Keeping an eye on finances... Here to help

Narj · 9 Nov 2010 at 15:51

I think the best thing I could do to save money would be to leave my bank card at home. I end up withdrawing too much all the time! Especially when drunk...

agnes · 9 Nov 2010 at 15:52

Ice On Fire said:
Just had a look at your sheet - very nice, but it is basic.

I have another sheet that splits up expenses into sections- eg; Entertainment, Financial, Car, House, Food - that sort of thing. Then over a period of a year, it works out monthly averages on each section that you're spending on.

Has saved me lots of money now!

If anyone wants a look at this sheet - I can upload a raw copy of it, too?

That would be fantastic mate, I can include it in the OP if you like as well for others to use.

Glad this thread is helping some people, as I was a bit iffy to admit I had bad finances 6 months ago and was scared of tackling it head on. But it seems that some of the stories in here prove that a little bit of effort makes life a whole lot easier.

By the way, as a little pressie to my self for saving money and keeping in check, I traded in Fable 3 and picked up the limited edition, my first limited edition game ever! Hehe. Only got £200 to last me the month now though

Stick to it!

Django x2 · 9 Nov 2010 at 15:54

Buying lunch at work is the killer for me. So many nice places to try in London.

I figured that I have a top up card at my current project. I put £40 a month on there an it has to last me but this is just for tea / drinks / snacks. Lunch, I actually buy and can be £5 a day. However, by the time I'd had a cuppa or two, some toast and a kitkat, that was nearly a fiver off the work card. £10 a day, £200 a month!!!

So now I have a tasty homemade lasagna!

Priapus · 9 Nov 2010 at 15:55

agnes said:
That would be fantastic mate, I can include it in the OP if you like as well for others to use.

Yes - not a problem at all - email me for the copy. :cool:

agnes said:
Glad this thread is helping some people, as I was a bit iffy to admit I had bad finances 6 months ago and was scared of tackling it head on. But it seems that some of the stories in here prove that a little bit of effort makes life a whole lot easier.

I was like that too, until last month. I am now attacking my finances head-on!

buckeejit · 9 Nov 2010 at 16:19

I know, lunch at work is the 'killer' for me as I spent about 8 quid a day on average. I really need to start making lunches to bring into work but this never happens

Narj · 9 Nov 2010 at 16:19

buckeejit said:
I know, lunch at work is the 'killer' for me as I spent about 8 quid a day on average. I really need to start making lunches to bring into work but this never happens

The extra 20 mins in bed is just too much to sacrifice IMO

Dunks · 9 Nov 2010 at 16:22

PianoBasher said:
The extra 20 mins in bed is just too much to sacrifice IMO

Then make it the night before, durr.

Narj · 9 Nov 2010 at 16:31

Dunks said:
Then make it the night before, durr.

Sandwiches go all soggy as the bread absorbs moisture from the filling. Bread also hardens around the crusts, not nice.

One workmate brings in a "lego lunch" - ie all the bits and bobs packed separately to put together at lunchtime but that's far too much hassle.

agnes · 9 Nov 2010 at 16:37

PianoBasher said:
Sandwiches go all soggy as the bread absorbs moisture from the filling. Bread also hardens around the crusts, not nice.

One workmate brings in a "lego lunch" - ie all the bits and bobs packed separately to put together at lunchtime but that's far too much hassle.

Takes the same, if not less time for him to make by the time you have gone and got your lunch.

ags

markk · 9 Nov 2010 at 17:05

What bank have simple cash card accounts that you can apply for online? I'm with Barclay's and you have to go in branch to get one and I'm too busy (lazy) to do that.

I can find a Halifax easycash but are there any others?

JHeaton · 9 Nov 2010 at 17:12

Ice On Fire said:
Hmmm - can't find a decent place to upload too..

Send me an email to: Robert(dot)clegg(at)gmail(dot)com and I will email you a copy.

Mailed you about it. Thanks

vidda · 9 Nov 2010 at 17:17

Ice On Fire said:
Hmmm - can't find a decent place to upload too..

Send me an email to: Robert(dot)clegg(at)gmail(dot)com and I will email you a copy.

Send it to my trust e-mail and I will host it no problems

JHeaton · 9 Nov 2010 at 17:38

Here is Ice On Fire's spreadsheet.

http://downloads.iifa-tree.net/budget_spreadsheet.zip

Priapus · 9 Nov 2010 at 17:41

Sw

JHeaton said:
Here is Ice On Fire's spreadsheet.

http://downloads.iifa-tree.net/budget_spreadsheet.zip

Thanks bud. What do you think of it?

Dj_Jestar · 9 Nov 2010 at 17:53

I just use the free budget planners offered at http://moneysavingexpert.com - namely http://www.budgetbrain.com/

Much easier than a spreadsheet.

JHeaton · 9 Nov 2010 at 18:02

Ice On Fire said:
Sw

Thanks bud. What do you think of it?

Looks pretty good to me.

Would again require tweaking for me to use, but definitely looks helpful.

agnes · 9 Nov 2010 at 18:19

All those with spreadsheets, email me (trust) your download links, names and details about the sheet's, I will add them in the original post.

Can't hurt and if anything, will be a fantastic thread for people to go to when looking to sort their finances

I'm giving this thread 5 stars simply because there is so much advice and help from the replies. Nothing like I was expecting! Specially from GD muhahaha.

ags

Nikumba · 9 Nov 2010 at 18:49

markk said:
What bank have simple cash card accounts that you can apply for online? I'm with Barclay's and you have to go in branch to get one and I'm too busy (lazy) to do that.

I can find a Halifax easycash but are there any others?

I have this one

http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/s...,CFSweb/Page/Bank-CurrentAccounts?WT.svl=copy

Get a card, doesn't do overdrafts or anything like that

Kimbie

buckeejit · 9 Nov 2010 at 19:39

agnes; thanks so much for posting your spreadsheet. I've been mucking about with it for an hour putting my outgoings etc. on it. I originally thought I had a disposable income of around £550 per month but with all of my outgoings recorded on the spreadsheet, it shows that my actual disposable income is £420 which was a shock because I had no idea it was that low. Thanks again Agnes.

Priapus · 9 Nov 2010 at 20:19

agnes said:
All those with spreadsheets, email me (trust) your download links, names and details about the sheet's, I will add them in the original post.

Can't hurt and if anything, will be a fantastic thread for people to go to when looking to sort their finances

I'm giving this thread 5 stars simply because there is so much advice and help from the replies. Nothing like I was expecting! Specially from GD muhahaha.

ags

The link to mine is in this thread. :cool: