Spending diaries.

Cazzdevil

I can keep a spending diary no problem, I can happily keep a record of every penny I spend but trying to get my OH to do the same is rather more of a challenge so it's never a true representation of the state of our finances.

I might hound him a bit more this year because we're trying to save every spare penny for a new car at the minute.

thriftlady_2

Thanks to Sophiesmum :T for the Spending diary link -it's easy to use isn't it ? How long I'll keep it up for is another matter :rolleyes:

mary43

OH just came in with few bits of shopping, unpacked and put away before I got the chance to grab the receipt he threw in the bin..............lol Told him off and said I must keep track of what he spends at supermarket ! Most put out he was...............give him his due, he's very good and far from wasteful but I just want to know what he spends. I can grab the weekly bill when the shoppings delivered..........its just the odds and ends he sees when he's out that are bargains (always stuff we use anyway)..........will I ever get him trained ?
Still, he did bring me home a storage box - £3.............hadn't said I wanted one. I think as I''d been grabbing baskets and anything else that would do for a christmas container he assumed I'd want one. But typical.......he never gets it quite right bless him..............choice of white, black or blue (sort of royal blue) and he gets the blue.............totally wrong colour for my comp room which he who never uses it has decided needs brightening up with blue box............................lol
It'll end up in out bedroom............that's blue and cream so on top of the wardrobe to pop my summer tops in it'll be ok............have to sneak it up there when he's out..........:rotfl:

SallyRad

I have a little cash book that I keep with me at all times. I then write everything I buy into it.

It needs to be small enough to fit into your handbag or pocket so that you an take it everywhere - it is much easier than trying to remember once you get home.

I have cut my expediture a lot since I started as I realised how much I bought that I didn't real need.

pollyanna24

Cazzdevil wrote: »

I can keep a spending diary no problem, I can happily keep a record of every penny I spend but trying to get my OH to do the same is rather more of a challenge so it's never a true representation of the state of our finances.

I might hound him a bit more this year because we're trying to save every spare penny for a new car at the minute.

My bf is exactly the same, so I took over the finances. It works for us, but I can see how it wouldn't for a lot of people.

We pool our wages and then take £400 each from the joint account. This is for us to do what we want with.

If he buys something that is "joint" like milk or something, he has learned that I want the receipt and if I don't get it, I go into a right strop. After about 3 or 4 times, he'd learned and the receipt gets put in the pot (which is like a petty cash thingie we keep in the kitchen).

furrypig

Was using a book but gonna use Spending diary too as it looks so good just popped in all this years spends very scarey!!

r.mac_2

i have been suing the spending diary weblink for two whole days now (does this constitute a hibit yet????)

I have to say, already its made me open my eyes a little!!! And it made me really concentrate on my tesco shop - so that can only be a good thing - thanks x

*niptuckfan*

thanks sophiesmum!

WorkingHardDFW

Hi all

I've started a spending diary from 1/1/08. Its great and I wouldn't be without it now. Its a simple excel spreadsheet and it logs:

• what we've spent and on what
• How much
• Where we spent it from ie cash, account etc
• If money needs to come from elsewhere to cover it ie various savings pots
• Its coded by category ie food (yes that is sad but it will help me analyse it later in the year)

All receipts go on a specially purchased (Ebay £2.50) letter spike until they are logged and then in the receipt tin (Roses tins from Christmas)!

Its great and is working for us which is the most important thing!

Even though we've been very MSE this year is amazing how much money gets spent in a month (its only the 8th as well) :T

I guess its whatever works for you!

Wanna_Bee_Free

I use a cash book <£1 from Wh smyt. I prefer it to my old note book as the columns for money are already there. It looks a lot less wonky!

I need it with me all the time so chose small and light. Mind you I fill it in at the end of the day most days. The last one ended up quite [strike]battered[/strike]well-loved and I had to resist the urge to buy a shiny new one! At the beginning I used to space out the entries per day or leave a line or two in between but now in proper MSE style it all gets used!

And as someone else said earlier, it's amazing how quickly the small stuff adds up.