I keep a mental tally as the month goes by but it is so easy to forget the little amounts here and there and do they add up? Why is it always a bit of a surprise when I open the bill and check the amount owing for the month?

What we do right:

• We pay the balance in full each month
• We do not pay any fee but receive cash back on our card purchases
• We put almost everything on the card & know where our money goes

Room for improvement:

• Take out a set amount of cash each week and use only this (to control the ‘entertainment’ spend or ‘other’ category)
• Cut back on the fancy coffees!