Trying to go "No Spend"

[Astrid]

Have reviewed our expenditure for the past 10 or so months. At the start, I predicted that we would have been $5,000 ahead, but sadly no. Yes, there were some expenses I just had not budgeted for, plus add to that I will still rebuilding my work wardrobe after years of not working in an office and we fixed some things that we had put off due to no money. Even taking that into account we certainly overspent.

I realise that we get sucked in to "its cheap" So spend, $5 here, $10 there on just small stuff for the girls. I will sometimes just grab a top off the discount rack, then realise later that I just don't like it.
I admit I do have a panic about missing out. What if that item is not there later? What if my favourite gets ruined, should I buy a back-up? etc Same with food, don't like to run out of things (which in a way is sensible, as extra trips to the shop cost more), but honestly some food items we can run out of, it is not a disaster to wait till the the next shop for them.

So I am vowing to try and be better with spending. To really think twice before I buy. To not just go to the shops just in case there is a bargain (for every good one, there is also a dud). As much as I would like to convince myself, walking around shops is not exercise

Along with helping our budget, the girls are becoming little consumers. Expecting to be bought something when we are out, it needs to stop. They already have too much stuff, they have enough clothes. They don't treat well the possessions they do have.

Wish me luck!