Tips to stop spending!!

oopsadaisydoddle

mum2one wrote: »

To do your sig, just under the line where it says welcome, thers a pale blue line, with deeper blue writing,
click - Quick Links
this brings a box up
click - edit Signature

bring up a box bit like when you reply to a private message and you can alter fonts, it allows upto 5 lines, but depending on how much you pop on a line and size of the font, if you have too many it says so.

Then when you need to change something, just follow the same and you alter away.

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Sounds like your well planned, a couple of suggestions

Nectar card - have you logged that into your computer as you can get nectar points for downloading tool bar (100 points) and then 2 searches = 1 point, = theres shops such as Amazon, ebay etc you earn points back from.

Cashback sites - I mainly use topcashback, and 2nd choice quidco. Even if i'm buying on ebay as long as the starting price over £1 you get a % of the price the seller pays all adds up

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Tax - if you set up beauty business
You'd need to ring the tax office and register as self employed, keep receipts, expenses, incomings, you can do your own tax online and theyre tell you. I did a self employment a few yrs ago mystery shopping, but my income was less than £300 per yr, so I didn't need to do anything.

You may have to weigh up all the pros and cons, - if you have children and have tax credits may affect these, - are you going to work from home, or rent a room in salon, or do mobile, (again you have to declare on car insurance as part time job, may send the price up).

xx

Thanks for this. I'll attempt it tomorrow!

Re the beauty - think i'll just stick with my mum and sis for now - at least I'll save money and if I'm doing theirs, I can't spend money at the same time! I think for now my aim is to shave my budgets a bit and to actually stick to them. I would also like to come in under our entertainment budget.

I think I'll go to bed and think on ways of how to keep myself in check..exciting life I lead!!

I'm quite excited now to get started!x

Asiacat

One of the best ways I found to reuce spending was simply to cover the "danger zone".

Each week has 168 hours in it. For around 50 hours a week you are working, travelling to and from work or getting rready to go to work or winding down after returning from work.

For around 60 hours a week you are sleeping, getting ready to go to bed or pulling yourself around after getting up



For another 25 to 30 hours a week you cur rent daily routine (watching tv, crashing out on the sofa, docing housework, chilling out on a Sunday) means you are not spending money.

All in all there are only about 20-30 hours a week when you are likely to be engaged in discretionary spending. For most people this usually entails all day on a Saturday and maybe 2-3 hours each evening. This is what I term the danger zone.

All you have to do is identify your particular danger zone and then actively cover it with activities that are either free or cheap. Play sport, watch a DVD, surf the Internet, read the paper, have a long soak in the bath, make love,spend time on a games console, learn a new skill.

Cover the danger zone and watch your spending plummet.

orcocan

you can still sell on ebay and just specify 'for pickup in xxxx only'

i've done it in the past as i couldnt be bothered shipping bulky stuff, obviously it's easier if you're in a larger city

Chrisblue1962

To Mum2one & xKazi..

My AA Spend & Earn card is a pre-paid credit card, whereby I firstly transfer funds onto it from a linked bank account and I can then use it just like a debit card but cannot go overdrawn. This way, my petrol money is "ringfenced" from from my other bills and I cannot inadvertently spend this money on something else.

Because I'm a member of the AA, there is no monthly fee and it costs me nothing to either load the card or make purchases, although ATM withdrawls are charged I believe (never make them).

There are a quite a few pre-paid cards available so look into each one carefully before you choose to get one.

Hope this helps.

oopsadaisydoddle

Well I've done my signature with my exact amounts (erm a bit more than I thought) and updated my spread sheets. My current DFD is 1/6/13, but I am aiming to bring this forward.

I have also as a motivation printed a picture of a TV unit which is part of a range of ready made furniture collection that I would like in my living room when it is eventually done. The picture is sat in my purse so every time I open it, it will be a reminder of what I'm aiming for!!

petepetepete

I write down /everything/ I spend on an app on my phone, and then at the end of each week I can see what I spent cash on. I know I'm gonna be angry with myself if I've spent too much of silly things, and this normally helps.

kerri_gt

A few years ago I started keeping a spending diary and was shocked at how the little £1/£2 spends each day added up (not lunches as I'm pretty good at always taking something to work but other bits and bobs) After that I joined the No Spend Day challenge on here. You can set your own rules but mine were basically any time I handed over cash / card for anything that wasn't a bill or direct debit it was counted as a spend - I've since modified my rules a bit. Basically this made me plan my spending better and question whether I really did need more shower creme, crisps, biccies, that top on the internet etc etc. I must admit I have fallen off the wagon a little in the past few months but in the past 2yrs since i started the challenge I've spent 49% of the days not spending.

determined_new_ms

do the fiscal fast. There's a thread about it on the old style board. Basically have a week (but its addictive so you might do more. I think we managed 17 days!) where you only use the things in your house, excluding milk, bread (we bought veg as well) and petrol. Other than that don't buy anything.

It was amazing, we ate well all the way through the challenge and didn't feel like we were going without.

oopsadaisydoddle

Ooh thanks again!

I'm really grateful for all the tips. I did try and do a spending diary once but ended up forgetting. Think I might do it where I take cash out and just have that. Over the last week we've withdrawn £200 from the ATM and tbh with the exception of about £50, I haven't a clue where it went.

I have a diary sitting doing nothing so think I'm going to dust it off and keep track. DH doesnt really spend a lot but he doesn't embrace the budgeting like I do and I think that is the reason that I often deviate from my plan.

Having said this, DH won't pay more for anything than he has to. He also regularly checks comparison sites for Gas and Electric and also insurances.

The only thing I worry about cash is if it's there, I tend to find it finds itself a home to go to!! I suppose it may help make us realise how much it's worth!

I might redo my signature and do it as a percentage because I like that idea!x

oopsadaisydoddle

Well am just posting to keep me motivated.

Today has been a HSD as had to go and get 2 new pairs of shoes from Clarks for my LO's. One needed school shoes and the other just everyday ones as he's not at school yet. Also had to get groceries but that was out of my budget!

Yesterday we spent £20 on a soft play area. Was gutted because I'd promised DD we'd go last week and then she wasn't well so had to keep promise. It was glorious weather too so wasn't too happy about being stuck in a soft play but on the plus side they had the run of the place as every other sane person was probably out enjoying the sun!!!

Have also decided that because I'm a bit of a beauty product junkie (in my quest for decent skin due to acne), I'm going to use up every scrap of lotions and potions I have left before buying any more.

My plan of action for this week is to get back into school routine and then on fri when DH and I are off, am going to finish my bathroom...we've been a bit 'half job Harry's' when it comes to finishing off our decorating. DH is also going to rip out some old cupboards ready for our plasterer.

Hope everyone is well!x