How easy is it to organise your finances?

macfloyd

Hi guys

I'm new to the site and this is my first post, i just wanted to ask those who were'nt previously organised with their finances and have managed to change...

Did you find it easy to change your whole way of thinking/working when it came to your finances?

I am really struggling to find the motivation to sort out my finances/life.

I have been mortgage free before, and have a small mortgage now compared to the size of my home, but i am still in debt!

I just don't know where to start, the thought of doing the budget planner fills me with dread

Any tips?

BTW, I think the site is fantastic, i haven't managed to work my way through all of it yet though

GavB79

I don't think this is the right board?

Camtrix_2

macfloyd wrote: »

Hi guys

I'm new to the site and this is my first post, i just wanted to ask those who were'nt previously organised with their finances and have managed to change...

Did you find it easy to change your whole way of thinking/working when it came to your finances?

I am really struggling to find the motivation to sort out my finances/life.

I have been mortgage free before, and have a small mortgage now compared to the size of my home, but i am still in debt!

I just don't know where to start, the thought of doing the budget planner fills me with dread

Any tips?

BTW, I think the site is fantastic, i haven't managed to work my way through all of it yet though

Hi Macfloyd
The board that you will get all the info you need is the debt free wannabe board :beer:

I dont post here very often but I could nt agree more with you this is a fantastic site and welcome:T

misskool

Hi,

I'm moving your thread to the deft-free wannabe board where you'll be more likely to receive a better response.

itsnever2lateisit?

macfloyd wrote: »

Hi guys

I'm new to the site and this is my first post, i just wanted to ask those who were'nt previously organised with their finances and have managed to change...

Did you find it easy to change your whole way of thinking/working when it came to your finances?

I am really struggling to find the motivation to sort out my finances/life.

I have been mortgage free before, and have a small mortgage now compared to the size of my home, but i am still in debt!

I just don't know where to start, the thought of doing the budget planner fills me with dread

Any tips?

BTW, I think the site is fantastic, i haven't managed to work my way through all of it yet though

Hi and welcome, and I hope you enjoy your stay, long may it continue.

The motivation you seek is to overcome the dread of doing your budget planner. Once you see that money is just slipping through your fingers, and over say 1 year it is £000's you will change, believe me.

The reason is that you dont have to change your lifestyle to make the savings, but just buy the same for less:j

So have a look at the sticky at the top of the board, and put you Statement of Affairs (SOA) together, you dont have to share it with us if you dont want too. It will concentrate your mind even if you dont, and you can post back here where you made savings. However if you do post it here, we wont judge, or laugh at you, but apply our collective brains to, hopefully, make the task even easier and more cost effective. We are all here because we are either in the same boat as you, or have been in that boat.
So dont delay, save today:rotfl:

Homework

Check the Demotivator at the top of the page in the Step by Step guides, that reduced my incidental spending by a huge amount.

There is loads of advice on here and I think you pick it up as you go along. You will find tips and hints and realise that you can use them in your life and things just get better and better.

Start off by doing your income and expenditure to work out where you stand and then be open to change. Some things I thought were a bit far fetched but when you think about it more it makes sense

RoxieW

hi macfloyd - just wanted to say - good luck - its great round here! You can do it!

macfloyd

Hi, thanks to all who replied. i did realise i had posted on the wrong forum after i posted it, but i didn't know how to change it :rotfl:

i am finding the forum quite difficult to navigate, but i'm sure i'll get there in the end

anyway, thanks again for all your welcomes :j :beer:

skint_spice

You don't need to use the budget planner if you find it confusing but it does help you sit down and work out where the money is going - you could do this on the back of a paper bag though if you like. Personally I just use a fairly simple spreadsheet with my incoming/outgoings to keep track of things but just find someway of making it work for you.
Good luck!

southernscouser

macfloyd wrote: »

I am really struggling to find the motivation to sort out my finances/life.

Do you want all the money that you earn to be yours?

Do you want it to start working for you?

Then thats all the motivation you should need.

It's like a jigsaw puzzle. One piece at a time and it soon starts taking shape.

tallyhoh

I dont use the budget planner or anything like that, not because its not good but it saves keep switching the computer on.

I use a little platic wallet in my handbag for receipts, if I dont get a receipt for something I scribble it down on a scrap of paper till I get home. Keep all receipts for at least a month. I always tot up roughly what I know I have to fork out for & how much I will have left & carry it in my purse. A quick look at this will stop you making large impulse buys.

At home I have a large notebook divided into 4 columns.:

1) List of money coming in, wages, child benefit etc

2) List of static direct debits & standing orders first, then I add the variable ones on as they go out (like phone bill).

3)List of money spent on groceries & household stuff, kids stuff etc.

4) List of money spent on personal & maybe uneccessary items (like lipstick & newspapers).

I add the 4 columns up at the end of the month. Scary sometimes what I have wasted.

I have done this for 17 years by the way & its kept me out of trouble so far.