How do YOU budget?

[SammyRo]

I have what bills I can come out on a direct debit - with insurance, it does work out a bit dearer, but I'd rather that than have to find $600 odd each year. For things like rates and rego, we have an amount going into a savings account each fortnight, and then when a big bill comes in, the money should be there (in theory, doesn't always work in reality ). I have done an excel spreadsheet and broke it down into fortnightly amounts for everything, and I try to stick to that. But, we always rely on our tax return to get us back to having money in the savings account (although this time, its paying for airfares to the UK).
I like the idea of having an automatic payment into gas/electricity so I think I might look into that.
Gigi - DH and I set up a joint account when we got engaged to save for our wedding, once we moved in together, we transferred all our pay into the one account, and closed our seperate accounts. I'm the one that keeps track of and does the finances, and DH doesn't mind what I spend as long as all the bills get paid and our long term savings goal is being reached. DH will always earn more than me, even if I go back to work full time, but for us, it is still our money. I only have to ask if I want to buy something expensive - its not really asking for permission, its more discussing it - ie he normally makes me see that we can't afford it and don't need it, like the new carrier I want (anyone else see the gorgeous petunia pickle bottom ergo's?) or the new pram

[Gigi]

i asked, when i was looking around at insurance, the difference between paying annually, or monthly. I was expecting to hear it was cheaper to pay annually, but actually, it was the same, whichever way i did it. Obviously that's only ONE insurance company, but just saying, it's possible.

[emc2]

I don't own very much so my plan is to have some savings, rather than contents insurance.

My father gets quotes every year and then goes back and bargains with their insurance company to get the premium down.