I enjoyed this : My Spiral Bound Conscience

from this week's Dollar Stretcher. Tracking spending is an eye opener for most people. I remember that the first time I actually did it, I was shocked, to say the least. I had no idea of how much was dribbling away. Even though I have always been frugal (I was born that way!), those little things at the checkout or the gas station added up to a lot more than I thought.

It's one thing to budget ahead and another to "budget behind." Even if we get the budget just right, we can be shooting ourselves in the foot if we're spending more than we need to.

Have you ever tracked your every expense? Did that make it easier to not spend?  

 I hate writing everything down. Money or points for weight watches!  I find the best way for me is to cash my grocery ck for the week $100 ( that feeds the 10 of us) and then as I spend I put the receipts back in the envelope with the remaining money from the bank.   I can see what I spend by the receipts and if I'm styaing on budget by how much cash I have left.  The goal is to not spend it all.  Lately I've only gotten $90 in bills and $10 in a roll of state quarters.  I'm trying to save better and I hate to spend my quarters :)

blessings, joan of ark 

 I never did like to write everything down, either, and I don't do it all the time, but during those times when it seems like spending is beginning to spiral "out there somewhere," it really does help me see where the money is going.