budgetting advice please sweeties

postingalwaysposting

lyn i think this is a great idea and i used this idea too but rather like tes i use online 'pots' as i dont trust leaving money in my room... i think you need to do a trial run for a few months and see how you go, you can always pop back here for another soloution if needed

Toto

If I take any cash from the cashpoint I make sure I buy what I need and then throw the change into my savings pot. I'm only allowed to have notes in my purse. It does make me stop before buying something because I know that a magazine will cost me £5 so unless I really want something I don't bother.

I emptied my pot in february, so there was 8 months of change in there... I had over £200 which I used for holiday spending money.

r251

I think the jam jar idea is a good idea. I started using this method after seeing it on a tv show called "til debt do us part". I have used this method myself for a while now and it works for me. I live in the countryside and there aren't any ATMs or large stores within walking distance so cash is more convenient for me. I thought about the security side of things and didnt want cash to be easily available to theives etc so i bought myself a cheap small safe and keep it all in there out of sight. When I first started budgeting I tried doing it monthly as I was paid monthly. I found that I would spend more money at the start of the month, and have less at the end. I now find it a lot easier to divide things up into weekly amounts rather than monthly amounts, as my routine is weekly, so why shouldnt my money be? I have four main pots, Food & Household, Fun, Travel Costs and Spare Cash. I keep a log of every penny that comes and goes out of these pots so I always know where I am. I always end up with spare money using this method and have saved a small fortune