Never mind the Chancellor, what about YOUR budget?

Jules2012

dr_adidas01 wrote: »

Ignore Jules2012 if you look at threads posted by them they have quit there job to go and work for an agency which isn't necessarily better paying. They have also had a Barclays bank account closed in January by Barclays.

So they need to remember a little bit of humility and not bragging about there so called better job, will go a log way with people posting!!!!

Quit my job to go work in an Agency?!
What's a bank account being closed got to do with anything?
I answered the OP's question, how's it bragging? It's all faceless people on here, who am I bragging to?

Jules2012

fiesta04 wrote: »

Lucky you then, you wanka, mis-spelt to be allowed

F4

Ouch! You got me from way behind your keyboard.

persa

National_Debtline_representative wrote: »

Where do you start with yours and what made you do it for the first time? What are the biggest challenges and what areas of expenditure do you find it especially hard to stick to? Where do you keep it - on the fridge, tucked away in a folder or on a good old Excel spreadsheet?

I think the first time I drew up a proper budget was when I was planning to fly the nest after university - I did not want to fail with my parents watching! It was really difficult estimating things like fuel bills - my first home was really inefficient, I had the shock of my life when my quarterly bill increased tenfold as a meter reading from the company showed the previous bills they had estimated had been woefully inaccurate. I'd always recommend doing your own readings - at least that way you know what to expect!

I always use DDs for regular bills - and I transfer money to one account for the essential spends that vary (e.g. food). Makes it easier to track whether your expenditure is roughly what it was last month, or if you need to reign it in.

I don't have an exact budget for fun spends - but I'm a naturally cautious saver, so I don't really need one. I'd never go mad with a credit card, I don't have it in me.

When I was out of work, I budgeted for everything and kept an Excel of the variance (actual v budgeted). But I think all unemployed people go a bit crazy, and if you're an accountant with too much free time on your hands, that sort of obsessiveness with the last penny is to be expected...

dawyldthing

i have a list of what is due out every month, set some aside for food and going out that is strict but workable and any left is split between paying the mortgage off and going on holiday fund

TDMum

I'm old school and use paper and pen. I tried using excel but failed miserably

I write down what money we have coming in every month and then deduct all essential bills, rent, council tax, insurances, utilities, diesel etc. After all bills I worked out how much we needed for groceries (this includes everything; toiletries, cleaning etc) and added a little bit on for emergencies. That £ gets taken out of the bank and we use the cash. When it's gone, it's gone. When we used our debit cards we overspent all the time. When we actually have the cash and can see it dwindling away i find we're much more careful with it. Any £ left over from the grocery pot at the end of the month goes into a savings pot (really need to set up a savings account).

After all that has been taken out "pocket money" is calculated and again taken out the bank and put in a different pot. Like the shopping, if anythings left at the end of the month it goes into savings.

At the moment we don't have a dedicated amount set aside to put in a savings account as we want to pay off a couple of things ASAP. As soon as that's paid off we'll put a set amount aside every month into a savings account.

After getting into a bit of trouble with money it has really taught us how to budget properly and to live within our means.