A blog by James: Gamer, Father, Geek.

It’s what makes the world go round. It’s also what I’ve never, ever been good at managing. So I’ve decided to give it a go. I spent a couple of days playing with the Numbers app for iPad (a scaled down version of the OSX equivalent of Excel) to keep a closer track on my expenses and hopefully save some money. I have OU course fees that need paying next year and for a change I don’t want to slap it on my credit card!

Speaking of credit cards, I really need to stop using them. They really are the devil. I’ve done a little debt tracker for them and it’s scary to look at. The good news is my main bank loan will be paid off in about 2 years which frees up a large chunk of money a month that should go towards paying off the cards, and I think a year after that it’s possible we’ll be getting a decent amount of money that could either go towards a new house or pay off any other debt.

Of course this is all in theory. I know what I’m like, and when unexpected things crop up the credit cards tend to come out. However it is worth trying for and so I’ve set up a second current account that I will transfer some monthly ‘me money’ to be used for luxuries for me, I will make sure some money goes into my savings account and the rest is for the bills!

My next post will be related to money saving, and it is an idea borrowed from ‘devious2k’, I’m starting a ‘Pile of Shame’, a list of games I own that I have not completed or in some cases never even installed. The idea is I’m not allowed to buy any new games until then old ones are completed.

I have been debating whether or not to use my iPad for work purposes. I can take registers on it, I could take notes on it in briefing, use it to show pictures to kids or do some translating without having to haul back to my desk, loads of uses. The thing stopping me? Not wanting people to think or say “Ooh look at him with his iPad, doesn’t he think he’s good!”. Basically that I’m a show off. Although there is a small truth in that, I do like to show it off, it is actually a useful tool! It’s just everyone else uses paper and I would stick out.

Well today I thought dammit, I spent a fortune on this thing and this is 2010, if I want to use new technology I bloody well will! I haven’t had too many comments from staff or students which is good. I actually felt a little uncomfortable when people asked me to ‘justify’ the device.

Bering the geek that I am, I’ve used the database app Bento to create forms for briefing and a checklist for form time. I am forgetful and having a list like that will help me. The fact that it’s not on paper means I won’t lose it either!

So I shall not care what others think, this thing is making me more efficient so all you luddites can think what you want!