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!
Last edited by Astrid; September 22nd, 2012 at 02:08 PM.
: missed word
Astrid I am exactly the same, I am having to tell the kids before we go to the shops that we aren't there to buy them anything because they constantly sook and ask for so much. I've brought it upon them because I will often just grab a little this or that but they don't know the difference. Good luck hun - i am thinking I might bring in pocket money for mine as well so they appreciate saving money, working for it, (some chores will just be ones they HAVE to do as opposed to them being linked to pocket money I think!) and hopefully we will work through it!
I'm about to do the same. For the past few months we've been spending about $100 a week on travel/food for winter sports. Its all over now & I need to put that money away, not find other things to spend it on!
I have so many things I want/need, but its all going to have to wait because I want to take my kids on an amazing holiday at christmas, so I have to do this! Going to grab the one or 2 things I need at the shops is fine. Its just down the road. But then I usually buy an iced coffee, a chocolate or something for the kids. Only about $5, but it adds up! The hot lunch every Friday while food shopping I can do without too. The iced coffee & pop top/s chips I usually get with my fuel...
Maybe I can allow the iced coffee... Its only $3 a few times a week.
Count me in! I am so bad for just buying random little things because they're cheap. I think being on two wages lulled me into a false sense of security and I got the spending bug bigtime! Not to mention the various items we've had to repair/buy which were actually necessary.
Damned if I'm going to give up my caramel latte at work though................ Sure I'll cut back, but mama deserves a treat while she brings that bacon lol.
We're the same here. I can't believe how much we spend on stuff that is impulse buying, and definitely way too much for the kids. They used to get something every single time we went out and it was one hell of a shock for them when that stopped but it was getting ridiculous.
I need to do it too. I read about an app you can download that tracks everything you spend so might have to do it. It will certainly make me more accountable if I actually have to read a list at the end of each month that highights all the frivalous purchases I make.
we had our moment where we realised that you just dont need to get a bargain just 'cause it is when we were travelling OS. i realised just how much fun it is to actually have very little to wash, pick up and play with!
when we got back we decided to continue our lack of consumerism ways and it is really liberating! it is amazing how much more time we have just for doing simple, fun stuff rather than traipsing from one supermarket and shopping centre to the next. and the big bonus is that we now have a much better cash flow and can actually direct our funds into stuff that is more meaningful as a family. (for example, all the cash that DH gets from soccer refereeing used to be our 'spend at will' money, but now we have been able to save it for the last 6 weeks and have enough for a weekend away as a family!). it all adds up those $5 "bargains"....
Good luck Astrid. I am trying to do something similar too. A few weeks ago I realised how much we spend needlessly when dd threw a serious sook because i wouldn't buy her a small treat. She had come to expect something every time we went out of the house. So now we are trying to do weekly grocery shop (it's amazing how much extra stuff you end up buying if you just nip down to the shops for one thing....) and no buying anything unless it's preplanned, ie no impulse buying.
Don't know how well I went today. Had to do the grocery shop (thankfully without DH in tow). Only blew it by $7.
Did by the girls new sunglasses, as theirs current pairs were broken. Was not sucked in to buy extra to go into a chance to win Gift Cards.
Did spend money on drinks and nibbles whilst the kids watched a free show at the shopping centre. Kept it to the bare minimum though. I don't need a snack if I am having a latte, the milkiness of it is enough.
Now I think of it, not the best day to start with everything that was going on a the shopping centre (the free show, face painting, competitions, special deals etc). I think I did well overall though.
Count me in. I'm a consumer, love to shop. But I'm spending so much money on crap that we just don't need, just for the thrill of the purchase. I am planning to do a budget this week and my goal is to save some money 'for a rainy day' and to pay extra off the mortgage. At the moment, if I've paid all the bills and the mortgage I figure anything left over is for spending.
I'm about to review our spending and set us some goals. I used to be so frugal (lived without a couch for two years) but now I'm just silly. We waste a hel of a lot of money. Now that we've lived in this house for two years (our utilities are enormous because the house isn't well insulated and we live in a very cold area)and have a good idea of our expenses, I need to do a proper budget.
uhhhh yes.
this is us and it must stop.
the extras here and there. every time we go anywhere the kids expect something to eat and drink. always asking for toys and those cheap breakable ones aren't worth it.
I need to get in the tight belt mode for when Im on assistance.
more cooking at home less trips to the supermarket
Because I finally did a proper budget for me the hard part is adjusting to the reality that there really isn't any opportunity to really reduce debt until I'm working. i guess I feel a little frustrated that even budgeting properly that we're not really getting ahead, more we're just not going backwards.
Good luck Astrid. I could have written your post myself! (minus the kids lol)
Can you do your grocery shopping at a Safeway or Coles that is not in a shopping centre? I avoid shopping centres like the plague because I either spend too much or just get sad looking at all the things I can't afford.
sloane, It would be better to look at you situation as 'not going backward' because you are right, there probably isn't an opportunity to reduce debt with one income. That way you won't set yourself up for disapointment. Heck, it's hard enough with two incomes! That way whatever you do actually save will be a bonus because you didn't expect it. The hardest part of a budget is having to pay for unplanned expenses, because they set you back and make you feel defeated.
Oh and I can't speak for everyone else, but after a while of not buying anything new/nice I start to feel crap
Last edited by Marley&Me; September 24th, 2012 at 09:27 AM.
The mindset is hard. We are about breakeven, but we are paying extra on our mortgage and paying off bad debt, with some room for little luxuries.
I am looking at some budget software that works with an app (YNAB). It is not just the software, but really a whole budget philosophy. Using the trial at the moment and debating whether it is worth the extra money.
Of course I keep on spotting nice dresses - *sigh* I do techincally have a clothing budget, I just need to stick within it.
Great thread! My issues is takeaway food! I can't help it! (well, actually I can but that's not the point lol).. And my hubby s issue is takeaway coffee. Yes, yes, we have a coffee machine... Yes he uses it, but he still buys at least 1 coffee every day. At $5 per coffee that adds up.
Another one needing to join here. I am the most terrible shopper!!! I am every shops dream!!! I do have a rough budget but I don't think it is detailed enough. Might have to re-do it. I just need to stay away from shops!!!
My children are incredibly spoilt so I just have to stop buying them stuff they definitely don't need and absolutely do not respect!!!!
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Trying to go "No Spend"
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