Judicious January Jangling & Juggling *blows budgeteering bugle*

[claretandamberforever]

Sorry, couldn't resist going overboard on the J's

Happy new year y'all. Welcome to expert budgeteerers, newbies, lurkers and de-lurkers. We're a very friendly, non-judgmental bunch so please use this thread as you choose whether it's as a spending diary, to confess your money sins, ask for help or have a general whinge at the cost of living.....

Just had a thought - for some people (like me) keeping track of NSDs can lead to some dodgy spending habits - a bit like dieting. Several good days (no snack days?) wiped out by a binge weekend could be worse than overindulging a little bit everyday.

Are there other ways people keep track of how well they're doing at sticking to budget? We assign cash to several different jars each month and I can check during the month how well we're doing and we might, for example have to forgo a takeaway to top up the grocery jar, or if we've been careful with the electricity (on a topup meter) we can use the extra to pay for a treat.

Told husband he has to ring virgin as we signed up in Aug when moved in 18mths contract with first 6 half price n got given mthly amount on dd contract n signed it now had letter saying prices going up - errr no we agreed a price so he can call as in his name

been to free museum this morning then home for spicy sausage stew left overs from dinner last night n enough for freezer for another dinner n lunch for 2 adults - toddler doesn't like it to many veggies for him !!

Freelance I agree with you on the diet comparison, although I'm keeping track of NSDs in an effort to combat my habit of buying things wantonly on eBay (ooh, it's only £2, and it's so useful! etc), but I have also made a deliberate note to myself not to save up all spending for a set day as the money gone will still be the same.

My main way of keeping track is simply putting spends onto a spreadsheet each month. I keep note of our bank balances, then I have categories (eg groceries, transport, household), I also have the bills listed which I highlight once they've come out. The most important sections however are 'food out' (ie takeaway or food and drink outside) and 'miscellaneous' (ie clothes, homewares etc). These are the less controlled areas of our spending so these are the ones I pay attention to the most, after which is groceries. We do also 'transfer' money sometimes; last weekend we walked instead of taking the bus which saved us £5.60, so we put that £5.60 towards a takeaway treat.

Took a wander to bottle bank and popped into Tesco and Jack fultons in case of bargains. Bad move really as I didn't actually NEED anything. £2 on 12 pack of skips and 3 lunchbox malt loafs. £3.95 on fish fingers, sandwich bags and reduced Christmas pate.

Mum gone now so back to me and DS. We went to a softplay party this afternoon so that was good and no more spends today.

freelance I use an app on my phone called Left To Spend, it takes your monthly amount to spend and splits it up into a bit per day. Then keeps a running total, you put all your spends in. Example, I have £3.73 per day on discretionary spending this month, currently at -£18.98. Tomorrow morning I will be at -£15.73. Can see how the month is panning out.

woodburnerbabe delasi those both sounds like good ideas. I don't tend to record what I'm spending - I do minutely breakdown my anticipated spend in order to come up with a budget.

I think our situation is a bit unusual - we don't have a fixed income and don't have childcare for our DS; I work out how much we need to live off (the MSE spreadsheet is very good for helping to calculate how much to set aside each month for things like haircuts, dentist, holidays, etc) and then try to take on as much consultancy as we need for that to happen (added to DP's part-time income). It's a bit of a scary balancing act sometimes - especially if clients are late with paying or contracts are delayed but hopefully it'll be less stressful when DS is at school.

£9.64 yesterday afternoon in Asda for top ups, today have been an NSD but DH ran out of paint so £13.98 in B&Q. Will need petrol tmrw but planning to take the money out of the bank for this and the rest of the month's fuel (partly for frugal reasons and partly so I can send DH when it's wet)! Petrol and food budget until payday is £240 but I can only withdraw £200 per day at the cashpoint so am going to see if we can manage on that. Will be an ask to the 24th but would like to see how close I can get..........

£5 on a bra.

Is it worth trying to sell DVDs that retail for 0.01p on amazon? And if so, where?

Last time we sold DVDs dh took them to work and sold them for a. £1 each.

thanks fluffy, that's what we're thinking of doing.

Spendy day today, but planned snd budgeted for. £12.50 travel, £21.20 lunch, 96p on a bottle of water, £1.80 on some Christmas cards that were originally £6 (Paperchase) and some spare change for some charity collectors. So approximately £37 altogether.

NSD

Near NSD. Got some Christmas card on bogof so spent £4.98 and got 40 cards. I imagine I could have got them cheaper but its fine.

Spent the rest of the day cooking sausage casserole for some time in the week and a roast chicken dinner. Baked some cookies yesterday. This week will be a good week for a few NSDs.

Got dh to go to the store on his way back yesterday to get a whole load of milk (£5) and then said that means we have £25 for everything else food wise (groceries). I hope to achieve that - it'll be great as a challenge.

Happy Monday for tomorrow everyone and to those going back to work, enjoy!

My goodness, I need to go back to work tomorrow; I'm becoming addicted to sales shopping!! Today I have bought half price pinny and cupcake set, £6.50, to put away for niece's birthday and a fur hood gilet for her Christmas present, £7. Then popped in to early learning and found a huge JCB dumper truck for £10, reduced from £25, which will be put away for dd's birthday. £23.50 spent.

On the plus side - cancelled sky sports ashes and love film, £23pm.

Sun holiday code today is RACE.

Great hotdog picnic idea helena! We need to make better use of our NT membership and this will entice us to get out in the cold weather!

NSD today

Used the freezer to cook beef in ale (slowcooker) with cauli cheese, carrot&swede&parsnip mash, and broccoli.
Have made a diet rice pudding in the slowcooker for the first time and it's bloody lush! So that will stay in fridge for a few days and help to reduce impulse snacking.

My aim for last year was to finish 2013 debt free, and I did it. First time I have ever achieved a New Years Resolution, so inspired by that, I am going to lose 3 stone this year. That should also help with cost saving as I'll be eating less

Very pleased for you Coco and of course for your DH :)

I am stealing the hotdog picnic idea-how fun is that!!

NSD here, but yesterday spent a mammoth 117€ for the food shop (got 10€ back on my shop card to spend when I want, but I still winced at the bill...I hope to go 10 days before shopping again.

I have made my lunch for going back to work tomorrow-saving about 52€ per month if I can keep it up.

Sales start on Weds here-the DC need shoes (as do I), I am hoping to get some bargains.

leilandri could you post the recipe for the rice pudding please? I was thinking this afternoon that I want to have a go at it in the slow cooker.

Thanks for the code turnoff I am seriously considering a wee holiday just me and DS. I have things planned with family but I think it would be good for just me and him to do something.

I notice that the sun are offering a £10 Morrison voucher if you sign up for the app for £1. I did this a few weeks ago and am still waiting for my Tesco voucher. Anyone know if you can do it twice on the

Sorry posted too soon!

Anyone know if you can do it twice on the same number? fluffy?

You can try, my vouchers took 4 weeks to come, I'd given up and was cursing myself for signing up to it.

Anyone else you know got a smartphone with the app?

I'd like the slow cooked rice pudding recipe too, last time I did it it boiled over.

Lonely goatherd - try CEX shops - they buy DVDs, CDs and games.

NSD today - just went for a walk, took down the decs, did a bit of a clean, sorted DCs school clothes and cooked. Bit dull but free.

Coco - I missed your news earlier in the thread and just caught up with it. Great news!

I'll give it a try tomorrow night fluffy I signed up on 10th Dec so, what with bank holidays, I reckon my voucher is still at least a week away. I've just downloaded ukhotdeals but don't have a clue what's going on!

I didn't get hotukdeals at first. Just couldn't fathom it.

It moves quickly, you can get voucher codes on there too or sell things but I've not tried that.

Fluffy, it's not a diet recipe, but I do rice pud in the slow cooker:

1 small cup of rice, 1 pint of milk, 1 tbsp. sugar, pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg and a tsp of vanilla essence if wanted, then put it on for 2 hours.

Comes out creamy with no skin like tinned rice pud. It's lovely. You could probably do it with skimmed milk and splenda or similar if you wanted to have a low cal version.

Massive spend day tomorrow - music lessons, season ticket and DS's haircut - will be £600. Budgeted for, but still [shock.] Dinner tomorrow is MN's legendary everlasting chicken - left overs from roast turned into a noodle soup.