Keeping a record of spending

[stephan...@yahoo.com]

I am recently retired on a low fixed income. I scanned the Internet
for the best tips on how to budget. The top helpful one has been:
write down everything you spend.

This is golden! You can use the record to budget and set goals, and
when you see yourself over a limit (I keep a daily and weekly record),
you know immediately that you have to cut back or make it up.

Stephanie

[clams casino]

stephan...@yahoo.com wrote:

Been doing that for some 30 years. Best habit I ever formed.

[Seerialmom]

I believe the main reason for writing it down is so you don't nickel/
dime yourself into debt. I agree you can then review and see where
you're wasting the money though. Too bad people wait until they "have
to" before budgeting their money; imagine how much they might have had
they done it when the belt was a bit looser?

[Janie]

"Seerialmom" <seeri...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1191006814.4...@n39g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...

Check out DollarStretcher. com for lots of budgeting tips and other helpful
advice for living on a fixed income. Seniorark.com is another helpful site.

Remember not toforget all those little expenses when planning your budget.
Sometimes things that only cost a few dollars here and there can start to
add up and put your budget out of whack.

Whatever you do, leave some wiggle room in each budget category. Prices go
up and you can depend on unplanned expenses occurring from time to time.
Always set something aside for savings even it is just a small amount. Try
to keep at least a $500 emergency fund. It isn't always easy to do, but it
will bail you out of lots of situations.
>

[William Tucker]

<stephan...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1191001709.1...@o80g2000hse.googlegroups.com...

I have been using MS Money since I got my first computer back in 1995 and it
has been a lifesaver (or should I say budget saver). It is very easy to
keep track of every dollar I make and spend. Now there are no unpleasant
surprises when I open a credit card statement because every evening I get
out my receipts and type them into MS Money. I have never over-drawn my
bank account because I type every deposit, check and withdrawal from the
ATM. Also, I can back up my file to an external hard drive or a thumb drive
and not worry about my computer crashing and losing my info. I would be
lost without it.