Spending diary confessions

blackangeluk

Ok confession time it is:-

Neglected my spending diary this week so just filled it in from my spreadsheet :eek:

School Uniform - £91.35 (DD starts new school in Sept - have to buy logo jumpers, tops, T-shirts )
Paypal - £3.75 (can moneybox to stop DH pilfering my £2 coins away)
Electricals - £24.99 (toaster broke!)
Cash Out - £20.00
Co-Op - £2.73
American Golf - £9.99 :mad:
Starbucks £3.20 :mad:
Golf Centre - £7.00 :mad:
Golf Club (any expletives will do!) - £108.99 :mad:

Total cost this week - £272 :eek: - we are still not at the end of the week and DH has just got train into town with kids so no doubt lunch will have to follow :rolleyes:

So out of all that the only essentials were Milk and school uniform. In my (only) defence, we bought stuff like uniform, toaster now as DH had extra holiday pay this month and it was going to have to be bought somehow - but still it looks shocking!! And there was me hoping for a no spend week

Maybe we should have this as a Friday weekly update so we can see how we can improve.

Please also note, that DH has been severely reprimanded today for his excessive amounts spent on golf. I think I will show him the spending diary at the end of the week too so he can see where all the money is going, might make him face up to reality.

Nickynoo1

hi,
defo up for a weekly update.

Might make me think a bit more if i have to confess each week.

Nickynoo1

Nickynoo1

hi,
Well another week of controlled spending shot to bits!!

cigs 16.13
food 29.70
snacks 3.20
F&B out 24.60
stairgate 15.99
wine 6.12
misc Toiletries & parking 9.22

Total £104.96

I just dont seem to be getting the hang of this spending less game. Anyone any ideas how i can stop spending - apart from locking myself indoors! I'm getting desperate now.

Cheers Nickynoo1

red74

Hi Nicky :hello:

As much as quitting smoking altogether would save more, this is obviously easier said than done, so my OH rolls his own. Unfortunately this means that he doesn't have much incentive to give up because the cost over a week is relatively small-fry (think he smokes apx 15-20 a day).

I don't know how you have your spending diary set up. I allocate myself a set amount each week for normal day-to-day expenses, and a 'treat fund' (to stop myself depriving myself for 2 months and then having a massive blow-out). When I spend anything I write it down, taking the total off the amount allocated for that week. That way I can instantly see how much I have left to manage on. This has worked really well for me, I take my own food and drink for lunches at work, I can't remember the last time I bought a magazine and it's even curbed my top-up shop spending. If I have £1 left and only need milk - then I only get milk and not the cheesecake that I would have bought before!:o

chevalier

Perhaps shopping online would help. You can get offers for free delivery or extra points, and you might stick to your shopping list more? The other thing I have heard people do is to move you food shopping day forward a day each week, so first week you shop on the monday, but the next week you shop on the tuesday, so stretch things out more?
The other thing is to not take your purse with you?!
chev

nickelodeon

Was just about to suggest that Chev, leave your wallet/cards at home, would stop you spending when you don't need things, if you really need something you can go back and get it and usually after going home and thinking about it you decide you're not really that bothered!!

Nickynoo1

Hi,
Thanks for that. I have no set way of doing the diary, just writing everything down and totalling it up on a Thursday. Sounds lik,e a good idea to keep a running total and deducting off set budget at the end of each day. I have got rolling tobacco but still been buying cigs, cos they're better/easier. I will try and just keep taylor mades just for when im having a night out and stick to the baccy the rest of the time.

Think i might try leaving my debit card at home and just have a pound or 2 in my purse for emergencies.

I might join the unecessary challenge.

Been ok today. Only £1.04. Thursdays are always a good day, once i realize how bad i been all week.

Nickynoo1

Nickynoo1

Right, I've made up a spreadsheet so i can see exactly how much ive left to spend in each category each week and month. And also the total as a whole. So hopefully I'll remember to fill it in and stay on track. We will see!!

Nickynoo1