WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

atush

Excell is easy enough in the most basic sense for this, otherwise a book/diary where you write down a deposit and how much of it goes into Each 'pot' with a running total for each pot (the running total is where spreadsheets are easier but with separate columns/lines you should be OK)

My eldest turned 24 today, we had his family party last night. Baked him a cake and made his choice of dinner.

After, helped him book a flight to the USA for our fam holiday in april. Was a novel experience because he paid instead of me lol. However, I do hold shares in BA so get a discount (which is ends at the end of Jan when they will begin to pay dividends again). Plus he is working in Jersey at week on an Audit, and so leaving from there takes nearly 100 quid off the flight as the taxes are lower. Now looking for a flight for twin2 who has dec ided to go after all. He has 5 weeks off at easter and was going to spend them all writing essays and revising but now says he can squeeze it into 4 and come with for one week.

As a side note, I also save using my 1% cashback card. Very MSE lol.

Eco_Miser

If you haven't got a spreadsheet, OpenOffice http://www.openoffice.org/ is just as good as Excel for all but some highly complicated things, and has the advantage of being free. There's info about free software somewhere on this site. Or, as atush said, just use a notebook.

atush

that is a good tip abt free office software.

Now MS is time limiting their software (works for say 4 yrs) it makes me stomping mad. Bad enough having to pay each time you get a new device. I think once you pay you should be able to use it period.

JoJoC

I have a little notebook for recording my spending (food shopping, petrol and misc things) then a spreadsheet to keep tabs on savings.

Should be a low spend day today- taking my son for a haircut then coming home to bake some bread and do some housework.

Any nice plans for today?

WantToBeSE

Hi everyone


Thanks for the heads up about open office, I already have it so i'll have a good look at the spreadsheets, but have a feeling I'll stick to a notepad and pencil, I am a technophobe at heart


My older son had a day off school today and my younger son was in London all day for a school trip (we were at the school for 6am and I'm picking him up at midnight).


So we went into the Army Careers Office and chatted to someone about that (my son wants to join the army next year) and then went to Pizza hut and the cinema. All saved for and planned, as part of his birthday treat (he'll be 15 on Monday).


Only just got home and am drinking very strong coffee so that I can stay away long enough to pick up my youngest son from school at midnight, after being awake since 5am. I have NO IDEA how I'll manage it!

atush

Isn't 16 q little young to join the army? Yikes lol.

I spend only 76 today at tesco (again incl wine for the week) so dead chuffed. Gosh things are cheaper now we are back to the 2 of us.

WantToBeSE

Morning All.


Yes atush, 16 is DEFINITELY too young to join the army in my opinion. But he has wanted to do it for years.


I am torn between thinking its a good idea (because there are so few jobs around here, especially for younger people, he'll get to see some of the world, have a secure job, learn a trade etc), and being terrified (y'know, the killing, dying, limbs blown off kind of stuff).


However, its not my choice, its his, and I'll support him whatever he chooses. He has his GCSE Mock Exams next month, and then his real GCSEs are next year.
He'll apply to Army College in March next year, for the September Intake. The more I read about it, the more scared for him I am. But he is very keen, and I am reassured that he can withdraw if he doesn't like it (before 18 anyway).


*sigh*....

atush

Gosh you are brave. One of mine joined the air cadets when he was younger and it scared me lol. Anyway he quit later on. Whew!

good luck with him, at least he'll get some training and we do seem to be pulling out of war zones these days.

WantToBeSE

Thanks. No so much brave, more terrified! But like I said, its not my choice, it's his.


The world is such a scary place these days, but they don't get deployed until they are 18 anyway, and they can pull out with a months notice at any point before then.

JoJoC

Wow - it takes a certain kind of person to enroll in the army I think. If he has his heart set on it then good on him. As you say, it's great training and experience for him. I'd be feeling scared like you too.

My husband has just pulled up a couple of floor boards in the kitchen in our new house as they were damp and there's a huge puddle of water under there so he's trying to work out what to do. All I can see is £ signs and my bank account emptying very quickly!!

I'm trying to have a productive day putting things away and generally getting the last bits unpacked.