Spreadsheets are a cheaper alternative though consolidating expenses and understanding your spending trends requires the use of more advanced functions. This functionality is somewhat beyond the knowledge of the averages Joe. Whilst socialising with friends, I often exploit the urge and courage to place my credit card behind the bar. 'I have a tab guys, go ahead! Spend... my... money!'. You come to realise $300 does not often constitue as a 'good night'. In fact stews more towards the thought on giving hand-jobs to homeless people for their food they found in the bins because you don't have enough to pay for essentials. March 28, 2012 was the night that triggered my stubbornness/desire to re-think my financial position. Below concludes my expending for March 2012.

The most shocking statistic has to be $2320 on food and dining and only $91 on Shopping for food. It's like going to Walmark and purchasing 40 cans of dog food then dropping them off at your apartment in time for your 8pm diner reservation at the ritz (at which you then decide to place your credit card behind the bar for the night). Needless to say the majority of this includes socialising with freinds at some Japaneese restaurant or taking the girlfriend to some mid-expensive restaurants located in midtown NYC.

I wish to stress at this point that I do not have drinking problem nor am I overweight. That said, the statement becomes questionable when 96% of my food expense are at restaurants. I would come to no surprise that my fridge is merely an empty cooling chamber with the volume big enough to accommodate the head of my financial advisor if ever I find myself going mentally insane.

Spending $681 on travel is another noticeable figure. One could say that the expense and maintenance for a personel vehicle, along with insurance and petrol can become expensive, especially when you're located in a city.... I would agree. Only, in my situation I don't own a vehicle.
This expense can be defined as

• $200 personal flight
• $481 on taxi rides
• $20 = 2x$10 train tickets
• <6 bus trips

The third thing on there is that, after investigation, is that I still don't know what I spent $400 on! The information against my statement doesn't give be the sufficient information! Do I go to the ATM, take out $400 and then immediately dispose of the cash by throwing it at something?!?

Since writing this, I was confused on the difference between 'Health & Fitness' ($246) and 'Personal Care' ($171). Regarding 'Personal Care', I have recently moved gyms so the signing up fee, protein supplements and hygiene products makes sense. I would expect that to drop 50% because of the additional 'signing up charges' though this sounds reasonable... so what's 'Personal Care' ($171)? Turns out it's my laundry! MY BLOODY LAUNDRY EXPENSE COST ME $171 LAST MONTH!. CRIKEY, It's times like these I miss my stone-hearted mother! Not sure how this is possible, I often smell pongy like I've been wearing the same clothes day-by-day (which I have) though for this price I'd expect to be smelling like the never-regions of Taylor Swift!

(I'm hoping) Mint.com will by my shining knight for years to come. This FREE (instantly better than Microsoft Money) and is available online though the best thing about Mint is that it'll connect to your your bank accounts and credit cards automatically in order to update your spending trends. This is day 1 of the product, but it has INSTANTLY highlighted focal aspects in my lifestyle that require alteration. Firstly, I am somewhat obligated to punch that old lady running the laundry company in the neck as part of a repayment Secondly, I will then start by reviewing my other expenses. There's some cooooool stuff on here:

• Setup budgets and get e-mails/text messages on pre-defined threshold on spendings
  Example (Daniel, you'd put your card behind the bar again, go home immediately and cut your loses!)
• Total Net worth on all your savings and debt
• Set goals if you wish to save, reduce debt etc
• Suggestive ways to save by reviewing competitive companies and determine the best way to save (not tried)
• Investment companies highlighting who's best (not tried)

Since writing this I've pre-defined my budget for June 2012, instantly I recognise that I'm about $90 above my food & Dining and it's June 5th so at this constant rate I will be overspend by around $540 at the end of the month. I should reconsider this immediately and commence further cutting expenses by chomping through the can of Walmark dog food.

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