Budget Shmudget
You don't hear me blabbering much around here about budgeting and pinching pennies. Probably because I'm not very good at it. Well, in most areas anyway.
Here I am in Switzerland in 2009 when we had to get Swiss Francs rather than the Euro, which is used everywhere else in Europe. The bills looked kind of like artsy Monopoly money.
I'd say I'm good in some areas: I make my lunch every day of the week, try to go out to eat maybe once a week, avoid alcohol at restaurants when I don't REALLY want a glass.
But I'm not so good in other areas: clothing (because I love it so), workout gear (I justify that it doesn't matter what it costs, more or less, because I sweat a lot and am worth good exercise stuff), vacations (hell, I'm on vacation, I deserve it!), etc.
Well, the last month or two all that fun stuff has gotten out of hand. Well, that and buying plane tickets to fly out to the midwest for Christmas. ;) I find myself every few days staring at my online credit card statement thinking "Why in the hell is this total so high?"
In all reality, it's not that high, especially with a plane ticket thrown in there, gas to and from Cali, and two nights at a hotel in Monterey, but still. It's crazy how those small trips to the grocery store, gas fill ups and $40 here and there at Gap or the local running store will add up. Luckily, I should be able to pay the card off at the end of the month as I do every month, but ultimately, I don't want to be stressing about the balance.
Part of me knows I need to tighten up the purse strings a bit, but the other part of me thinks "Hey, I'm paying my bills and student loans AND saving money for retirement. I can live a little." I guess it's just a matter of how much I allow myself to live it up. :)
What's your attitude on spending and saving? What areas could you improve on? Feel free to send your money saving/spending strategies my way!
And with that, I'm off to fly the friendly skies (or something like that) and spend more money in Nashville!
Here I am in Switzerland in 2009 when we had to get Swiss Francs rather than the Euro, which is used everywhere else in Europe. The bills looked kind of like artsy Monopoly money.
I'd say I'm good in some areas: I make my lunch every day of the week, try to go out to eat maybe once a week, avoid alcohol at restaurants when I don't REALLY want a glass.
But I'm not so good in other areas: clothing (because I love it so), workout gear (I justify that it doesn't matter what it costs, more or less, because I sweat a lot and am worth good exercise stuff), vacations (hell, I'm on vacation, I deserve it!), etc.
Well, the last month or two all that fun stuff has gotten out of hand. Well, that and buying plane tickets to fly out to the midwest for Christmas. ;) I find myself every few days staring at my online credit card statement thinking "Why in the hell is this total so high?"
In all reality, it's not that high, especially with a plane ticket thrown in there, gas to and from Cali, and two nights at a hotel in Monterey, but still. It's crazy how those small trips to the grocery store, gas fill ups and $40 here and there at Gap or the local running store will add up. Luckily, I should be able to pay the card off at the end of the month as I do every month, but ultimately, I don't want to be stressing about the balance.
Part of me knows I need to tighten up the purse strings a bit, but the other part of me thinks "Hey, I'm paying my bills and student loans AND saving money for retirement. I can live a little." I guess it's just a matter of how much I allow myself to live it up. :)
What's your attitude on spending and saving? What areas could you improve on? Feel free to send your money saving/spending strategies my way!
And with that, I'm off to fly the friendly skies (or something like that) and spend more money in Nashville!
Comments
and I usually go a little bit over in one budget or another, but it helps me to see where my money is going and what I need to cut back on.
:)
When I changed jobs this spring I put together a budget and got a better grasp on cash out / cash in and that awareness has really helped me!
Maybe challenge yourself to put away an extra $25 every 2 weeks or something like that? I doubt you'll even miss the extra shirt or couple of lattes it would buy you and then you'll have extra money to pay for your upcoming vacays!
:-) Not that bad off, but I am not the millionaire next door that drives a Gremlin either.
I (would like to) think my saving habits have improved. I now pay extra towards my mortgage principle every month, contribute to a 401K, and have a bit of a buffer. But, I know, that I could do better.
My weaknesses: travel, good food, books, wine, coffee, chocolate.
My only advice is that if you can't pay off your credit card every month...it might be time for a change. Budgets and micromanaging are time consuming...and I would rather be running, reading, or whatever.
I try to budget groceries and pack lunches; I rarely spend money on Clothes (for now), but have spent a good amount on Lululemon gear in the past week, for obvious reason (it's awesome, and I actually have to wear it - ha, not a bad thing). We also try to only eat out once a week and go easy on the drinks if we Do get them. Little things add up quickly!