Does anyone know of a virtual 'piggy bank' tool that I can motivate myself with? 21 September 2013 at 8:30PM in How much have you saved? 10 replies 5K views

mandragora_2

I have been lumbered with a crappy, crappy task at work which I really don't want to do. It's almost the final straw, and to be honest I've really thought long and hard about even resigning rather than do it, but instead I've come up with a cunning plan instead that I think will get me through the six months that I'm going to have to spend an hour of every day doing it.

This morning, I added up all the pay I'll net over that period, worked out the number of days of work that that involves, and even the number of hours spent on the 'craptask'. I know how much I'd be happy to work for for the rest of the day in another job and the remainder of the money I'm going to think of as my 'pay' for doing craptask.

It works out to a motivatingly amount of money for that one hour a day , so what I want to do is, at the end of each session of said task, I want to do the virtual equivalent of flinging that amount of money into a virtual piggy bank, so that I can see it, and hear it and watch it mount up every day.

I know. It's childish, and I'm old enough to know better, but because it's a decent amount of money, and a crappy, crappy task, I think it will work :rotfl:

All I need now is an online tool - like a piggy bank or tin or anything really (apart from a dull old excel spreadsheet which won't thrill me at all.....) All I can find online are tools and schemes for parents to help kids manage their pocket money, which isn't what I want at all. Any help at all most appreciated, if anyone can point me in the right direction. Of course, if this tool doesn't exist, I could perhaps get the app made myself, find instant and immediate wealth and resign before January anyway. Problem solved!:j

Hope I've posted this in the right place - if not, please feel free to move.

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

do a search for 'virtual wallet' rather than piggy bank, might find an app or something suitable.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Come on spill; what's the task?

mandragora_2

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

Come on spill; what's the task?

Just one that has to be done but that every-one hates. I took it last time it came up a couple of years ago, and some-one else on the team was down to do it this time, but somehow I was the one left standing when the music stopped. Feeling very sorry for myself hasn't helped, so I've gone for 'Sod it. How much is every hour I spend on it worth, if I don't resign and just grit my teeth and get through it?'
It's worked a treat:)

penguingirl

Not sure whether it's what you're after, but first direct have 'internet banking plus' (you don't have to be a FD customer). It allows you to link all your accounts, credit cards, mortgage, value of assets etc and get a net total worth. I think it only works on internet explorer, and you have to download a plugin for your PC.

mandragora_2

penguingirl wrote: »

Not sure whether it's what you're after, but first direct have 'internet banking plus' (you don't have to be a FD customer). It allows you to link all your accounts, credit cards, mortgage, value of assets etc and get a net total worth. I think it only works on internet explorer, and you have to download a plugin for your PC.

Thanks - but you're right, it isn't what I want. I don't want to actually move any money around, I think that what I want is more 'game like' than that. What I've got in mind is that as I complete the rotten job each day, I flounce back into my office, slump on the chair in a shawl of self-pity, log on to my 'piggy bank' and fling the notional amount of money I've just earned into the fat smiley pig and listen to it rattle around (even better if it adds up as I go along, so I can see it build up over time), feel better about myself and face the rest of the day with a smile rather than grumping my way through the next six months and being a thorough pain to everyone around me!

It looks as if I'm going to have to settle for a little tally chart secreted in a desk drawer instead. Not as satisfying, but I'm sure I'll cope when I add it up at the end of each week. Perhaps I'll put some coins in a glass jar and give them a little rattle as I tick the tally sheet :rotfl:

cod3

dull old excel spreadsheet

:eek:


You can get apps for fancy phones. Are these any good?

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/savings-goals/id507466769?mt=8

or

http://financialsoft.about.com/od/Top-Android-Apps-of-the-Month/ss/Top-Android-Apps-For-Tracking-Savings-Goals-April-2013.htm

davenport151

Have a supply of small change around;1p, 2p & 5p. Work out your equivilant of the value of time spent eg; 1p equals an hour @ your current wage, 5p equals a days wages. Throw a few coins in the 'bank' when you get home.
Hope you've got a 'piggy' that makes that satisfying noise.
Hey this sounds like a good idea - might try it myself.

mandragora_2

davenport151 wrote: »

Have a supply of small change around;1p, 2p & 5p. Work out your equivilant of the value of time spent eg; 1p equals an hour @ your current wage, 5p equals a days wages. Throw a few coins in the 'bank' when you get home.
Hope you've got a 'piggy' that makes that satisfying noise.
Hey this sounds like a good idea - might try it myself.

Yup - that's exactly what I've decided to do if I'm still feeling whiney about it in January.

I have decided to get a big, clean coffee jar and a supply of washers or glass beads to put in my office, and a little times table chart in a drawer with multiples worked out in the number of the amount I've decided each session is 'worth'. I'm going to fling a bead or washer in there every day and tot it up at the end of the week. When the cloud of pathetic self-pity comes down, I'm going to rattle the jar and grin because I'll know what I've 'made' as a result of not resigning in a huff from a job that I mostly enjoy . To be honest, just being on here and wittering about it has put it all back in proportion. Thanks guys for all your suggestions and patience. Much appreciated. I promise to stop moaning now. Tantrum over.

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

what about a piggy bank app for iphone, this is just an example, but search itunes there are pleny of free ones.

CharllieSays

On a similar topic... does anyone know of a program that shows me how much interest my savings are earning me per second in real time (i.e. the amount literally changes per second - a bit like the debt clock thing some sites have for UK national debt, except this shows how much interest is being added to my savings)?