Arghh, how are you at budgeting? - General Discussion

dmuk · 10-04-2007, 03:17

I'm pretty lucky in some sense, that because I'm single budgeting for one should be pretty easy. I fear for couples with children, I really do.

In theory, it should be easy, work out how much you spend each week and stick to it. Obviously it depends on your circumstances, as a recent student and now job seeker, my cutting down on luxuries is buying the cheaper tomato sauce, not buying expensive clothes, and turning off lights when leaving a room.

The clothes and the lights I can handle, but I fall to pieces when it comes to food. I would love to be able to cook, but i also love the convenience of just throwing something in the oven for 25-30 mins on a high setting (reduce for fan-assisted ovens) and getting to eat something that resembles something edible. It certainly beats a bowl of porridge with water, which is what I've got down on my plan (you have no idea how much money that saves if your early meals just include porridge oats and water). I guess you could call it comfort eating.

So how are you at sticking to a budget?

horseychick28 · 10-04-2007, 06:35

My husband and I use a jar, so we put, say £200 in it and take money out when we need it (and no more!), it's really helped as we need cash for moving house so it's good not to be wasting any of it!

Blue Robin · 10-04-2007, 06:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by horseychick28

My husband and I use a jar, so we put, say £200 in it and take money out when we need it (and no more!), it's really helped as we need cash for moving house so it's good not to be wasting any of it!

That's very disciplined of you. When I need some money I look down the back of the sofa.

Tibsy · 10-04-2007, 09:22

I am.

I used to really waste my money, buying useless things and such.

However, then I discovered NS&I, and now when I get a decent amount of cash, I stick it on the Premium Bonds, that way my money is safe, not gonna waste it, and I can make money too. (I've only one £50 so far though

)

natsuki*head · 10-04-2007, 09:24

When i do my monthly budget at the start of the month i always veer on the side of caution on stuff and overestimate, that way i usually end up with a nice surplus at the end of the month.

10-04-2007, 09:27

I am not too bad, I can cover the bills.

UKMikey · 10-04-2007, 09:27

What's a budget?

Mags31 · 10-04-2007, 09:30

One the bills are all covered and the shopping is in then i try and budget but as long as the bills are paid then im happy

jen0607 · 10-04-2007, 09:44

Terrible. I really messed things up this month, and don't have enough money to pay the rent. I've had to tell a huge porkie to the landlord, and I'm paying later in the month.

I've tried all sorts, budgeting etc.....I'm just no good at it.

Mind you, if I actually had enough money to cover everything, it would be a bonus! I can't wait to get a job......its going to be bliss!

Rian1988 · 10-04-2007, 09:55

I love budgeting, I guess it comes with accountancy!

80's chick · 10-04-2007, 09:56

Once all the bills are paid and the monthly shopping is bought, whatevers left over is split into 4 equal amounts to last me the month, it usually ends up btween £30-£50 a week, once this is gone its gone and I always (try) to not break into the next weeks money, this is to buy any 'top up' shopping, i.e. fruit, bread milk, etc and money for takaways or taking the kids out for the day.

its a good week I have £50.00 left and I start my week on a friday, we havent been out this week, and i'm at work for the rest of the week, so on friday I will have 2 weeks money IYKWIM

larrysrabbit · 10-04-2007, 09:59

I'm terrible. Evey weekend my OH has to sub me. THat said I only work two days a week at the moment.

RAINBOWGIRL22 · 10-04-2007, 10:04

I am pretty "strict" when it comes to budgetting and always manage to put a bit away each month. I also never go into my overdraft and rarely use my credit card.

It helps that I get paid monthly whereas my BF is paid weekly so towards the end of the month he'll "sub me" if I ever need it and I'll treat him to a nice meal after I've been paid.

Isis Black · 10-04-2007, 11:12

i write out for every month what i need thern stick to it!!! it is hard but when you are on a tight budget you have to!!

lemoncurd · 10-04-2007, 12:33

Well, I never spend more than I take home, so I can't be that bad at it!

sleepydove · 10-04-2007, 12:39

I'm awful. I am capable of budgeting but my circumstances mean I spend more than I earn so it's difficult.

I am able to cook and I don't think it's any cheaper. In fact, since I learnt to cook (I used to live off oven and microwave meals before I decided to make changes), I've started spending way more on food than I ever did before. Cooking real meals is much healthier and more enjoyable but it's also more expensive.

Porcupine · 10-04-2007, 12:52

Im not too bad. When i get paid i deduct immediately off my salary all the bills for that month, including a large shopping order. Whats left I divide by the amount of weeks in the month.

Often every Monday i take out about £100, and thats what i use for odds and sods money throughout the week.

Sometimes something will come and bite me in the bum, but i have a small amount of savings which i could use if, say, the washing machine blew up.

helenj1986 · 10-04-2007, 13:07

Absolutely Horrendous .Im Student and there for have my loan ,which basically pays off my overdraft everytime it comes in and i live off that again .Ive tried to stick a weekly budget before but something always comes up in the week and i go over which means by the end of term as i am now i have 0.00 available to me

PoohBear7 · 10-04-2007, 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by helenj1986

Absolutely Horrendous .Im Student and there for have my loan ,which basically pays off my overdraft everytime it comes in and i live off that again .Ive tried to stick a weekly budget before but something always comes up in the week and i go over which means by the end of term as i am now i have 0.00 available to me

Me too

I have around £200

to last until October so that means i need to get a job

lemoncurd · 10-04-2007, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoohBear7

Me too

I have around £200

to last until October so that means i need to get a job

Bloody hell! I hope your council tax is cheap!

KnifeEdge · 10-04-2007, 19:30

Budget? What language is that?

I am totally useless, absolutely useless at budgeting.
Its one major thing in my life which I really have to get to grips with, my money situation does worry me, and I know I tend to stick my head in the sand and ignore it

<sigh>

helenj1986 · 10-04-2007, 19:30

Monday is Loan day though!

daisyboo · 10-04-2007, 19:39

i am absolutely horrendous. i am forever getting the phone cut off, never got any food, no gas, i owe my dad about 4k due to my wages being stopped

i am hoping it will be much better when i get back to work tho and going back to 18k a year after getting £70 a week might make me budget better

PoohBear7 · 11-04-2007, 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by helenj1986

Monday is Loan day though!

Yup and thats going to my car insurance and paying off my overdraft

Quickfade · 11-04-2007, 19:18

Pretty good. If anything I overestimate how much I'm going to spend every month, just incase something pops up that I haven't budgeted for.

I found this programme: http://pearbudget.com/ really handy until I had the hang of working out a budget for myself every month.

10-04-2007, 03:17	#1
dmuk Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 6,713 Blog Entries: 4	Arghh, how are you at budgeting? I'm pretty lucky in some sense, that because I'm single budgeting for one should be pretty easy. I fear for couples with children, I really do. In theory, it should be easy, work out how much you spend each week and stick to it. Obviously it depends on your circumstances, as a recent student and now job seeker, my cutting down on luxuries is buying the cheaper tomato sauce, not buying expensive clothes, and turning off lights when leaving a room. The clothes and the lights I can handle, but I fall to pieces when it comes to food. I would love to be able to cook, but i also love the convenience of just throwing something in the oven for 25-30 mins on a high setting (reduce for fan-assisted ovens) and getting to eat something that resembles something edible. It certainly beats a bowl of porridge with water, which is what I've got down on my plan (you have no idea how much money that saves if your early meals just include porridge oats and water). I guess you could call it comfort eating. So how are you at sticking to a budget?

10-04-2007, 13:07	#18
helenj1986 Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Lost Services: Virgin Posts: 1,737	Absolutely Horrendous .Im Student and there for have my loan ,which basically pays off my overdraft everytime it comes in and i live off that again .Ive tried to stick a weekly budget before but something always comes up in the week and i go over which means by the end of term as i am now i have 0.00 available to me Last edited by helenj1986 : 10-04-2007 at 13:08.

10-04-2007, 06:35	#2
horseychick28 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,350	My husband and I use a jar, so we put, say £200 in it and take money out when we need it (and no more!), it's really helped as we need cash for moving house so it's good not to be wasting any of it!

10-04-2007, 09:22	#4
Tibsy Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,980	I am. I used to really waste my money, buying useless things and such. However, then I discovered NS&I, and now when I get a decent amount of cash, I stick it on the Premium Bonds, that way my money is safe, not gonna waste it, and I can make money too. (I've only one £50 so far though )

10-04-2007, 09:24	#5
natsuki*head Banned User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bermingum Services: Violent Domination Posts: 3,168	When i do my monthly budget at the start of the month i always veer on the side of caution on stuff and overestimate, that way i usually end up with a nice surplus at the end of the month.

10-04-2007, 09:27	#6
Eternal Life Posts: n/a	I am not too bad, I can cover the bills.

10-04-2007, 09:27	#7
UKMikey Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Drayton, Middlesex Services: 22 miles (Little Chef) Posts: 9,417	What's a budget?

10-04-2007, 09:30	#8
Mags31 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Scotland Services: sky and tiscali Posts: 28,484	One the bills are all covered and the shopping is in then i try and budget but as long as the bills are paid then im happy

10-04-2007, 09:44	#9
jen0607 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,196	Terrible. I really messed things up this month, and don't have enough money to pay the rent. I've had to tell a huge porkie to the landlord, and I'm paying later in the month. I've tried all sorts, budgeting etc.....I'm just no good at it. Mind you, if I actually had enough money to cover everything, it would be a bonus! I can't wait to get a job......its going to be bliss!

10-04-2007, 09:55	#10
Rian1988 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,227	I love budgeting, I guess it comes with accountancy!

10-04-2007, 09:56	#11
80's chick Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,662	Once all the bills are paid and the monthly shopping is bought, whatevers left over is split into 4 equal amounts to last me the month, it usually ends up btween £30-£50 a week, once this is gone its gone and I always (try) to not break into the next weeks money, this is to buy any 'top up' shopping, i.e. fruit, bread milk, etc and money for takaways or taking the kids out for the day. its a good week I have £50.00 left and I start my week on a friday, we havent been out this week, and i'm at work for the rest of the week, so on friday I will have 2 weeks money IYKWIM

10-04-2007, 09:59	#12
larrysrabbit Banned User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hiding!!!!! Posts: 4,657	I'm terrible. Evey weekend my OH has to sub me. THat said I only work two days a week at the moment.

10-04-2007, 10:04	#13
RAINBOWGIRL22 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 11,990	I am pretty "strict" when it comes to budgetting and always manage to put a bit away each month. I also never go into my overdraft and rarely use my credit card. It helps that I get paid monthly whereas my BF is paid weekly so towards the end of the month he'll "sub me" if I ever need it and I'll treat him to a nice meal after I've been paid.

10-04-2007, 11:12	#14
Isis Black Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: leicestershire Services: TV, Broadband and Phone all with Virgin Media Posts: 1,329	i write out for every month what i need thern stick to it!!! it is hard but when you are on a tight budget you have to!!

10-04-2007, 12:33	#15
lemoncurd Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Gender: Male Location: Bristol Services: Freeview (Fusion FVRT200 DVR); BeUnlimited 8Mb Posts: 23,324 Blog Entries: 1	Well, I never spend more than I take home, so I can't be that bad at it!

10-04-2007, 12:39	#16
sleepydove Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Scotland Services: Broadband Posts: 3,559	I'm awful. I am capable of budgeting but my circumstances mean I spend more than I earn so it's difficult. I am able to cook and I don't think it's any cheaper. In fact, since I learnt to cook (I used to live off oven and microwave meals before I decided to make changes), I've started spending way more on food than I ever did before. Cooking real meals is much healthier and more enjoyable but it's also more expensive.

10-04-2007, 12:52	#17
Porcupine Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Gender: Female Location: In the Pub Posts: 13,368 Blog Entries: 1	Im not too bad. When i get paid i deduct immediately off my salary all the bills for that month, including a large shopping order. Whats left I divide by the amount of weeks in the month. Often every Monday i take out about £100, and thats what i use for odds and sods money throughout the week. Sometimes something will come and bite me in the bum, but i have a small amount of savings which i could use if, say, the washing machine blew up.

10-04-2007, 19:30	#21
KnifeEdge Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,966	Budget? What language is that? I am totally useless, absolutely useless at budgeting. Its one major thing in my life which I really have to get to grips with, my money situation does worry me, and I know I tend to stick my head in the sand and ignore it <sigh>

10-04-2007, 19:39	#23
daisyboo Banned User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: the sanitarium ♥ Services: McDreamy's future wife ♥ Posts: 9,725	i am absolutely horrendous. i am forever getting the phone cut off, never got any food, no gas, i owe my dad about 4k due to my wages being stopped i am hoping it will be much better when i get back to work tho and going back to 18k a year after getting £70 a week might make me budget better

11-04-2007, 19:18	#25
Quickfade Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hampshire Services: Virgin Media Posts: 4,542	Pretty good. If anything I overestimate how much I'm going to spend every month, just incase something pops up that I haven't budgeted for. I found this programme: http://pearbudget.com/ really handy until I had the hang of working out a budget for myself every month.