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Struggling

June 30th, 2007 at 12:47 pm

So it looks like once again I have messed up with our budget. We have very little money to make it to the next paycheck, which is Friday.

I start each week with good intentions, then loose them all as the week goes on. We decide to order in becasue it is too hot to cook. We need groceries I didn't budget for (sour milk anyone?). I need more gas in the car, and I forgot to budget that in. We go to the bookstore/magazine store to "just look" and then have no willpower. Kittie has an emergency and we need to go to the vet.

It's so much harder to live in a budget than I thought. I mean, I completely see the benefits and I don't ever want to go back to how I was before, but I'm not quite where I want to be yet.

Sometimes I feel like a financial failure. Sure, I am better now than how I used to be, but damn, there is still so far to go!!!

8 Responses to “Struggling”

  1. LuxLivingFrugalis Says:
    1183204229

    Hang tough! It can be quite the roller-coaster until you get out in front of these expenses and have them set aside in your budget. Look how far you've come - you can do this - keep after it, it'll fall into place.

  2. rduell Says:
    1183204716

    It helps me to have the recurring expenses written down in a spreadsheet or a piece of paper. That way I don't forget them as I'm budgeting each paycheck.

  3. Carolina Bound Says:
    1183205413

    Your budget will never be perfect, because life happens. Just be flexible, and plan for emergencies.

  4. Ima saver Says:
    1183210468

    I have my budget written on a piece of paper, which I change every few years. I still have to look at it every week, even after 40 years.

  5. jennlem Says:
    1183211294

    It has helped me in the past to ease up on throwing everything extra towards debt for a month or two to build up a bit of a little emergency/splurge fund. Just an idea. Hang in there--it will all be worth it!

  6. scfr Says:
    1183217961

    Hang in there, girl! You are definitely making progress in the right direction, and the payoffs down the road will be worth the effort in more ways than you can even imagine now.

    Don't fret about the expense of the kittie emergency; that one couldn't be helped. Kittie is well and that is what really matters. [Down the road, when you have an EF built up, or have a fat cushion in your "Pet Expenses" column, those types of emergencies won't faze you.]

    Regarding the "just looking" expenditures at the book/magazine store, do you have a library in your town? Next time you have the urge to browse, what about stopping by the library and checking out anything that catches your eye?

    Regarding the overages on food and gas, the only advice I can give is to find a system that works for you to plan for those expenses in advance.

    And always remember that there are lots of us here who are rooting for you!

  7. baselle Says:
    1183246187

    It happens. Time to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again on the next paycheck. Regarding the too hot to cook - perhaps cranking out the crockpot might be helpful. I use the crockpot more during the summer than I do during the winter.

  8. Amber Says:
    1183303585

    Too hot to cook is no excuse, now don't get me wrong dining out is my down fall as well and one of my biggest expenses. Also try and stay out of those magazine stores, I definately stay away from the clothing store because I too can not say no. But remember you are not failure after all you have paid down some debt as well as paid off a car which is a big accomplishment. Life happens, it's a new month.

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