep track!

wibblewobble123

hi all, i am new to the site, but have gained so much info already. i am awaiting a call from payplan at 2pm to hopefully get on the road to a dmp to sort out me and my partners 4 credit cards, 4 overdrafs, 1 loan and 1 store card (totals around £30,000) and i just wondered how you all look after your money, i.e. do you withdraw a certain amoount each week and allocate it to groceries, etc, do you write down everything you purchase in a book etc etc. thanks in advance for all your help xx

ElmerFudd

I find I spend less by shopping online. I tend to pick more up if I go in store so even if there is delivery costs and charges to my debit card I end up paying much much less overall. On the odd occasions I buy milk etc I just make a note of this and any other spending on my phone calendar. That way I can easily keep track of things. I do like the idea of withdrawing cash and keeping it in envelopes for shopping etc, however I know I wouldn't be able to keep to that strict regime at the moment. Knowing I have some money available to go toward debt is actually making me not waste money on needless things (with the occasional miss-step). I have just over that much debt which at times feels overwhelming. I am glad you have started on a good plan (I myself can't go on a DMP without restricting my job opportunities drastically). Good luck.

ceejaydee23

Well done for your LBM and getting help to sort things out. We are still waiting to see if our payments will be agreed by our creditors with Payplan. its annoying waiting knowing that payplan have our first payment but its not gone anywhere yet! This last week seems to have been the longest week going for me! as other half got paid on 28th March, and it just seems so much has been paid out of it that surely it must be the end of the month lol not only a week later! Hopefully things will speed up a bit now.

I have created a budget sheet on my computer that lists all the Direct Debits that go out the bank, with an incomings total at the top, and it calculate what we SHOULD have left at the of it lol But now we are doing the Payplan thing and we have a new budget to plan for we too will be doing things a little differently.

CH27

I withdraw £100 per week cash.
This pays for food, bus fares, petrol & any other bits & bobs for 2 adults & a 16 yr old.

Rock_Cakes

Hi

Congrats on your LBM. I withdraw my money for Monday - Friday. I keep a track of the spending of this money on a form that my DH made which is a google document. I can access this on my phone and computer.

Hope that helps?

x