Feeling out of control with your budget? A Hintby Michelle Vandepas | More from this Blogger 10 Apr 2007 09:12 AM
Today I wanted to go spend some money at the bookstore. I don't very often buy books, but when I do, watch out, I tend to purchase six on the same subject and devour them all. Right now I'm researching some fun creative projects and I just wanted info NOW! My perfect day would have been the bookstore and then to have hubby bring home some dinner. I didn't do either of those. Instead I looked up some information on the web, and reserved a book online at the library for pick up in a week or so, and actually cooked - sort of. I figured I saved about $60.00 today. And that's just from the non bookstore spree. Another twenty or so from not eating out. Today I saved eighty dollars. Eighty dollars that I would have spent in a flash when I had a credit card. Luckily I found some self restraint. And it was cold and snowy and icy here so I didn't want to go out. Maybe it was the weather that saved me. (BTW, I still have a credit card, but we only use for certain purchases, by agreement between Hubby and myself). Having discipline isn't always fun, but the payoff is always worth it. The sixty, or eight, plus dollars not spent today means we stay out debt and continue to save for things I'd really like. Usually if I find myself out of control in one area of my life, it's possible I'm out of control in other areas as well - food, shopping, internet can all be addictions, with many consequences, including financial. If I find myself out of balance, spending, or eating, or shopping, I know that I feel out of control elsewhere as well. Here's a hint: If you find yourself spending outside of your budget, ask yourself where else you feel out of control in your life. Do you feel as though you need to make better decisions? Or stick by them? Or perhaps there was a time recently when you didn't have control over your decisions, when the world seemed crazy and you couldn't make it work. Look closely, examine yourself and you may find your answers to help you with your budgeting discipline. Budgeting blog posts: Learn more about Michelle Vandepas  In a previous life, Michelle was president of a medical manufacturing company, and then in private practice as a holistic business consultant. Relevantmoney tags User Comments gscs (180) 30 May 2007 12:53 PMMAKE GOALS Goals can be as short-term or as long-term. "But without them, you have nothing to reinforce your efforts,". "Start small and be realistic about what you want to accomplish. INVOLVE YOUR ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD If you have a spouse and/or children, sit down together as a family and talk about your finances. Create a budget together, and explain to everyone that they may be asked to make sacrifices. TAKE INVENTORY If you don't know where your money goes, how do you expect to manage it? For a week, keep a record of how you spend your money. If you buy a cup of coffee, write it down. Then go back and figure out ways to cut your weekly expenses. Maybe buying regular coffee instead of the gourmet kind will save you $10 a week. Sounds small, but over a year it will really add up. GET RID OF HIGH-INTEREST DEBT Focus on identifying high interest-rate debt and work on paying that debt off. check with the credit union of your job; many have lower percentage rate credit cards and loans. The best way to keep from spending too much on credit cards is to be open-minded about what you're spending. SAVING IS HABIT-FORMING A wise man once said that "a bad habit is easy to make but hard to live with. But a good habit is hard to make and easy to live with." Community Tags addictions, budget, money, savings Discuss this article
|
Money categories |
There are some days I just don't like being on a budget. Today for instance. And yesterday, and the day before. 
