Pictures (a pack) £66.00
Gown hire £30.00

Total cost so far: £96.00

That's only on the day, it doesn't include the hotel or travelling there.

- Keep a record of all of my receipts (I just started this a couple of days ago)

- Put money into my £1 jar

- Put money aside for graduation ball

- Increase payment to washing machine

- This isn't really a plan but I need to think of more ways to save money.

I'm keeping a record of my receipts because I want to know exactly what I'm spending my money on. Sometimes I waste my money on magazines and impulse buys but I'm getting better now. I think I'll look at my whole month's spending in May - from tomorrow until the 31st.

I haven't spent a penny so far today and I don't plan to. The weather's quite nice so I might sit outside and catch up on some coursework that needs done.

I got a statement from the credit company and they're adding 2.25% interest every time I make a payment! The only good news about the statement is that I haven't received any late payment charges, or letter charges. I definetly have to increase my payments. It's going to be really hard to clear this bill!

...only about five weeks left until all of my exams will be over (they haven't started yet). I have a lot to do till then: 2 reports (due the same day), 2 presentations and I have to finish my dissertation which will need a lot of work on it.

Bought my mum's birthday present today (£80) now all I need to do is buy a card. Spent a lot today

- ink cartridge (£17)
- swimsuit (£10)
- television (£80)
- bus fare there (£2.80)
- driving lesson (£19)

I also bought a new purse (£4). I better stop spending money.

Tomorrow I'll be buying some pizzas (they're on offer) and a bottle of wine for my mum's birthday.

I've been trying to think of a way which will make me put £1 coins away whenever I've done a task (like the stair challenge). I was thinking of putting money away whenever I walk my dog for about 20 mins. I don't know if that's a good idea. If I were at home more I would do the stair challenge, but I'm not.

I think that once I've saved some money I'll check it every month and whatever I've got I'll put towards the washing machine since it has the highest interest rate.

I found some energy saving tips. I really should put them into use.

Turning your thermostat down by 1ºC could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent and save you around £30 per year.
Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat shouldn't need to be set higher than 60ºC/140ºF.
Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.
Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.
If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, use the half-load or economy programme.
Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle).
A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off!
Replace your light bulbs with energy saving recommended ones: just one can reduce your lighting costs by up to £78 over the lifetime of the bulb - and they last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

I can't wait until my course is finished, it won't be long now. All I'll be doing between now and then is working on coursework, my dissertation and studying for exams. Most people on my course are feeling exactly the same.

Graduation in July (assuming I pass my final exams).

I like this method, although I've only recently started using it. I withdrew money from the bank today (£300) and divided it between envelopes: holiday and mum's present. Okay there was only two. It's a good method, I know that I'll need to take more money out in a couple of days for my driving lesson and for when I pick up some shopping on Friday. It's only a couple more weeks till I get paid again so I should be fine.

I had some change in my purse so that went into my other change jar that me and my mum are both putting change into. It will probably be used in the Coinstar machine for a shopping trip in the future.

Bus fares have increased in my area. I think I will try walking more places when it doesn't involve travelling to uni.

I am in the library just now, working on the same essay that I've been working on for days. I have to get it finished tonight. The more I read about it, the more interesting it is.

At work yesterday I noticed that there was an overtime sheet up with one shift left - 5 hours - so i put my name down for that. I will go to work after I've finished uni.

Working 5 hours extra next week too.

I just checked my university's website and I have a library fine of £7.10. I'll pay that this week. I can't graduate from uni if I owe the university any money.

It's my mum's birthday next week and I'm buying a new tv for her. I seen one for £77.

I've decided to save £1 coins in my change jar and check the jar in a couple of months. The money that I had in my change jar I used for bus fare before I had been paid.

We need a higher fence for the garden to let our dog, well he's mostly my mum's dog, run about. That can get done in May or June. I'll probably buy it from Homebase, or B & Q. I don't know which one is best.

Working today, as usual.

I'm working all weekend, which I don't mind because it's my contract. Anyway I went into work today and I noticed that my manager had put up a new overtime sheet for May, well the first week. I only put my name down for one shift because of studying, coursework etc. I'm so relieved that there is overtime, now I don't need to worry as much.

I've worked at my job, in a supermarket, for nearly four years now and I feel like a change. There's loads of reasons why I want to leave: the important one being my degree. Why should I work there when I can get paid more somewhere else? (once I have more experience) It's the same thing over and over again, every time I'm there. I've spoken to other people and they all say that every job is like that, no matter if you like it or not. I suppose the good thing about it is that I don't take my job home with me, why would I? I might have just gotten a pay rise but they still don't pay me enough to worry about sales.

Speaking of sales, the store is having a special offer for two days in my department. Any 10" pizza for a £1. It's going to be so busy - it's the end of the month and it's a bank holiday a couple of days later. I checked the rota - there isn't anybody extra in for those two days. Typical.

I probably shouldn't moan about my job this much - actually I think this is the first entry where I have. I was telling customers today about special offers that were on and some people were pleased to hear about them. I also told them about the other offers which would save them money e.g. vegetarian meal deal. It always surprises me that people don't know about it. The way I see it I might as well help the customer save some money.

I'm going to take advantage of the offer for those two days and buy pizzas to freeze. I really don't eat them that much but I might as well make the most of the offer. Anything to save money really.

I've decided to stay up until the early hours of the morning working on this essay. It's such a difficult question I wish I'd never picked it. Not much I can do about it now though, I've found research articles about the topic. I emailed my lecturer today but she hasn't emailed me back, it's the holidays so I shouldn't expect a quick reply.

There's only six weeks to go and my course will completely finished - exams, coursework, everything. This means the next six weeks are going to be really tough. I just can't wait until I leave. I suppose I can't really complain, these four years have gone in fast.

Sales at work have been quite bad recently - well the store seems to think so. From now on, there has to be no unauthorised shifts done by colleagues. My manager doesn't even have an overtime sheet up for next week. I have been relying on overtime to pay for my holiday. Apparently the GSM will authorise any overtime. I suppose I shouldn't be complaining because I have studying to do, but I still have money to pay towards the holiday. I'm trying to think about what I should do if it gets really bad and there isn't any overtime up for a while. Try and do overtime in another department? Ask to come in earlier than my starting times? I really don't know. One thing's for sure, I'll write down everything I need to pay for and work out what I have left from it. I have until June to pay the holiday so hopefully I will work something out.

It would have been a no spend day but I had to buy milk (£1.29)

Phoned the company responsible for the pc, well the credit company anyway to request more payment slips. I have taken over paying it from my mum. I needed more slips, I only have two left. The guy on the phone asked if I had a mobile number to get in touch with me. I lied and said that I didn't have one. He probably didn't believe me but I don't want them to have that number.

I've decided I should be doing what Loubilou does and max out my ISA for 2006/07. Honestly I probably won't be able to but I'll try after the holiday is paid for to put more money in it. I got a letter from the building society today and I only put over £500 in it last year. My OH said he was going to put money in it for when we move out next year, but now I'm thinking he should just open up his own account. He says he's bad with money so he probably won't.

I'll aim to have at £2000 in it by April 2007. If I save more that will be great.

I'll try again:

My prom dress arrived today. My mum ordered it from the catalogue so I'll just pay it next month. I'll try and attach a picture of it.



Hope it works.

I was hoping that today would be a no spend day but that wasn't going to happen - there were bills to pay. Total spending today:

£85 catalogue
£20 pc
£17 washing machine
£7.00
£15.00 prescriptions
£2.30 day ticket
£20 gas

Total: £159.30

Just wanted to say Happy Easter to everyone!

Me and my mum went to visit my auntie today,it was nice to do that. Usually I'm busy working so I don't get the chance too.

My plans for the easter holidays didn't work out. I still have work to do.

Saturday night was cheap. I took £20 with me and I came back with £8. We spent 7 hours there so that was really good. I bought myself food too.

No driving lessons in May. I text my instructor and told him and he's fine with that. It wasn't his decision to make anyway. It will save me some money too although I may take extra lessons in June to get it out of the way quicker...well hopefully it will if I do that.

I'm totally skint already and I just got paid yesterday. I took out all of the money that I had from the cash machine so i won't be going near it till I get more money. Holiday payment will have to wait for a couple of weeks, it's either that or I go into my overdraft again.

Cheap night out on saturday, hopefully.

I checked my university's website and my exam timetable has finally been put on it. My exams are on 29th May, 2nd June and 3rd June. I was hoping for a better timetable than that.

I met up with my friend on Sunday and I have decided to stop taking driving lessons during May so I can concentrate on studying and finishing coursework and my dissertation. Not only will I have more time I'll also save some money.

Hopefully today will be a "no spend" day since I don't plan to leave the house until after dinner when I go to my boyfriend's. I am going to work on my essay all day and hopefully I will have a first draft to show to my lecturer.

I was ill last night, so I'm glad I didn't put my name down for any overtime...well not till tomorrow anyway. I decided that I really need the money and I'm skint enough just now so I might as well do overtime while I can.

It seems like whenever I see my friends it usually involves spending. It is one of my friend's birthday tomorrow and i haven't had the chance to meet up with her yet...but I have bought her a present. She's been really busy; she just moved in with her fiance and they're getting married in a couple of months. I've been busy too, it seems like we never make the time to meet up. I phoned her parents' house today to try and get in touch with her but she wasn't home and i seen her fiance shopping today so at least she knows I'm thinking about her.

I'm meeting my other friend who I haven't seen in months for lunch tomorrow before I start work. I didn't even know she was visiting (she moved away to go to university).

One of my other friends, who i also spoke to today, can be a bit too dependent on me. Her boyfriend moved away to go to college so I tend to get a lot of messages when he's gone. He's away on a trip just now so she sees even less of him. He wants to move to Canada after he's finished college but she doesn't want to. I think they should go there for a couple of months just to see what it is like. In fact, I'd like to go there.

Quite a long entry and none of it was finanicially related. All i know is that i am really skint this month. Only six days till payday

I really shouldn't write a plan since something always happens and I need to change it. Anyway I'll try. Ideally I would like to have four "no spend" days this week - I would like to have five but i have a driving lesson during the week so that ruins my plans. I think I'll try for three since i have to go shopping with my mum and that usually involves some spending, but not a lot, just bus fare there.

Ideally I will have three "no spend" days since I'm not putting my name on the rota for overtime - I have a lot of work to do. Also I'll get a good start on my essays.

I'm working twelve hours tomorrow. It is just over a week till I get paid and I could do with the money to put towards my holiday (same as usual really). I'm in my overdraft too so my wages won't look good when they go into the bank.

I finally handed my first draft in this week. During Easter I'm planning on getting a good start on coursework which is due after Easter and early May (two essays). After the holidays I will be really busy with studying, so I'm hoping that by doing some extra work now it will help me when I need to spend time on my dissertation. I've started doing some planning today because I'm working all weekend so I won't get anything done then.

On another note I have to see less of my boyfriend if I ever want to get a decent amount of work done. The next couple of months are going to be really busy so really the more work I do, the better I'll feel. We live near each other so it won't be too bad, and there's always phone calls.

As soon as I got in the house, well a couple of minutes, me and my mum were arguing over money. A bill came and its due a couple of days after I get paid. My mum said she would get it but she wasn't happy because it takes some of the food money. Then she changed her mind and said that she always gets it, and when she was working she didn't ask me for a penny. She said it was up to me to go on holiday and take driving lessons. We always argue over stuff like that.

I went into Debenhams this morning. They're having 20% off formal dresses although I don't know how long for. I wish I had enough money right now to buy one because I seen some really nice ones. I'll have to look in more than one shop before I buy my dress for my graduation ball anyway. I'm counting the months now till I graduate, I can't wait until I don't have to study anymore. I think I'll check Debenham's website for information.

I'm an only child (well not if you include my two half-sisters and my half brother) so having people, or another person stay at my house is unusual. Firstly because it hardly ever happens and because it was really only my younger cousin who stayed over on the weekend when I was younger. Anyway on Saturday night - actually it was 2am on Sunday morning - my younger cousin (not the one that used to stay all the time) showed up at my house. My mum answered the door. As it turned out he said that he couldn't get into his house, and that all of his windows had been broken. He also said he was no longer talking to my uncle's ex-girlfriend (they split up years ago). By the time I woke up on Sunday he was gone, only for him to show up again on Sunday night. He left early this morning, about 7am and said he would be back this afternoon to let my mum know how is his dad is (he's in jail). The thing is that we already know how my uncle is because we've been writing to him since December, in fact we got a letter from him last week. So there's no need for him to come back. This morning he told my mum that he is now talking to my uncle's ex yet I heard him call her a b***h...sounds like he's lying to me.

Now my cousin is three years younger than me, he has a job - but he's claiming benefit too, he told my mum. He is capable of looking after himself he's just too lazy too. My mum washed the clothes that he had been wearing all week - yes the same clothes. He's been having showers at his friends houses so maybe he should stay there. He keeps on telling my mum different things - first he's not talking to my uncle's ex, then he is, then he's meeting up with her to see the housing officer today. I don't know what he's playing at but he's definetly lying to us. He better not try and stay here all week.

There's also something else that he told my mum: he wants to go to England to live beside my auntie like my other cousin done. I know that she won't want him there since it's just not practical for him to be there when my uncle gets out this year.

If he tries to stay any longer he can stop drinking all of his money away and give some to my mum - apparently he's been spending all of his wages on drink, which is probably the truth. I'll see what happens tonight.

I really spent money told that I shouldn't have:

£8.00 lunch (me and my mum)
£10.00 bread,milk,etc...
£2.00 dinner at work

I left the house early before I started work, so I went through the shopping centre before I started. There were a lot of sales on - typical when I haven't got enough money. My mum bought me a pair of shorts to wear when I go on holiday and I repaid her by buying stuff that we needed e.g. milk, bread. If I had had money I probably would have gone mad today so it's probably a good thing that I haven't.

Put my name down for an extra shift at work on Wednesday..every little helps. During the Easter holidays I will do some extra hours too.