Comments on: Tracking Spending http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/ Simple Living... Frugality... Gardening... Cooking From Scratch... Knifty Knitter Projects.. And More. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:06:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Babyamore (Trish) http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-3137 Babyamore (Trish) Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:29:19 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-3137 i am starting to track our spending for the first time ever - I like what you said about cost per hr you have to work - very clever have seen it before. I am really enjoying browsing your blog. i am starting to track our spending for the first time ever - I like what you said about cost per hr you have to work - very clever have seen it before.

I am really enjoying browsing your blog.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-2122 Lisa Sun, 28 Oct 2007 12:06:00 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-2122 L, I'm interested in your frugal aussies site....can't find it though. Can you help with directions. Is it Aussies Living Simply? Lisa L, I’m interested in your frugal aussies site….can’t find it though. Can you help with directions. Is it Aussies Living Simply? Lisa

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-1553 Anonymous Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:12:00 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-1553 Hey thats what librarians are there for - to help you! Keep them in their job by asking for help! <br/>Thanks for your help! LS Hey thats what librarians are there for - to help you! Keep them in their job by asking for help!
Thanks for your help! LS

]]> By: lightening http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-1552 lightening Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:11:00 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-1552 I keep my totals going for the entire 12 month period. So if I get to the start of the next pay period and I still have $15.65 in my fruit and veg category then I would add $180 onto that and my new total would become $195.65 (which is a great incentive to come under budget - I know that I can come back and spend that money at a later time if I *need* to). <br/><br/>If I have finished the month in a negative figure than I actually have to subtract that amount from the next months figure. I don't juggle budget amounts through the year too much but accept negative figures if necessary - that way I know I need to adjust the budget the following year. I can get away with doing that now as we've built up a bit of a surplus/emergency fund which helps cover shortfall if necessary. Not that I've ever finished the year with an overall shortfall yet.<br/><br/>At the beginning of a new "budget" year (used to be Jan 1st but this year I've changed it to Feb 1st) I start with a fresh slate and a fresh book. Then I try to make the first month a "no spend challenge" month so that I can get a bit of a surplus happening in most categories.<br/><br/>As for the book Affluenza - no I haven't read it. I have read a couple of articles online by Clive Hamilton but haven't read his book. Sounds like I should add it to my "to read" list. Always hard here - I can get interlibrary loans but feel funny asking for them too often. :-) I keep my totals going for the entire 12 month period. So if I get to the start of the next pay period and I still have $15.65 in my fruit and veg category then I would add $180 onto that and my new total would become $195.65 (which is a great incentive to come under budget - I know that I can come back and spend that money at a later time if I *need* to).

If I have finished the month in a negative figure than I actually have to subtract that amount from the next months figure. I don’t juggle budget amounts through the year too much but accept negative figures if necessary - that way I know I need to adjust the budget the following year. I can get away with doing that now as we’ve built up a bit of a surplus/emergency fund which helps cover shortfall if necessary. Not that I’ve ever finished the year with an overall shortfall yet.

At the beginning of a new “budget” year (used to be Jan 1st but this year I’ve changed it to Feb 1st) I start with a fresh slate and a fresh book. Then I try to make the first month a “no spend challenge” month so that I can get a bit of a surplus happening in most categories.

As for the book Affluenza - no I haven’t read it. I have read a couple of articles online by Clive Hamilton but haven’t read his book. Sounds like I should add it to my “to read” list. Always hard here - I can get interlibrary loans but feel funny asking for them too often. :-)

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-1551 Anonymous Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:14:00 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-1551 Back again.. have you read the book "Affluenza : when too much is never enough" by Clive Hamilton. This is an interesting and challenging read! <br/>LS Back again.. have you read the book “Affluenza : when too much is never enough” by Clive Hamilton. This is an interesting and challenging read!
LS

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-1550 Anonymous Wed, 08 Aug 2007 09:58:00 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2007/08/08/tracking-spending/#comment-1550 That makes heaps of sense! I have always budgeted daily (now on a money program but once in a book)but when I sometimes look at it, its hard to assess where we really are without doing fancy reports etc!By deducting your expenses your way you can see at a quick glance what you have left to spend if you need to. Do you keep a running total or start a new section each "pay period" or budgeting period?ie fortnightly, monthly etc ?<br/>CAnt wait for your next installment! Ah ha! LS That makes heaps of sense! I have always budgeted daily (now on a money program but once in a book)but when I sometimes look at it, its hard to assess where we really are without doing fancy reports etc!By deducting your expenses your way you can see at a quick glance what you have left to spend if you need to. Do you keep a running total or start a new section each “pay period” or budgeting period?ie fortnightly, monthly etc ?
CAnt wait for your next installment! Ah ha! LS

]]>