What does work and a big thank you!

Mrs_Potato_Head_2

Hi all. Its been about three weeks since my lightbulb moment and I really thought by now I would be anxious, bored or otherwise tempted to splash out on something stupid. Nothing could be further from the truth. Since coming to these boards I have changed my attitude towards money and really everything else.

And its been thanks to some good advice that I have managed to get it all under control and I have to say the security and achievement that comes with being responsible for money feels so much better than the momentary high that comes from buying something followed by the inevitable anxiety of having no money left.

So what has worked for me? Simple things:

1. I keep a diary of all my spending and I have a bad list so if I spend on something rediculous I put it on that list just to see how much money I waste. Actually looking at it as it builds up is a great demotivator and found that over three weeks it went from a largish list to a way smaller list just by monitoring my spending.

2. When I get money, I put it away quickly so I can see it, pay off my debts with every spare penny so Im not tempted to buy something I don't need. Im a morning person, so I tend to do this in the morning when my brain is fresh and motivation high.

Those two simple steps have helped me enormously, so thank you to everyone who has given me these ideas, they really are deceptivly simple but very powerful. :beer:

rdchick

Weee well done Mrs_Potato_Head that's great news! :T
keep it going xxx

CH27

Well done:T

Jubilee76

:jwell done, that's a fantastic start.

Sparkerly

Well done :T

I tried keeping a spending diary but trying to get my OH to note everything he spent was a waste of time. I can't even get him to keep receipts from when he gets a couple of bits of grocery for me on the way home which is really annoying as I am trying to monitor our grocery bills as it is far too high at the mo.

One thing I have started this week is to take cash out on a Monday for the week. I have worked out what groceries we need and work out a rough cost, then see if there are any other things we are likely to need to spend and have a budget. Then OH gets £10 so that he can get the odd pint of milk for me, or buy a coffee - not very DFW but he has given up loads so one or two a week is his treat. This way I'm not nagging him as much to find out what he has spent and so far its worked. Anything left at the end of the week will go into a pot, to cover emergencies. At the end of the month anything thats left will be paid to a CC as if it went in the bank it would just disappear.

I find this is a great place to pick up tips to try and find ones that work for me and the family.

Verbatim

A menu plan is a great way to reduce the grocery spend and at the same time ensure that you've bought enough to last until the next shop. It stops the nipping out for a pint and coming back having spent £20.

kelpie35

Well done :T

Babysteps_2

Well done and keep up the good work!

PoshPants

Way to go Mrs! :j