A Ditherer's Diary (again)

moving_forward

Yes admitted my giant ledger planner isn't as portable or quick or pretty but it's cheaper (even if you do include the cost of pens and stickers just 🤭) ok I'm starting to talk meself back into YNAB no no no **goes off to stroke giant ledger**

Naomim

Ledgers just make me think of work. Although I don't remember having stickers and pretty pens! 🤣

moving_forward

If only work did have stickers and pretty pens. Do multi coloured highlighters and address labels count 🤣🤣🤣

WinterWarrior

I couldn’t get to grips with the ynab free trial at all. I found spreadsheets work best for me. They are so colourful I fear they can be seen from space! 

moving_forward

That is good WW. Aliens can see you are up to date with your home accounting 😌

Naomim

ynab would be better if it had 3 months free trial rather than the 34 days. I actually think they'd retain a lot more people if they'd really got to grips with it.

I'm up to £3.25 on prolific this month. It's a bit slow but better than nothing.

moving_forward

We all are different people and need to find what works for our particular needs. I hated seeing my balance in the YNAB red even though it wasn't as I'm paid week before the end of the month. If they allowed different start dates I may be tempted to go back. I know they encourage being a month in front but all that does is tie up money I don't have to leave doing nothing.
I've never done surveys it goes against my guarded nature. I do admire your courage NM

Naomim

My red balances are definitely overspent categories! 😂 At the begininning I didn't get the hang of it so I got paid then put in the budget for the whole month but the way my dd's are dotted all over the place, some of them wouldn't be coming out until I had been paid again so double counting them.  I'm giving it my best effort but if it does't work then I'm going back to the multi-coloured spreadsheets! 😁 To be honest, I still have my spreadsheet as it has all my CC stuff on and what goes to pots etc.

I only do the prolific surveys but I think they are also the people who ask the most personal questions as they want the surveys to be answered by the group they are suited to rather than some sites that you get half way through then told you can't complete.  But I also think these are the most secure people. It's usually academic research.  Never thought of myself as couragous! 😁

Off to look at my meal plan spreadsheet now and do this weeks online shop. I need some meal inspiration.

Naomim

Meal inspiration done. I already have stuff left over from last week's shop to cover three nights meals and I've printed off three new recipes from the Tesco website. They have some quite good ones on there so hoping this weeks shop will be lower to help stem the overdraft. 

I've updated ynab and my figures match to the bank account so that's good! I've had a look at ynab help to work out what happens with overspent categories if you can't cover it in the current month.  I think I'm going to watch a few more videos too.

I forgot I have another night out booked with a friend.  We are off to see Jenny Eclair in stand-up.  This was booked for 2020 originally and got moved to this January. I checked with the venue and it's still on.

I popped out to get petrol at lunchtime spent £45 but that's already covered by my petrol pot.  I also treated myself to a Costa from my personal spends.  £3.25 on the coffee and 75p automatically put in the rounding pot.  I remembered to upload my receipt onto Shoppix.  I used to be so good with it then completely fell out the habit.  Since I started using it, I've switched to making a few payments using google pay and I'm not sure if it will show those receipts as they don't show your bank card. 🤔

I also need to check back on my Tesco refunds.  Before Christmas I did a click and collect but didn't want the half leg of lamb they gave me that was half the size I'd ordered. I don't remember seeing it come back into the bank account so need to check if it ever did. It was a time when I was actively ignoring the account to be honest.  

Lastly I still need to upload two receipts onto work portal to claim back some expenses.  Must remember how to do it! 

moving_forward

Well get you miss I'm never organised.metginks you have been very organised doing all that. Well done