My Loves and Hates Around Budgeting

by Michelle Vandepas | More from this Blogger

I've only been budgeting a short time, so Hubby and I are still feeling our way around. So far, this is what budgeting to me means:

• Pre- spending your money on paper, before you actually get the cash in hand.

• Taking a set amount of cash, needed for the week in envelopes.

• Watching prices at the grocery store.

• Writing everything down on a daily (hubby) or weekly (hubby and I together) basis to evaluate our financial situation.

Sounds easy enough ....

NOT!

I'm forced to think about things like:

What do we want to eat for dinner this week?

And Do I really need to get a pedicure?

So a few things that I love about this process:

• I can control my money as it comes in. I'm no longer hoping and wishing to be able to buy a party dress or get a massage. I budget for it! Yes I actually budget for massages. They are important to me and my emotional well being. Some of you like scrapbooking right? That's expensive too!

• I no longer keep my eyes closed when Hubby opens the credit card bill. Know why? We don't get a credit card bill anymore!

• I can save for vacations, presents, and extras without having stress - I just know that as time goes by I'll have it all saved up.

• I have extra fun money - yes I actually have more now than I used to! It's funny how that works. By budgeting now, I don't waste extra money getting a quick coffee out or stopping for fast food. I don't miss it a bit and the cash that used to go to those undocumented items is now our date money! Much more fun.

• Money doesn't disappear into a black hole. Really. Surely you know that deep dark hole that the Birthday money great-grandma sent every year.... .... It just went - somewhere, and I'd send the obligatory note:

  Thanks Grandma for the wonderful birthday check, I've used it for a book I've been dying to read and......

  All made up of course, I had no idea where the birthday check went...

• Hubby and I have to talk about money.

Things I hate about budgeting my money:

• Hubby and I have to talk about money

• I can't use money or shopping to make me feel better.

• I can't impulse spend on a double hot fudge chocolate sundae to make me feel better. (actually I could since I've budgeted fun money, but I've learned not to...

• Hubby and I have to talk about money.

Any comments about your loves and hates?

More reading: Changing your habits

Necessities or luxuries? A bit about our budget

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.

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