I am starting to re-think my budget for the month. I don't know how the author of the Reader's Digest piece survived with his wife and kid on $100 bucks for an entire month. He must have stocked up on virtually everything they might possibly need. This is not something I did, nor did I consider. I guess this represents a realistic look into where I spend my money.
I am going to go over budget but I am also learning some valuable lessons. Learning a few things about myself and my spending habits - noticing the emotions that drive the purchase of things. It's interesting - I see a cute shirt and I immediately have this emotional reaction. "I would look so good in that shirt - I must have it. No, I NEED it." I have to allow this emotional wave to roll in and back out until I am left with the notion that, nope, you really don't need it.
Anyway, this week's tally:
Gas $38.85 (cheaper to fill the tank than put in a set amount, right?); Groceries $34.57 (had a friend in town - so spent more than I would have); and Hot Apple Pie A La Mode $5.00 (It was homemade, hot and a treat - sometimes you just have to indulge). Total: $78.42
Damage to date is $134.46. Half way through the month and over budget. Now I am just curious as to where I will end up. Thirteen days into my Living Leaner experiment and I am running roughly $10.00 a day. Shit.
1 comment:
Doh! You've succumbed to the first pitfall of budgetary restraint! Emotional failure.....
You're doing well. You aren't doing as well as you planned, but that's not the same as failure. Remove the emotions and you'll see what I mean. The danger with "emotional failure" is the "oh, what's the use..." side effect.
You've fired a shot down-range, now adjust and correct. That's all. Be dynamic. Emotional failure is static. Don't do that. Learn.
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