Help! Number dyslexia!

cats_slave

Sorry to duplicate. Just realised that Vicky posted this info on page 1.

Wellyboots6

Thanks, I have had a look and that certainly sounds like me!

cottonhead

Hi Katy - really interesting to hear your post because I have Dyscalculia. The worst part is that many people have not heard of it and dont think it is real. I explained to my work place and they laughed it off - ' Oh I am bad with numbers too' said my boss, trying to be nice. Anway they gave me the banking to do! I insisted I would find it hard and might make a mistake but they insted I did it. Each time the task was assigned to me I made numerous mistakes and took half the day to do it. In the end they took the job away from me. It was a relieif but made me feel horrid as I knew they were thinking ' oh she is rubbish at this etc etc '. Each time I was asked to do the banking my heart started to beat faster, I felt panicky and just couldnt concentrate. I would have to repeat the task over and over as I wasnt sure the numbers were correct and each time I would arrive at a different total !
My most recent mistake has cost me dearly. I had a basic bank account and then had it upgraded and stupidly took out an overdraft. I planned to use it for a short while then pay it back. I went online to increase it one last time and accidently typed the ammount I was requesting incorrectly. Typing numbers back to front or in the wrong order is a common thing with dyscalculia. Anyway I went to get the money and it wasnt avaialible so I questionned it with the bank only to be told I had actually requested a reduction, not an increase on my overdraft !! They had applied this request which made me £700 over the limit. Now my previoulsy good credit rating with the bank is in ruins. I am on a repayment plan to pay back the money bit by bit but my card and cheque book have been taken and my account downgraded again. I was planning to apply to my bank for a mortage but this wont happen now. I wrote to the bank to explain but they say there is nothing I can do. The moment I accidently typed the wromg number and went over my limit they no longer saw me a managing my money well. I am gutted and powerless to do anything.
Anyway sorry to ramble on. I would suggest that you keep things simple. Set up a direct debit for everything. Dont have an overdraft, credit card etc. Take your spending money out in cash at the start of the month and when its gone its gone. I have 2 accounts now. One for bills and 1 for spending so the 2 cant get muddled. I would often spend something forgetting that there was a bill due or in my head I would add up what I had spent wrong and have less money than I thought or account for incoming money twice. Bounced several cheques too by spending the money 'twice' !
I agree dont get anyone at work to help - gossip is not good. Try CAB or a close family member to write down all your finances.
Re the water meter - we have one and out bill is £38 a month for the 3 of us to give you an idea.
All the best !

Charityworker

I'm glad I'm not the only one in the world. I get so confused with numbers. They all look the same to me and if someones trying to talk money with me I get in a flap and think things are much worse than they are. Even using a calculator is hard as I press the wrong numbers. I find it helps if I write everything down and go through it lots of times to make sure it really is right and keep referring back to it every day. I'm also glad it has a name 'dyscalculia'. I honestly thought it was just me. At work I have to do budgets and put in funding applications and I've made so many mistakes. I think if I didn't work for a charity which helps people with a learning disability I would have had the sack by now. Luckily my employers are a board of trustees with children with learning disabilities so they have been very understanding with me. I'm by no means thick, I have a degree, but I don't own even the lowest exam certificate in anything to do with maths.

dancingfairy

Regarding expenses - I'd either include them as income you get with your wage and also as an outgoing or just miss it out of the SOA altogether as it should cancel its out over time.
Assuming that your tax is about 15 a month, car insurance is about 80 a month and car repairs cost about 50 a month (on average) and that your numbers are about right (food looks a wee bit low) then you still should have quite a bit spare each month.
df

dancingfairy

I would think about taking 30 a week out of the bank - this should cover entertainment and any extras and holiday money - this should leave you plenty in the bank to afford your outgoings. You will probably find that some of your money is disappearing on magazines, coffees, cigarettes, fizzy pop, musc, dvd's, chocolate, newspapers, lunches at work, drinks after work, leaving collections, etc etc. If you know that you've got 30 pounds per week to last you you will find yourself thinking twice about those 'little' things.
If you've got any spare you can always save it and use it the next week.
Without seeing all the figures it's difficult to tell but 30 a week for 'fun' money should be affordable given the info. you've given.
Best of Luck
df

dancingfairy

To be honest you could call it a target or plan or SOA - you needn't use the word 'budget' if it freaks you out (oh and you've already done one).
I think the main thing is do I need to have this? Can I get the same service/item cheaper? Obviously you have to pay the electric bill but you may be able to get a cheaper service elsewhere etc. If you apply this then that will get you off to a good start. I'd try and do it on the bills as a starting point and think about checking them every year or so - just to check they're not ripping you off.
Best of Luck
df

Wellyboots6

Thanks for the comments.

Would the SOA work if I took an average of recent monthly wages including travel expenses? It is different every month so I am never sure exactly how much I will get.

I have also recently been in trouble at work as they thought I was scamming my expenses due to my really bad maths!

Taking cash out each week sounds like a good idea. One of my friends has done herself a budget and has envelopes of cash each month for different things. I will try the £30 suggestion and see how I go. Hopefully this will keep things ticking along until I get this budget sorted.

I am determined to do it!