A Ditherer's Diary (again)

Homegrown0

I read through your whole diary on Friday and was really inspired by some of the changes you've made and your resilience. You're really good at bouncing back when you need to overcome a problem. I need to become more resilient!

Naomim

@Suzanne54321B A shiny new diary will definitely help make you feel more accountable.  Even if you don't post every day.  I usually believe I only have one or two people who read mine. I usually feel I'm shouting into thin air but it's good to get thoughts out and revisit your posts to see how far you have come.  Some of us add our SOA, some don't (like me) . I also try not to do too many challenges as it can become overwhelming and destructive trying to do everything at once.  I also think this is the first time I have actually ever stuck to my budget and feel in control.  My true LBM.  I guess it's a bit like an addiction, can take a few tries and perseverance to get there.

@Homegrown0 Thank you.  I am quite resilient in that I'm an optimist. I never think of what the worse thing could happen or generally worry about what I can't control.  So when I was at the point of really worrying about money, sleepless nights and not being able to withdraw cash from the machine, I knew it was a bad situation. I also have my other half. He may be the worlds biggest pain in the bum, but with all the house stuff we endured, despite feeling bad himself; he really was my rock.  

It's funny as according to my star sign - Scorpio, I should be fiery and vengeful but I'm really not like that. I'm not sure if comes from apathy, but I just can't be bothered 😂

Naomim

WinterWarrior

Thanks Naomim, I am definitely in the addiction camp. How to change from a frittering addiction to a saving addiction is where I’m struggling. The reward just doesn’t seem as good when it’s all about paying things down, rather than seeing money mount up.  I keep aiming to try, but then wasted £20 today on nothing! 

You all inspire me to try to do better and I have joined prolific and ipsos...which may entertain me while I’m not spending!  Thanks for you lovely posts. 

Naomim

@Suzanne54321B  The addiction will come depending on what you need to do. Mine is seeing my debt reduce but yours maybe increase savings?   

For me, the key is being organised. I have a spreadsheet with multiple tabs. One has six months of banking transactions, so I log on everyday and check what I'm expecting is what has come out of the account.  This was a massive help when the 10yo had the Google play nightmare as I caught it straight away.  The next tab is 6 months of forward forecasting, so what I expect to come out over the next 6 months and where I expect to be.  A tab for all of my outgoings split into sections:  direct debits, credit cards, groceries, kids savings, regular pots, other expenditure.  I also have all my credit card debt listed with the interest rates and what is on a deal and when it ends.  Also a breakdown of annual charges such as insurances and when they are due to be renewed.  It's probably a mess for someone else to look at but I ❤ my spreadsheet and am constantly tinkering with it.  

Once you start getting addicted to the saving/reducing debt, you'll find you want to spend less.  I'm still partial to a coffee and obviously lock down has had an impact on spending but I am still spending less anyway. I consider more whether I "want" or "need" something and if I do, I check out cashback sites to see if I can make some money back.  Have you ever tried deferred gratification? I find that a useful tool and appeals to the ditherer in me

Naomim

Homegrown0

I'm trying to do the delayed gratification thing much more these days - anything I fancy on ebay, i'm saving for later and deciding when it has 15 minutes to go and more often than  not I have decided i don't want it after all. Normally I'd decide that I need it and put in a cheeky wee bit. Ebay was a bit of a spending crutch that I've managed to wean myself away from a bit. 

I do also become a bit obsessed with my spreadsheet and checking numbers etc. At least it's a distraction from spending!

WinterWarrior

I do have a multiple tab spreadsheet, but I never thought about forward planning in a big way... I just have 1 tab for what I’m expecting for the next month. I obsess over the spreadsheet, but then keep having to adjust it as I ‘bad’ spend.  I do hope a few months down the line I will be better...at the moment the only positive thing is seeing the regular payments on the loans and mortgage taking those tabs down each month.  I’m also adding lots of pots to Monzo, but at the moment they are all pretty empty!

Naomim

My constantly needs adjusting as MrM likes a spend     I just like the idea of where I "could" be. I am aware this isn't a figure set in stone but gives me an idea to keep on track and to make sure I know what's due to come out. Clear background means it's cleared the account, lilac is pending on the bank account and pale orange is a direct debit due to come out of the account this month. Neon Yellow means it needs to be paid back to the account from a pot or someone else. ie groceries, petrol, birthday presents etc. I do love a spreadsheet. I also have one for meal planning! 😂

I have been much better since I got Monzo going and have so many pots it's unbelievable! I have 15 😃 
Petrol
Dog Food
Car Insurance
Car Maintenance
Christmas
Birthdays
Clothing & Haircuts
Vets
Emergency Fund
Professional Membership
Days Out
Groceries
Take That
Scouts
Home Insurance

Obviously some are building up and others I use on a monthly basis. Being able to budget this way has helped my spending enormously.  MrM and I both have £120 personal cash a month. This is what is in the current account of my Monzo.  I don't do any of the round up features, nor do I have an overdraft on Monzo. If it's gone, it's gone.  My salary and bills are still with my regular bank account and the pot money is transferred to Monzo on payday.

WinterWarrior

I colour mine in too! I have a regular account, but so far with Monzo I transfer it in and then transfer it back! I have locked my pots now to stop this happening! I don’t have an overdraft there either and just 100 on my regular account, which I try not to use. You have inspired me to create a pet food pot, at the moment I buy on the Credit card and pay straight off on payday, but it would be good to get in front. We have a lot of pets and £350 per month on food is about average! We run our finances separately, with a fair split of bills, so I’m just tackling my own. I pay the pet food and he pays the people food! 

Naomim

Wowser! That must be a lot of pets! 
 I actually need to up mine a bit but it's £40 at the moment.  We have a lovely dog, two Giant African Land Snails and have just added two hamsters for 15yo this weekend. 

WinterWarrior

We have a lovely big dog and 6 fussy house cats, who take eating as a challenge 😖.
I bet the land snails don’t eat too much...is it mostly salad? I once had a violent hamster....I wouldn’t have beaten him in a fight, he was very pretty though!