Budgetting!

[Pennyless]

Probably a daft question but any suggestions on the best way to break down the budget and keep it all seperated ie do people just use seperate envelopes to keep the money in for car tax/car servicing/sports & hobbies/ papers etc or do you just get half a dozen piggy banks and mark them up with each item....thanks?

[Shining]

Hi Pennyless, I just have a spreadsheet with lots of different pages marked accordingly and I keep track of everything through these. I must admit to being a bit obsessive and email my self the spreadsheets every week in case the computer goes down as I would be totally lost as to where I am without them so mine is possibly not the best way but works for me

[Skippy]

I'm so skint at the moment I'm living off my allowances, but one thing I'm definitely going to start doing again is buying Post Office stamps for my car tax.

[Pennyless]

Thanks Lesley/Skippy.....car tax/TV licence stamps is definately the way ahead for a start!

[kallis3]

We pay our TV licence quarterly, but you can pay it monthly, so if you did that, you wouldn't have to save the money as it would be going out of your bank account.

We just save whatever money we have left at the end of the month and put into our little wall safe (bought pre IVA!).

My monthly budgeting is done through the online banking. I know exactly where I stand with that.

Have never got my head round spreadsheets, but then could never get to grips with maths anyway!

[Skippy]

We pay our TV licence monthly so at least we know that's accounted for. We also pay for gas and electricity by DD as I don't like the idea of a quarterly bill.

I have a spreadsheet with my income and planned outgoings for the month on it so I know the end balance (currently 1p!) is mine.

I also opened a second Cashminder account and have my direct debits coming out of that. When I'm paid I transfer the money across and I know I haven't got any nasty surprises coming out of my account.

[Wizzard]

I use a FREE software program called Acemoney Lite. It allows you to set up a budget which you can keep your eye on, letting you know how your finances stand up to six months in advance. Of course it doesn't allow for mishaps but at least you can see if the cash is there to use.

[Skippy]

Good to see you back Ray! I hope you and Mrs Wizz are ok.

BTW - I thought you were Wizzzard, not Wizzard, or am I getting confused?!?!

[MRBLUESKY]

pre iva i managed to get a 5 year fixed rate dual fuel with edf.i think you can get similar contracts now,but it may be harder to change companies once in a iva not sure.

[Skippy]

We're on a fixed rate with British Gas, but be warned that a lot of companies have now charge a fee if you want to change suppliers.

[MRBLUESKY]

how much skippy

[Skippy]

I think ours would work out at £100.

[MRBLUESKY]

is that a fee or a bond.

[Skippy]

I've no idea, all I know is that if we want to change suppliers during the fixed period we would have to pay.

[MRBLUESKY]

ok understand now mine didn,t have that clause but some companies these days do.thanks skippy.