Help please with budgeting

mummyroysof3

Really struggling to work this out so hoping some lovely people on here can be of help. We currently receive benefits and I get a small wage from a part time job. The wages are a set date per month and the benefits are either monthly or 4 weekly. I am struggling to keep track to know what in the account is available to spend and what needs to be left for Dd payments before next payment comes in. Is there an app that would help with this? If I can't keep track I never will get a handle on paying extra to debts/savings

HappyMJ

There is but you've got to manually enter the figures and if you're going to do that you may as well just manually check every day and keep a diary. You should aim to leave an amount equal to your wages and benefits as a minimum account balance all the time. i.e about £1,000. Treat that as zero. It'll take quite a few months to save that but if you see a balance of £900 say to yourself you're £100 overdrawn and you'll be fine.

I personally have a different account for direct debits and set up a standing order from my main current account the one which everything is credited to I set up a standing order. I also have a third account which is funded from the main account with £45 every week. That's the shopping money and I use the card with that account to do the shopping.

datlex

The easiest way to budget is to divide up your money as it comes in.

How good are you with excel or spreadsheets?

mummyroysof3

Thanks for replies, I have been thinking about having a separate account for spending than the main account tbh then get a calender to write all Dd on and all payment dates then I could easily see what has to be paid out and what's left to know when I've got spare money and when I haven't.

I tried it in a diary but got in a muddle so maybe seeing it a month at a time would help...will try it and see I think.