Where does the excess money go?????

klfairy

I've found one. It doesn't seem to do projections, but it looks good.

I know exactly what you mean about the fear and laziness. I know what it's like to hand over the card with a silent prayer and then have to take deep breaths before checking balances. It's horrible.

I've just been through and set up the software with all our balances, right down to the coppers in my purse. I have also told OH off for the shockingly extravagant purchase of a snickers bar.

Cherryjack

klfairy wrote: »

I've found one. It doesn't seem to do projections, but it looks good.

I know exactly what you mean about the fear and laziness. I know what it's like to hand over the card with a silent prayer and then have to take deep breaths before checking balances. It's horrible.

I've just been through and set up the software with all our balances, right down to the coppers in my purse. I have also told OH off for the shockingly extravagant purchase of a snickers bar.

Hi fairy, could you send me the link?:) ive not got a smart phone either ( i dropped it down the toilet last year 3 months after getting it grrr lol ) so would love something easy i could set up on the laptop x

klfairy

No problem. It's here. So far so good

Cherryjack

thank you :-) does it do GBP?x

klfairy

Cherryjack wrote: »

thank you :-) does it do GBP?x

It does. There's a setting to change the currency symbol.

I had to look at the tutorial before I got going, but it didn't take long and is quite simple really.

Bit sad, but I quite enjoyed having a transaction to log today :rotfl:

Catslovelycats

I know what you mean fairy! I'm almost in danger of wanting to spend just I'n order to put it I'n the diary and to be able to say I kept within budget!!! Fatal!!

Cherryjack

so true lol..im doing the sealed pot challange.. and feel dissapointed that i have no money to put in it because ive been good and not broken into any notes lol

klfairy

I'm starting early with the sealed pot for next year, although my extremely careful record-keeping means that I will probably know exactly how much is in there. I plan to get around this (I like the idea of the element of surprise) by using the terramundi I already have, which has some unknown amount in it (I suspect not much) and some of the jars of coins we have lurking around.

After my time in hospital this weekend, the first thing I did (after cuddling my son to within an inch of his life) was to find out exactly how much OH spent, on what and when, so I could update my records. Feel a bit of a cow...

bear_bets

I'd like to recommend You Need A Budget (Youneedabudget.com) as budgeting software. I've used this for years on my computer, I started when I gave up work to be with the kids and our income dropped dramatically. It has helped us stay debt free through that period and recently, when it looked like the company my husband worked for was going to go bust, it helped us not to panic and ride out the storm. The company is now much more secure and he loves his job, so I'm glad he didn't look for a new job. There are android and iphone apps, but I don't have a smart phone so can't comment on them. Every month you allocate all of last months income to categories and then by entering your transactions throughout the month (I download this from our internet banking) you can see how you are doing against your budget and adjust things if necessary. I suggest you read the information on the website, or listen to one of Jesse's podcasts to understand how it all works, but it is brilliant, and well worth paying for (they offer a free trial).

timbstoke

I just keep everything in a Google Docs spreadsheet. I can update that from home, work or out and about, from any PC, phone or tablet. Works great for me.

Also, the NSD challenge is a good way to help identify where those little bits of money are going. By forcing yourself to not buy things, you realise how much you were spending on them without even thinking.