£2.65

Over the last two weeks I sent 200 golden soldiers out into the world. I spent £200 recklessly and without thought or regulation. I did it as a celebration of money, and to see if I could learn from the experience. I am now down to my last £2.65.

I spent money quickly and without regulation on: computer games, sweets, chocolates, Ice-cream, pizza, lottery tickets (I didn't win), knick knacks, etc.

I learned the importance of pre-planning. It's always best to make a list before doing anything. That way you can spread your resources efficiently. I stopped calculating my purchases when I was in shops, and found that I spent far more than I thought I would, as I was not mentally monitoring what was going on with my money.

I was overcharged for chocolate bars in Iceland. They charged me £2 more than the price on the shelf, which I only discovered when I checked my receipt at home afterwards. Mentally accounting my purchases like I usually do, would have lessened the chances of this happening. I am not bothered as this is a learning experience. I will make far more money than the £2 lost, by switching my bank accounts to higher paying ones.

I overspent in almost every shop I went into. Whatever I purchased, I just had to get something else too. I found that the big supermarkets were the worst place for this happening. I spent over £20 in one supermarket, in one go, which I haven't done for a long time!

As my money began to run out, I went back to shopping more in 99p stores and Poundland, and I discovered that when I overspent there, it wasn't by as much as I did in the big supermarkets, so purchasing consistently at low prices is a big key to financial success.

I saw the folly of buying something just because it was expensive. A lower priced item can be just as good, and makes your money stretch even further. From now on I am going to get maximum bang for my buck. I will try to be more frugal and shrewd with my money than I was before, as I now understand what a joke it is to just waste money needlessly.

Spending money did not bring me happiness. Carrying so much cash around with me was unusual. It was thrilling, but I only found any excuse to just spend it as fast as I could.

Frugality is the way forward. It is nothing to be ashamed of, as all it means is going around and getting good deals. Frugality makes your money go further, therefore making you even richer. After seeing my 200 felled in battle, never again will I feel bad about being frugal. I've got £2.65 of it left, and I'm not going to spend it, or any other money, for the rest of the month.

MoneySquandering is out, and MoneySeeker3000 is back in.

"This is not Sparta. This is moneyseeker3000".