Spending and saving, I need a plan

Ever since I started studying full time again last year I had to learn how to live on a tight budget pretty quickly since now real income was coming in.

Now that I am working full time again, I have this sweet little thing called a 'salary' coming in to my bank account every week that makes me feel happy, and burns a hole in my pocket.

The thing is, we all like to think that if we were earning more money we would be saving more right? WRONG! Sooo wrong! I find that the more money I earn, the more my 'wish list' of awesome clothes and accessories and cute housey stuff grows.

I need to learn how to save again, without making myself feel like I'm earning peanuts and can't afford a few luxuries here and there.

To be honest, with the amount of rent that I am paying I'm not exactly on a 'fabulous' wicket if you get what I mean, so saving is high on the priority list, I just need to get that message across to the shop-aholic diva inside of me!

Today I sat down and wrote out everything I had spent my money on in the past week. I had another bill come in last night, so the thought of doing a spot of online shopping this afternoon was crushed pretty quickly.

I decided that if I sat down and wrote out all of my expenses and could actually see where I had gone wrong on the spending front, I would be more likely to watch this for next weeks pay.

Do you do this?

The biggest thing I have found that has taken a few pennies from my pockets over the last week was buying my lunch and buying coffees. (That's right, I have hopped on the coffee drinking band wagon and I'm feeling a little low about it. I have always been against drinking coffee but now and then I don't mind a caramel latte of a morning.)

There is no reason why I should be buying my lunch more than once a week. Preparation is key and I notice that the days that I do end up buying my lunch is due to the fact that I was running late for work that morning and had no other choice but to buy. Not this week! I am going to make a conscious effort to pack my lunch every day! This way I'll most likely eat healthier too!

As for the coffees, at anywhere from $5-$8 a pop its way too expensive to keep buying them! I can by a whole packet of sachet lattes for roughly $6 that will last me for more than a week! Thinking smart people!

In light of all of this 'organisational' money-speak, I have found some cute stuff online (to buy... doh) that can help keep everything in order if you're like me and need a good boot in the bum.

1. 'My Bills' organiser by Kikki K 

2. Expense tracker, instant down loadable PDF by Printable Wisdom on Etsy

3. 2014 Diary by Handmade Books on Etsy

4. 'Budget book' by Kikki K

Tell me your saving secrets! I want to know how you save, and any tips and tricks if you have them!

E, x