Budgeting...
Okay so I've been trying my best since the start of the year to get my finances on track...turns out it's a lot harder than I expected!
The first two months of the year are two of the most stressful in work due to the massive volume of new enquiries, it's common to come into 150 emails overnight. Our boiler broke. Also I haven't been well at all, I got a cold and then it went on to my chest in the form of 'Costacondritus' - the swelling of the cartilage between the sternum and ribcage. Essentially it felt like I was having mini heart attacks or someone was punching my chest - not very nice. Just these two things alone made me feel very miserable and in the end I spent a lot more than expected on treats and eating out.
We did have a wonderful trip to Edinburgh which wasn't costly at all due to the free two nights dinner, bed and breakfast employee offer I had. All I paid for last month for this was car parking, entrance to the castle and food! Great to get away and such a wonderful hotel as well.
February has been pretty much the same although it has gone twice as a fast. Worked until the 13th and then had eight days out of the office, four of these were in London. Two days with my Mum and two days exhibiting at The Wedding Show. A lot of money was spent here, food and transport bing the main ones. I did also treat myself to a dress...a Ted Baker dress. Probably the most expensive dress I have bought to date but it is so worth it. Just feels so good and fits like a dream! I did have guilty feelings and nearly took it back but Ross after seeing it on said keep it because it fits so well. It's for my friends wedding in October but also for the wedding awards on Friday!
In terms of budgeting I have been keeping track on paper but it does get crazy confusing especially when cash transactions happen, it's all about the plastic these days! I was just reading the blog I follow 1940's Experiment and the blogger has just tried Google Spreadsheets. I just gave it a try and really like it. Although it does put in black and white how much I need to do.
See a screen shot below of the template 'Monthly budget'.
It's so simple to use, you fill out your planned expenses and your income. The next sheet them you place all your transactions for that month. They them total everything up for you making it very easy and manageable to read. I definitely advise giving it a try if you're finding yourself in a pickle with numbers.
Only downfall however is you need to create a new one for everything month, as copying doesn't work due tot he formulas. I just copy and paste all the writing into the new sheet so it doesn't take too long.
After London and buying the dress I'm now going to be a lot more thrifty. Next month we don't have anything planned so we'll keep it a low key month. We have Rome in six weeks so we need to put things as side for this. I have already been doing so and we only have to find £300 each for the week which will be okay for then. Lucky we have had two council tax free months - these have really helped towards the holiday budget!
The first two months of the year are two of the most stressful in work due to the massive volume of new enquiries, it's common to come into 150 emails overnight. Our boiler broke. Also I haven't been well at all, I got a cold and then it went on to my chest in the form of 'Costacondritus' - the swelling of the cartilage between the sternum and ribcage. Essentially it felt like I was having mini heart attacks or someone was punching my chest - not very nice. Just these two things alone made me feel very miserable and in the end I spent a lot more than expected on treats and eating out.
We did have a wonderful trip to Edinburgh which wasn't costly at all due to the free two nights dinner, bed and breakfast employee offer I had. All I paid for last month for this was car parking, entrance to the castle and food! Great to get away and such a wonderful hotel as well.
February has been pretty much the same although it has gone twice as a fast. Worked until the 13th and then had eight days out of the office, four of these were in London. Two days with my Mum and two days exhibiting at The Wedding Show. A lot of money was spent here, food and transport bing the main ones. I did also treat myself to a dress...a Ted Baker dress. Probably the most expensive dress I have bought to date but it is so worth it. Just feels so good and fits like a dream! I did have guilty feelings and nearly took it back but Ross after seeing it on said keep it because it fits so well. It's for my friends wedding in October but also for the wedding awards on Friday!In terms of budgeting I have been keeping track on paper but it does get crazy confusing especially when cash transactions happen, it's all about the plastic these days! I was just reading the blog I follow 1940's Experiment and the blogger has just tried Google Spreadsheets. I just gave it a try and really like it. Although it does put in black and white how much I need to do.
See a screen shot below of the template 'Monthly budget'.
It's so simple to use, you fill out your planned expenses and your income. The next sheet them you place all your transactions for that month. They them total everything up for you making it very easy and manageable to read. I definitely advise giving it a try if you're finding yourself in a pickle with numbers.
Only downfall however is you need to create a new one for everything month, as copying doesn't work due tot he formulas. I just copy and paste all the writing into the new sheet so it doesn't take too long.After London and buying the dress I'm now going to be a lot more thrifty. Next month we don't have anything planned so we'll keep it a low key month. We have Rome in six weeks so we need to put things as side for this. I have already been doing so and we only have to find £300 each for the week which will be okay for then. Lucky we have had two council tax free months - these have really helped towards the holiday budget!
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