What next, after the spread sheet?

[NormaSmuff]

Someone posted some really useful advice about spread sheet use - but I cant remember what it was.
Anyone know.
Basically you know what you spend because you have written it all down but you need to now reduce it

Do you mean putting spending in to categories? Once in categories you can take a deep look at what you are spending in each category and if you really need to spend that amount.

Some costs will be fairly fixed such as house mortgage/rent. Others will be flexible such as Entertainment, Eating Out. The purpose is to get you to think more about what you spend and why... somethings you have to have, other things you want to have.

Yes, you usually find you were spending a lot more then you thought on some things, for example, if you have a car, list fuel costs, tax, insurance, mot,/any loan repayments, and cost of fixing/ maintenance for the last year, then divide it by 12 to find what it costs per month on average. You'll prob be surprised how much it comes to!