Salacious title, but that's how I feel sometimes.
While I'm interested in living frugally, I'm not always as disciplined as I would like. I'm very grateful that DH is as sucessful as he is, because I wonder how well I'd do if I were actually pinching to make ends meet.
I really want to get to a point where I'm spending more mindfully. I have some bad habits I'd really like to curtail.
1.) Eating Out. This is probably our biggest budget-buster. I have no problem with us eating out in moderation, but we've exceeded our budget more than we've made it. Ideally, I'd like to have us eat in during the week and save our money for the weekend.
2.) Want It, Grab It syndrome. I'm getting much better at this, but I still have a habit of grabbing things that I want, but could easily live without. I used to have a policy called "cart purge" where I would stop right before the checkout and remove at least one thing from my cart--usually more. I need to reinstate that.
3.) The Most Popular Girl in the World. Otherwise knows as generous to a fault. Sometimes I get carried away and I give more than I should to people. Sometimes it's motivated out of a sincere desire to make someone happy. Other times my motivations are tinged by old insecurities--I'm sure if I spend hundreds of dollars on a party for them they'll like me, right?
4.) Financial Bulimia. I have a tendency to get ultra frugal, and then snap and do something like book a last minute weekend getaway--to the tune of $3,000! I would like to get on a more even, moderate keel.
I'm a financial fraud!
August 5th, 2006 at 08:34 pm
August 6th, 2006 at 07:19 am
August 6th, 2006 at 07:47 am
1. Do you make a meal plan for the week? Even if you could figure out things to cook 3 days a week (lasagne, burgers on the grill, grilled cheese and tomato soup), leftovers might get you another day of food. This would likely help your budget immensely. I keep chicken strips and fries in the freezer and always have pasta and sauce in the pantry. Not exciting but easy, quick and not too bad.
2. I sometimes tell myself I can have anything but that I won't get it today, but I'll go back for it tomorrow. Amazing how it just doesn't matter tomorrow and I can't be bothered. I don't find this makes me feel deprived (cause I can get it, its just not often that I do bother to).
3. What about putting some of your savings into a splurge fund? Plan to go wild and crazy. A trip for two on hotwire or priceline can be pretty reasonable and eating in and a few less impulse purchase and I bet you have a free trip by thanksgiving you don't have to feel guilty about!
Again, this is off the top of my head, free and unsolicitated. Feel free to delete, purge, giggle at and ignore !
August 6th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
August 6th, 2006 at 05:02 pm