Paper or online - which is better? Looking to improve my financial situation.

[Deleted User]

Be realistic about your own personality as using a cashback card won't make money if you spend more or don't pay the bill on time and in full each month.

I've helped a friend get rid of all credit cards as she has zero self control related to mental health issues. She now just has a two current accounts - one for spends and another for bills/small savings buffer.

Jami74

Ballard said:

Keeping track of finances is a good thing to do but I don't feel the need. I don't spend money wantonly and don't get close to spending my salary every month. On payday I transfer the excess to a savings account and transfer some back as and when required. I do have some large bills coming up but I've been aware of them for some time and have the funds available. 

For a long time this is how I/we lived. There was more money going into the bank than going out. Never took much notice of how much the grocery bill was and didn't flinch at the annual bills. The balance seemed to get bigger and every so often we'd book a holiday with it or something. We thought we were good with money, we always shopped around for the best deal and checked the account once a month or so.

Then things changed, but so slowly we didn't really notice. I can't remember if the money coming in went down or if the outgoings went up. In the beginning we'd dip slightly into the overdraft a few days before payday but assumed it was bad luck with timings and thought that was the point of the overdraft. Over time the dips got bigger and longer until one day we realised that we hadn't had a holiday for a while and there wasn't enough overdraft to have one. And then to the stage of worrying that there might not be enough overdraft to pay the rent....

My partner still can't really think ahead with money, which is why I'm in charge