Why don't i have any money, despite having 2 jobs. Were is it going, i even tried shopping aldi and it doesnt work. How can i save it?


arrhhh!!!

cos you spend it all.

Maybe you should keep a diary of what you spend over a month or even longer.

Then you can see where it is really going and how many things you can cut out or do cheaper.

Could you stick to packed lunches and home-made food - cutting out the coffee stops, bottled water, packaged snadiwches etc?

And what about leisure? Could you use the library rather than buying books or newspapers etc? Could you ditch satellite TV? Replace a gym subscription with running? Go to the park or a free museum rather than the cinema?

And what about housing - renting a room in a house rather than a whole flat or whatever?

You CAN live really cheaply if you have to.

I found myself going to the cashpoint every other day to just draw 20 or 30 out of it and you just can't keep track of your money like that.

Now I get my personal money out on a weekly basis so I can budget myself easier - granted it doesn't take into account for things like birthdays etc but you need to set yourself a reasonable budget and not go over it, it's difficult but achievable in the long run.

about 4 months ago i was the same
I wrote a list everyday of what i spent, one thing that shocked me was i that i was spending about £10 a day on 'snacks'/papers/etc - now only take £2 to work each day and have nealy £120 in savings account (direct debit of £50 a month that i'd've spent in work)

I have kept a daily account of what has been spent and where in the past. It is always a shock to see how much the little amounts build up and how you really do not have to anything to show for your hard earned cash.

Try it and let us know how you get on.

Good luck.

I'm the same. I haven't taken any cash out of my bank account since payday nearly 3 weeks ago, and there's none left.

Sodding direct debits all over the flipping place.

Yes, the small stuff can catch you out. I've gradually cut it out (not intentonally just the way it's gradually gone). I sometimes realise I've gone a week a penny coming out of my purse from my purse - I read library books on the train, take packed lunches to work, hang out with b/f or neighbours at night etc etc.

Another trick is to combinine your social life with your wider interests. My gym fee doesn't just buy me access to facilities, it gives me three evenings of socialising a week - far cheaper than the cinema or whatever. My library reading group allows me to socialise and pursue an interest at zero cost. And when I spend a day with a child, all it costs is a few brinks or sweets ans libraries or parks etc are free.

having just left uni i have no money either. i found however, if you budget for everything each month carefully allowing a little for unexpected events, things should be ok. just try not to have too much going out that cant be covered. im struggling at the moment. no job even though i have an excellent degree i cant get work as anything. im either over qualified or under. id do anything to get some cash in.

quote:

Originally posted by black rose:
i found however, if you budget for everything each month carefully allowing a little for unexpected events, things should be ok. just try not to have too much going out that cant be covered.

Living within your means, of course

quote:

Originally posted by queenstomper:
I'm the same. I haven't taken any cash out of my bank account since payday nearly 3 weeks ago, and there's none left.

Sodding direct debits all over the flipping place.

I believe the secret is get out of debt first,and reduce direct debits to an absolute minimum.

If you can't trust yourself to pay off Credit cards every month, get rid of them.

Don't waste money on consumer crap, and buy the essentials with cash so its easier to keep track of outgoings.

Same with the luxuries, and we all need a few, only buy it when you have the cash.

I know its sounds blindingly obvious but the only way to have a stress free life is to - NOT SPEND MORE THAN YOU EARN !!

Thanks for that blinding advice FaTB. Funny how you presume I have credit cards.

I have never owned a credit card and never will.

Although will admit to using overdraft which is why when I posted that the money had gone without withdrawing any cash.

My direct debits, bar a few which are savings going to various places (or standing orders, I've lumped them together), are all essential bills.

I do live within my means, thanks very much, was just saying there's never anythig left.

queenie, your signature is great, and so frequently true on the channel 4 forums!

Thanks, I stumbled across it and it seemed so appropriate!

We are the same - doesn't matter how much we earn it all goes, I work as an accounts manager and husband is a builder so we have enough coming in over the month - however as we work hard we like to play hard and have a nice home, the children always look lovely - all in all money well spent I would say!!!!

I just lie in bed all day - it saves on clothes and if you don't move it saves energy so you don't need to eat. And if you unplug everything you won't use any electricity. And if you still are spending too much, just shoot yourself (if you can afford to)

good idea.

Hide money when you're drunk. And then when you find it you'll feel great

*looks for magnifying glass*

hey ho guys

i have just sold my house and kept £9K of the equity will i save it or waste it?mmmmmmm i have found some amazing crap in the argos book to waste it on

OMG Theres so much new crap in the BIG Argos book.

I've been eyeing up the beady necklaces...

I saw some nice trainers in allsports can you lend me £79.00

I think the same some months. I have a good job (compared with the one I was doing for 15 years up to last year) and some months the money just seems to go nowhere. The one thing I've always refused to do is get a second job; I like a bit of a life outside work, but these "lifestyle" programmes about saving money and generating more money really do my head in when they get on about ditching "luxuries". I pretty much do everything they say, I don't fritter money away on food I don't need and stuff like that, I don't have stuff to flog at car boots or whatever, and I'm not out on the town every night of the week - more like once a month if I'm lucky, so where the hell am I going wrong?

quote:

Originally posted by MrsDiddy:
OMG Theres so much new crap in the BIG Argos book.

I've been eyeing up the beady necklaces...

yes im eyeing up the fajita grill and tortilla warmer