09.13.08
Gave in a little today, but not too bad
Over the last year I’ve been doing a lot of shopping. I got tired of looking like a person wearing a paper sack and revamped my wardrobe. Just because I’m fat doesn’t mean I have to dress like a slob, right? So, I have a better wardrobe for work and casual stuff and I can’t tell you how much it’s helped me gain confidence in myself.
However, I started to get a bit addicted to the shopping — a new pair of shoes here, new pants there, etc. I don’t have to have designer labels and most of my clothes come from Kohls, Torrid, Fashion Bug and Lane Bryant, but added it up it’s still a lot. Same with shoes — I buy them at Payless, Kohls and DSW, but they still add up. So, I’ve been staying away from clothing and shoe stores and it’s really helped. I still look online and in catalogs but I usually don’t buy. There’s something about buying online or from a catalog that is easier for me to avoid than when I’m in a store. I guess because when I’m in a store it truly is instant gratification.
Today was a test. My boss and I took some girls shopping for some outfits to wear to a banquet for an award we’re giving their dad. We went to a bunch of stores that had stuff I really liked. Now, I did bring some cash with me but I didn’t buy anything with them. However, it did get me jonesin’ for some shoes. So, I stopped by Payless on the way home and bought some black ankle boots and lavender plaid wedges — total was $51.98.
So, I spent cash that I already had on me that I thought I might spend earlier, but I didn’t spend all of it. I took it from cash I was going to use if I needed more groceries this week, but I’m OK and will be fine until I get paid on Friday. The best part about this is I did not get into any of the money I have in savings for this shopping trip. I won’t lie, I thought about it, had all these reasons why I deserve to get something new. In the end, I left the money in savings and used envelope money that I could afford to use.
So yes, I did do some shopping, but I was responsible about it.
08.15.08
Good and bad of the week
The Good
1. Tim usually gives me $x a month for his half of the bills. Well, since I’ve been cooking so much he hasn’t been ordering out nearly as much as in the past, nor buying snacks, so he gave me $80 toward the bills yesterday. I told him I was OK and didn’t need it, but he wanted me to have it anyway. I told him it was going into savings and he was happy about that. This is new for me — getting extra money and immediately putting it into savings because I have enough of everything, including a little cash, to get me through until I get paid next Friday.
The Bad
2. Fell off the Starbucks wagon a bit this week. Instead of going over there once, I went over there three times. Oy. I blame the Olympics because I was staying up late each night watching my favorite events, swimming, diving and gymnastics. Well, I really don’t blame them because I know it’s my own fault and I could have had some extra tea, but the Starbucks gave me a bit more of a jolt. I will be back on my once-a-week schedule next week.
02.07.08
This is getting ridiculous
Well, some more of my little bit of savings was spent this week. I fell outside the office yesterday (no ice, just klutzy) and took a sick day today. I’m OK, but had to spend a little on a wrap for my ankle because I twisted it when I fell. It wasn’t much, but it was just a little more that I had to take out of what little I’ve saved. I get paid tomorrow and should be getting that money back from the ER trip, so that will help. I also have a decent amount budgeted for groceries so I really shouldn’t have to spend money on food for the next week.
06.11.07
Update and Thanks
Thanks for the comments. It’s always nice to know I’m not alone in this. 
I meant to post this about a week ago but never did. I was going to skip it but decided I needed to keep a record of these accomplishments to go back and read on those days that are rough.
Paid June rent
Paid off my car repairs – $200
Paid Electric and Phone before I received the bill because it was in the budget for the week
Paid for a few magazine subscriptions
Bought a new vaccuum. I had budgeted $50 and was able to buy one and some extra bags.
Replaced my white sandles with another pair for $23, as the old ones were falling apart and not so good for work.
I’m realizing that magazine subscriptions are my downfall. Not just magazine subscriptions, but those clubs where you buy something and you get them in installments and pay in installments. I never really thought of it as debting, but it is. So, after I’m done with the current one, no more!
As for the magazines, there are a few I have already NOT resubscribed to and most of the rest I’ll let finish and then not resubscribe. The ones I’m keeping are the ones I actually read or use — Everyday Food, Civil War Times, Smithsonian. For some reason, I keep getting Self and Shape and similar magazines, but they often make me feel worse than better about myself. All those airbrushed people who I know really don’t look like that, but it still gets to me. I think I believed that, somehow, if I kept reading those magazines I’d magically lose weight, lol. I’m working on eating better and exercising, but I don’t need those magazines to do it.
Also, I got the statement for the phone bill today. I kept thinking it was due at the beginning of the month, but it’s actually due at the end of the month. So, I’ve been paying way ahead of time, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, since my June payment isn’t due until June 27 and I already paid it last week, I don’t have to pay again until the end of July. That’s $77 I can add to my emergency savings. That bill includes local phone, high speed internet and unlimited long distance. I love the unlimited long distance as my closest family member lives 6 hours away and I talk quite a bit with my family.
06.05.07
Going to be a tight two weeks
Well, I just bought groceries for the next two weeks and my money is pretty much gone until next payday. Oh, I have a few bucks in case something comes up, but I’m not going to spend it. I have gas in the car, my SEPTA pass, groceries and that little extra and that’s it. However, I paid the bills I wanted to pay with this check plus some I meant to pay off with the last check but spent on other things instead. So, my next paycheck will make things a little easier.
If I really need something, SO gets paid this week and I’m sure would help me out, but I’m trying to do this with my income for now and then bring him on board. He’s convinced he doesn’t need a budget because all his money goes to bills, but we all know that’s not true. However, he’s not going to want to do this until I show him that it can be done and that I’m doing it, so that’s what I’m doing. When I can say to him in a few months that I have $1k in savings and have paid off $x in debts while still using my same income and the same money he gives me for his part of our shared bills, I think he’ll come around. To be fair, he has been putting money away in his 401k so he is thinking about the future.
