Where do you begin??

Sheep

I decided I want to change how much rubbish I buy on a monthly basis and want to start saving money. One example is how at work I cannot help spending £4-£5 per day on things i do not need! I work in a call centre so if i get bored ill go buy a bottle of coke or a red bull etc etc.

Where do you start with cut backs?

How does this all work?

Thanks

Sheep

MrsLWW

Well done, you've already begun. You've recognised that you have triggers for certain things, eg boredom at work triggers you to spend. So start there. I am a big farmfoods fan, so go there, buy in red bull and coke and any other food stuffs you buy in bulk and find something to fill your boredom - you are allowed 5 minutes (or something like that) away from your desk an hour, use it to walk to a water cooler even and fill up a bottle of water or diluting juice maybe.

The best way to start is with you wages, what you bring in every month, then underneath that deduct all of your outgoings. Have a look at each of your outgoings and see what you can reduce - cheaper tarrifs for mobiles, switching gas, electricity etc.

Then look at your disposable income (what's left after your bills) and try and work out how you spend it. Look for alternative brands and for the brands that you absolutely must use, find out where is cheapest to buy it.

HTH

zippygeorgeandben

First of all, I would spend March living as you normally do, i.e. buying all these spontaneous items and then totalling the full amount at the end of the moth,
Let's say it reaches £120. What could that have been spend on instead? What does it equal? Did it improve your life ambitions or quality of life throughout that month and beyond?
Just questions for you to think about.
Be proactive - take things to work that you have at home, instead of spending them compulsively.

copperman05

For me it started with a budgeting tool like YNAB (YouNeedABudget) It pretty much stopped my frivolous spending overnight. Set out a budget including how much you want to save and see how you go.

Sheep

Thank you all.... certainly food for thought

Ladykernow

Start by meal planning and creating a lunch box meal plan too. Think of a goal you want to set yourself, how much money you want to save this month and try and stick to it.

Happy_Kitties

Even though I do like to save money where I can, could I tell you how much I spend a month on groceries etc-no idea.
This month I am logging every spend down as like you, my one weakness is when I am bored that's when I spend..........okay it is mostly on things I need but I tend to buy them when I haven't got the money that particular week for example- I have to watch this.
It's an ongoing process, but once u start to make changes u will find it addictive!

bearcat16

It's easy to think "I'll just stop buying red bull and Coke", but in reality if that's what you find yourself doing despite your best intentions, then just accept that you'll drink it, and get it in 12 packs from Asda instead of from the machine at work.

That's what I did, and it saved a load.

Anoneemoose

copperman05 wrote: »

For me it started with a budgeting tool like YNAB (YouNeedABudget) It pretty much stopped my frivolous spending overnight. Set out a budget including how much you want to save and see how you go.

This!! I have only been using YNAB for about 11 days and it really makes a difference. Obviously I can't definitely say that'll be the same long term, but based on the past few days with it, it's highly likely.

My husband and I have always been fritterers - we have a decent disposable income, but we've never really taken any notice of it. YNAB has been an eye opener.

gillykms

When I was starting off on not spending frivolously I would bring all the food I needed for the day to work with me. I would then only bring my travelcard to travel to work and not bring my debit card or any cash so I couldn't buy anything even if I wanted to!

Now I do bring my debit card with me but have broken the habit of wanting to spend money on things I don't need so the urge isn't there to use it.

Happier_Me

I am trying to be really good at the minute. But one of our downfalls is 'the quick nip to the shops for xyz' thing.

I've done this today for toilet roll and chips. Came back with toilet roll and chips (who is a miracle in itself) but also bought the following:

Pair of jeans for DD (in the sale)
Peanut M & M's (obviously these are a need, not a want)
Cherry Bakewells
Cookies
Paraceptomol
Crisps
A drink for DD
Flapjacks

Result: I'm poorer, fatter and feel slightly nauseous.:o

Not sure what the answer is really, but I don't do this all the time so I do have some self control. At work I spend very little mainly because I take just a couple of pounds with me each week, so I can't buy much even if I wanted too. Might be worth limiting your access to money to see if this helps.