can you help me save some cash????

gazzad11

theoretica wrote: »

I think what is getting to us is instead of acknowledging that you could make savings in the areas suggested but are making a definite choice not to you are saying things like 'its not too bad' or even 'come on I don't go daft and enjoy a flutter'. These are exactly the attitudes that cause money to slip away from you.

i could save money in lots of different ways. However £12 lotto a month and having a holiday abroad with my family is not the kind of things i want to cut back on. I appreciate the suggestions but you also have to appreciate that these suggestions are not for me.

gazzad11

one week in to keeping a spending diary and the am surprised at the amounts that just seem to seep from my pockets....

KiKi

How's it all going, OP? Are you managing to keep your diary going?

rising_from_the_ashes

gazzad11 wrote: »

anyone else care to share how they manage there money?

Are you ready for this :rotfl: taken years of doing the debt / DF roundabout to get it perfected but think I'm finally making progress:

Bank accounts:

• Main account - salary goes in, pay amounts to pots (see below), c/card & spending money
• Bills account - all d/debits / SO come out of here, transfer set amount on payday & don't ever touch it for anything else
• Pots accounts - after much chopping / changing now have: House & Car (landline advance rental, house insurance, emergency fund, car insurance, car tax, car maintenance/service), Pets and Others (dentist, clothes, hair etc). Again transfer set amounts to the account on payday & transfer relevant amount back each month to cover spends made on cc.

Spreadsheets

• Overall income / outgoings spreadsheet - all individual spends logged on here (itemised - everything!) (figure1)
• Spreadsheet for each pot (as above) - totals page so I can see what's in each pot: easy to maintain as only 1 payment in & out each month! (figure 2)
• Spending diary - I have recently restarted this as spending seems to be getting a bit out of hand again and it's easy to forget a few £s here & there when you're out & about

Slightly out of date figures but will give you an idea:





Spending
99% of spending done on c/card (cleared in full each month) as I tend to buck the trend on here & I am useless with cash

gazzad11

KiKi wrote: »

How's it all going, OP? Are you managing to keep your diary going?

Its going well thanks Kiki. We both remember to write down our spending. At the end of the month we should have a better idea of where the money goes.

gazzad11

Thanks for that rising from the ashes.
I think a spreadsheet is definately the way forward. I'm going to try and produce a spreadsheet for myself.

Does anyone else keep a spreadsheet thats easy to use and keeps track of your spending ?

specialkaye

Hey Gazzad11 just found your thread.

Is quite interesting and you are in a good position in which spending/tracking just needs to be tweaked slightly so you can keep on top of things.

My suggestion is this - you don't necessarily need to cut back on a lot of things but you could make quite a bit from saving using cash back sites for online purchases.

If your OH is having monthly treatments could she see if they have a loyalty scheme?

If you want a basic spreadsheet there are templates on office/works. then you can build it up from there.

Depending on where you work do they have an employee benefit scheme - quite often they do and it means you can pre buy say £200 of high street vouchers for the month.

Also can the union payments come out before tax?

Just a few little ideas that wont affect your standard of living but could still save you money

gazzad11

specialkaye wrote: »

Hey Gazzad11 just found your thread.

Is quite interesting and you are in a good position in which spending/tracking just needs to be tweaked slightly so you can keep on top of things. yeh i need a system a spread sheet i think just not very good at making them

My suggestion is this - you don't necessarily need to cut back on a lot of things but you could make quite a bit from saving using cash back sites for online purchases. i use quidco quite a bit

If your OH is having monthly treatments could she see if they have a loyalty scheme? no because its a local lass who does her
nails
If you want a basic spreadsheet there are templates on office/works. then you can build it up from there. thanks i will have a look

Depending on where you work do they have an employee benefit scheme - quite often they do and it means you can pre buy say £200 of high street vouchers for the month.no not at my works

Also can the union payments come out before tax? i don't know maybe

Just a few little ideas that wont affect your standard of living but could still save you money

Thanks for taking the time to post i really appreciate it !!!!!

liuhutOz

How is the spending diary going? Has it thrown up any suprises yet?! I know mine did when I started it.

KiKi

How's the diary going, OP? Have you and the OH managed to keep up with writing everything down?