Hello chaps.

I went a bit mad in July and overspent by quite a lot. I've also been eating out/drinking too much and not exercising enough, so I need to really rein it in and stick to a budget in August (and go to the gym instead of the pub, sometimes at least). I have worked out all my outgoings and the debts I need to repay from July, and have given myself a daily budget to cover food and fun. I will be keeping a spending diary. Would anyone else care to join me?

I'm in as I've been haemorrhaging money the last couple of months and already spent the best part of £90 for stuff for my bike. The stuff attached to it is actually worth more than the damn bike cost in the first place

We've been eating out three or four nights a week for the last month or so and I can feel myself porking out again, not helped by the fact I've not been to WW for a month despite still shelling out for the monthly thing

Excellent, Sky. It feels good to be in control, and I refuse to get into debt again.

I have resigned myself to the fact I am not organised to make lunches to bring in, but this doesn't mean I have to spend £5 a day in Pret and EAT. Instead I've been going to the supermarket and been getting enough salady things for a couple of days and putting it together at work, which comes to about £2 a day, which is far more affordable to me.

I'm in. I've got about 150 to last a month. Thankfully lots of the garden food is beginning to ripen so I won't have to buy much fruit or veg.

Transport-wise, I've started taking the train as far as zone 2, then cycling into town from there. Obviously not suitable for nights out, but it means I spend about 3 pounds on the train instead of getting a travelcard for the day. Most nights out are now banned until the end of the month due to my workload. When I do go out it's diet coke or lime and soda anyway since I don't have time for hangovers.

Given all that, it should be possible to stay on-budget.

I'm in.
Meal planning helps me heaps, I really have to do that. Did it two weeks last month and it worked but I feel a bit funny only buying food for planned meals. not stocking up.
Going to get my shopping fix by hitting op (charity) shops, doing that in the morning.
Going to make biccies to take to mums group then my sister in law on Monday rather than spending up at the bakery.

i am doing this too. i have a weekend away booked mid-month but apart from that any eating out needs to be cut back on/uber-cheap. d and i also have a week off which will be spent in london doing free/cheap things. the rest of the time needs to be storecupboard cooking, packed lunches for at least half the week and less booze.

I have to try and do this, as I've got a wedding, hen do and weekend away to pay for, so technically everything else needs to be on the cheap. Like you nine I need to make sure I am using the gym more rather than going out, although that's not working so far this week. Then again, it's not quite August yet

I really am not sure how I am going to do this. Technically I should have enough money to cover it, but it always ends up getting spunked away. Not blowing loads in Waitrose and using stuff in the freezer should help

I've done a proper breakdown of what I need to do to keep myself on an even keel and it's not going to be too much fun. Still, it's a good excuse to spend a lot of time in the gym getting fit. I might try withdrawing my money for the week and using only cash.

I'm sort of in, I have a holiday bang in the middle so no doubt I will spend more than I should on eating out but in the run up I need to be good and also going to the gym/eating salad from the garden etc. much more than at present. Luckily my husband is away for 2 weeks which means a lot less on food as he is not cheap to run.

I've tried this several times. I always end up spending it all too soon and then using my card for the rest of the week. It usually works out with me spending more. Poor self-control.

I'm in. I've not overspent but I've not been saving as much as I'd like to. I don't have much coming up in August, and September should be quiet as well, so I should be able to save quite a bit.

i've just used this reasoning to book a holiday.


my self-control is very erratic - sometimes a cash-only week works well and othertimes its a complete disaster where i rebel against it.

I'll see how it goes. It is helpful to have a budget in mind, I find. I really should have plenty of disposible income each month, but August is for catching up on my manic overspending in July - I want to get it over with ASAP.

I have just assessed my store cupboards and freezer and I have enough ingredients for main evening meals for 10 days, so my supermarket shop will be very minimal today.

I have spent no money today.

well done niners. i start today and will spend nothing.

I'm in for this, I overspent in July too.

No spend day yesterday (still July, but hey) and should be the same today and hopefully tomorrow. I must take something for lunch.

On Tuesday I'm out for the afternoon/evening with work people and I'm taking a friend out for her birthday later in the week but, other than that, I don't think I should spend on much else.

I've really used "August" as a blanket term for the period covered by my August pay cheque, so for me the last two days have definitely counted.

Today I need some stuff from the shops but will try Sainsbury's and Poundland instead of my usual Waitrose.

I managed to get food for all my lunches this week (bar another mid-week bag of lettuce) for the princely sum of £5.43, which is what I'd usually spend on one lunch at Pret.

that's great nine. i used some tired-looking veggies to make a pea and potato frittata which will do d and i for packed lunches for a few days. i'll make extra portions of supper to fill the other days.

i've just spent £2 on a crap coffee having slept really badly (bloody cat). that will be it for today.