how do you budget?

[juice]

i am going to start budgeting and putting money aside every week for bills etc.
we pay the phone every month direst debit so it aint alot at once every 3 months. i am also wanting to do this with electric. i also want to take money out each week for vehicles, ie, tax, mot's and services etc.
i am thinking about doing all the shopping too so hubby doesnt put in the odd bottle of wine and vodka.
i dont know what else to do, but with number 2 coming next year i have to pull in the purse strings.
can you's tell me how you do it, thanks

I use Microsoft money, right faff to set up to start with but then its brilliant, you can tell how much you have to spend, whats due in, what you have spent where
excellent

I use excel to plan.

My 1st column is how much I have that week. Then I have my expenditure columns - My fixed expenditure - food, fuel, gas, CT, electric, tv licence, rent account(rent is monthly so I budget a weekly amount to transfer to my other account which holds the rent until its due), etc etc, then my variables (or weekly savings towards a one off expenditure) - sky, medicine, school shoes etc - then total expenditure is added up and I carry forward any surplus to the following week (or plan ahead for an anticipated deficit!!). I do about 10 - 12 weeks in advance, that way I can plan ahead and also see weeks in which I am likely to fall short and I can skim down a few pounds here and there (usually from food or fuel!!) so that when that week comes, it's covered.

When you've planned your budget - stick to it!!! I didn't at first and I bet lots of people make all the plans then don't carry them through!

It took about a year from the MTPW LifeCollapse to learn how to live on a shoestring, but if I can do it, anyone can!!!!!!!!

cant do links but the website is www.moneysavingexpert.com/

then click on budget planner - you can do it online or download it

its brilliant

Agree about the moneysavingexpert budget planner, best one I've used.

work out how much you need for bills etc including car bills and leave that amount in the bank. take out the amount of cash you can spend that week. when it is gone, do not take any more out until next week. leave an extra £10 or £20 in bank if poss for emergencies.

i find only using cash makes me a lot more aware of what i am spending. plastic isnt real money and its far too easy to overspend. i did this when i was living on income support and student loan and managed to get by - and i somehow forgot i had an extra £2000 loan payment so ended up with that amount left in bank at end of the year! i was a single parent at the time too, so not as though i was just budgeting for myself

I prefer to do it the old fashioned way!!! I use a diary and write down every thing that goes in and out on each seperate day.
Also a hint for when shopping, write a list that way you won't be tempted by things you don't need.

If you try and only buy what you need,you will save a fortune.Likewise i refuse to buy dp beer when i am at the supermarket so i have more money in my wallet!