Household Diary

ostaragirl

I have a slight obsession with keeping notebooks for different things and decided today I am going to start one for household things. I'm no good with spreadsheets and anyway I want it to be more than that as I would envisage it being a book full of things like renewal dates, outgoings etc.

So do any of you keep a similar book and what sort of things do you write in there? I'd be interested to hear about old fashioned note book writing in general, I know there are apps and things but I like the feel of a notebook.


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lucy_lemon

I do this! I started last year, and LOVE it. I bought a page a day diary, and have a section on each page I use for a "to do" list, I write the meals for the day at the top of the page and any outgoings due below that. I also write in more random stuff - if I've sold anything on ebay/amazon, new recipes I've tried, stuff like that. It really, really helps me to be more organised, and I would definitely recommend it!

Personally, I find a page a day diary to be more useful than a blank notebook, but I guess that's just preference. Good luck if you do start one, and I bet you will love it!

ragz_2

Thanks, that makes more sense than my random notebooks and may be easier to work with. I have apps but still find myself using notebooks, just easier for some reason. Though I do seem to leave the shopping lists behind all the time!

ostaragirl

Now that's a better idea, I'll have to keep an eye out for a page a day diary, and by writing down the meals each day it probably helps with meal planning or when your stuck for what to make, as I often am.:beer:

lushlifesaver

I have a display wallet that I keep inventories (fridge/freezer/cupboards etc) in, theres a pocket for the weekly meal planner, a wallet with a one month calender in thats marked with dates/events etc so I can see at a glance what is coming up rather than having to go through my huge filofax all the time!, a wallet with unfiled post/payslips etc in, one for shopping lists and then the other pockets keep spares/blanks of the print outs of inventory lists/shopping lists/meal planner etc

Just easier (and tidier) to keep it all in one place

mrsmortenharket

This is a great thread. I need to get more organised. I also prefer writing things down.

Lisa

ostaragirl

lushlifesaver wrote: »

I have a display wallet that I keep inventories (fridge/freezer/cupboards etc) in, theres a pocket for the weekly meal planner, a wallet with a one month calender in thats marked with dates/events etc so I can see at a glance what is coming up rather than having to go through my huge filofax all the time!, a wallet with unfiled post/payslips etc in, one for shopping lists and then the other pockets keep spares/blanks of the print outs of inventory lists/shopping lists/meal planner etc

Just easier (and tidier) to keep it all in one place

That's another good one, thanks, I need to do inventories that I can see what's in the cupboard's etc, that way I might get round to actually using the stuff!

[Deleted User]

If you want a page a day diary check out any 99p or saver shops in your area as I got a Page a Day Diary for 99p in a Family Saver on Saturday. The only other one I found was in a well known stationery shop, same size and £5.99 for almost the same thing.

winniepooh

I've got a free app for meal planning and a note book on my phone for cleaning and shopping list that way it's always with me.

[Deleted User]

I have kept a A4 sized book for years, and in it I write all my outgoings in the way of bills per month plus the incomings at times one has been larger than the other but we survived and I'm still here.

I also keep a small red book in my bag for daily expenses.I have for a long time had two purses ,one of which I keep only the food money for the month It does help to concentrate you on what you are spending as once its empty that's it until the next month.In November I was so careful with what I bought and was using the stuff in the freezer more that my £100.00 budget for November spilt over into December and as I was spending quite a bit of time away from home at the end of December I had £2.16 left from my original budget of a hundred poundsI was so pleased and that scap of left over lolly has gone into my Holiday fund

This month so far I have drawn only £30.00 to go into my food purse and I will see how long I can make it last I have quite a lot of food stuff stored both in my freezer and cupboards and I am going to be a lot more inventive with what I have to try a different recipe at least once a week with stuff in stock if I can.It maybe a bit of a tight squeeze by mid January and if needs be I will draw some more cash out but this month will be definitely a 'Frugal fare' month using up as much as possible and only buying what's essential.
I find by writing down what I have in store or what I am buying it makes me think twice, before seeing if I can adapt something I already have.

Linda32

I keep a note book in my handbag. At the moment it contains a list of books which I have read either second hand or library books so that I don't borrow the same book again.

A list of seeds that I want or have got for the coming year.

Money off vouchers, filed in order of shop and in date order. I throw away the ones I won't use before I leave the shop (sainsburys/boots)

I have another note book on a shelf at home where I keep a diary of our allotment, what I did, when I did it and whether it worked or not. For example did cheap seeds work or not.

I find note books work for me as I can carry them around with me so you have the information to hand when you need it. Also you can fill them in quickly at home whilst watching TV etc.

Edited to add, I forgot about the calender on the side of the fridge. This I use for appointments, Birthdays, events/days out which I have found listed in free papers/websites etc at the weekend. A reminder each Friday for us to pay the milk man