The Wired

Right I'm terrible at maths, and I mean it. What this means is that I'm also crap with money, and that isn't an option at the moment.



In the past I have tried things like microsoft money and Grisbi accounting stuff but tbh they confuse me, possibly because they are much more than I need and I get lost in the content and terminology.



What would probably be suitable is a simple spreadsheet, so that I can see how it works. Does anyone have any template recommendations that most importantly are easy to learn and use?



Dammit, if only everything in life was as easy to do as dissecting the mammalian body. <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo-->




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<div class='signature'> I'm not addicted to porn, I'm addicted to masturbation. Porn is just an enabler.



<img src='http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/ma ... Threat.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

There are plenty more fish in the sea, get your tackle out and see what bites.



Divers go deeper and stay down for longer.

To be honest, I've never had any accounts that needed more than one column of figures. You don't need a template for that!



Write down your income and your regular outgoings. Add it up, checking your last few bank statements for anything you may have forgotten. What's left over is what you can spend. Work it out over the longest time sample you can, although in your case that's not very long having just landed a new life...



Try to save when you can.



If you have no income then it's even easier - don't spend a single penny you don't have to, until you know where your next pay cheque is coming from. The money you have now needs to feed you and pay for travel until you have a job.



I really hope you find a job soon. Anything on the radar?




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<div class='signature'> <img src='http://myanimelist.net/signature/JJW009.png' border='0' alt='user posted image'> ??? <img src='http://imagegen.last.fm/LastfmMyspace/oartists/5/JJW009.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

JJ has got it about right - personal accounting is generally a simple affair unless you have multiple streams of income, and masses of credit cards, direct debits and so on - which, from the sounds of it, you don't. No need to over-complicate matters.





If you really want something, though, I expect I could cobble one together for you - the question is, what do you want it to do?



And don't even bother with those accounting packages - they confuse even me, and I'm an accountant! <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Nothing so far on the job front. I'll be making a more detailed entry in my blog shortly but the mozzie bites I have on my hand throb when I type. <!--emo&<_<--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' /><!--endemo-->




--------------------


<div class='signature'> I'm not addicted to porn, I'm addicted to masturbation. Porn is just an enabler.



<img src='http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/ma ... Threat.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

There are plenty more fish in the sea, get your tackle out and see what bites.



Divers go deeper and stay down for longer.

Actually, I've just remembered, I did put a sort of monthly expenses sheet together a couple of years back (Money was really tight for a while, and every penny counted).



It's not great (my excel skills weren't as good as they are now), but if you want I can tidy it up and put it online for you?

That would be great, cheers.



See I always get confused with credit. If I'm in credit then why if I use a credit card do I go into debt.




--------------------


<div class='signature'> I'm not addicted to porn, I'm addicted to masturbation. Porn is just an enabler.



<img src='http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/ma ... Threat.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

There are plenty more fish in the sea, get your tackle out and see what bites.



Divers go deeper and stay down for longer.

belchingmatt wrote:If I'm in credit then why if I use a credit card do I go into debt.

Poor terminology. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->



I'd like to see credit companies be forced to use 'debt' instead of 'credit' - stop it sounding so nice.



'Now available with 3 years interest free debt!' <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo-->



And I'm sure people wouldn't be so keen on buying everything with a 'debt card'.



Basically, credit=bad. Don't do it unless you really have no choice - and then pay it back as soon as you possibly can.





Anyway:



clicky



Looking at the spreadsheet, it's really poorly designed - I'm actually quite ashamed. <!--emo&:shame:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/4013/140/emo/shame.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='shame.gif' /><!--endemo-->



But it does what it needs to - I'm sure it's all self explanatory. A couple of points:



The reset button will clear everything off, move your closing balance to become your opening balance, and change the date to todays' date. The to: date is 27 days after the from date (I based this on a 4 weekly pay cycle).



The column to the right of each category allows you to put 'e', 'n' or 'u' against each expense - this stands for 'essential', 'nice to have', or 'useless'. This means you can divide your expenses up into stuff you really need, and the useless crap that you probably shouldn't have bought. This is all broken down at the top. (percentages as well!)



Basically, whack in whatever money you have in the opening balance, put in any income or expenses you know you're going to have over the month, and the projected closing balance will tell you how much you have left to spend in the month.



I've chucked in a few examples for you. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->





Happy budgeting! <!--emo&:P--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->



If you want this to do more stuff, let me know and I'll see what I can do. I actually enjoy doing this sort of thing. <!--emo&:shame:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/4013/140/emo/shame.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='shame.gif' /><!--endemo-->



:EDIT:



Oh, and the signs are in ?s rather than &#036;. Deal with it. <!--emo&:P--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->

RedeyesUK wrote:If you want this to do more stuff, let me know and I'll see what I can do. I actually enjoy doing this sort of thing. <!--emo&:shame:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/4013/140/emo/shame.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='shame.gif' /><!--endemo-->



:EDIT:



Oh, and the signs are in ?s rather than &#036;. Deal with it. <!--emo&:P--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Why do you think I asked here. <!--emo&:P--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/html/emoticons/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->



As for &#036; or ? I sort of have both. Luckily it shouldn't be too much of an issue when the time comes.




--------------------


<div class='signature'> I'm not addicted to porn, I'm addicted to masturbation. Porn is just an enabler.



<img src='http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/ma ... Threat.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

There are plenty more fish in the sea, get your tackle out and see what bites.



Divers go deeper and stay down for longer.

Well I've just had a quick look and I reckon that is exactly what I need. I tried to make something like that a while ago but failed miserably. <!--emo&:shame:--><img src='http://i2.ifrm.com/4013/140/emo/shame.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='shame.gif' /><!--endemo-->




--------------------


<div class='signature'> I'm not addicted to porn, I'm addicted to masturbation. Porn is just an enabler.



<img src='http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/ma ... Threat.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

There are plenty more fish in the sea, get your tackle out and see what bites.



Divers go deeper and stay down for longer.