Getting back on the wagon....and finding balance.

[tinkarooni]

We are a family of four. DH and I both work and make what most people would consider very good money. I work at home and am very lucky to get the best of all worlds when it comes to my job, an enormously flexible schedule, good pay and the ability to work in my pajamas. I really don't have any desire to quit my job at this point in time. The problem we have is just like many people. Although we are not in debt other than our mortgage, this month we will probably have overspent what we can pay off on our credit card by using cash on hand. Now we have money in savings and that's what we will have to use and that stinks.

Some of the items are frivolous....we bought a livestock guardian puppy this month, DH is finishing the basement himself, I ordered new chickens, seed potatoes and got depressed and bought some new spring clothes.

I know that what we need to do is find a balance......save and pay down our mortgage while also allowing money for spending. We tried to go cold turkey on spending and it just isn't realistic for us. A balance is more likely to be successful.

Is this how you live? How did you find your balance? I would love to hear how others accomplished what we are still striving to do. Thanks!

 

[donrae]

We're still new to budgeting, but it's working for us. When you get paid, sit down with you honey and, on paper, spend all your money. Essentials first, then savings, then fun money. Decide in advance how much you're going to spend on eating out, clothing, hobbies, etc. until you get paid again. That way you know how much you have to spend on what. It's not really limiting your spending, per se, it's making a plan and sticking to it. And spend every penny on that paper budget! If you don't name it then, it WILL disapperar over the next few weeks. Good luck!

 

[Up-the-Creek]

Balance can be hard to find. We have been trying for sometime. I thought we could tighten our belts and pay off our smaller bills and pay down our mortgage and save some money too,...it didn't work that way. Life happens,...I finally figured out we can only do what we can,...be responsible with what we spend and enjoy life. If there is no enjoyment in life,..then what is the point? So I ordered my chicks, put money back to buy pigs,..ordered piles of garden seeds,..and felt good about it. That is my balance anyway,....

 

[Denim Deb]

I've heard it said that in order to really find balance, each person needs to have a certain amount of money in the budget that they are NOT accountable for. That's money that they can use to spend however they want, whether it's on a new pair of shoes, going out w/the girls, or whatever. As long as the amount is kept realistic, and it is NOT hurting the relationship, it can be a life saver. (Or at least help you stay sane.)

 

[FarmerChick]

for me, I don't know but a "real" budget never worked. I can't stand budgets or any type of limited spending.

Honestly, I just say NO

I would not have spent when depressed or bored like you did, just because, I would have the control to say NO


you gotta find the word NO in your vocab. it is the easiest way to do this. NO NO NO

lol

and when you DO NEED something, shop around and find deals and be thrilled you got what you want and saved money. I get a kick out of saving money tho lol

I am doing well also but like you I can spend and be cash poor. I been there and one thing I realized, saying NO around the big bill time is what I must do. When those bills are over and I have those 2 good weeks to spend some, I do.

well hope it helps you lol
some people can say NO and others can't and might need that budget to help them. I am a NO gal haha and I finally made hubby realize this also. I handle the finances and if I say NO it is no cause I know the money available. If he wants something big he tells me and I tell him when he can pull out money etc. I don't control him, he just wants nothing to do with the finance which is fine by me.

 

[rebecca100]

I am mostly a NO person also. However, sometimes if I know we will be okay, I spend on stuff that I just plain want. Like when our income taxes came in I bought a bunch of blackberry, blueberry, grape and raspberry plants. Dh is more the spend it while you can life is too short person. Normally we are broke at the end of each pay period. I used to worry, (still do sometimes), but I have figured out that as long as our bills are paid and we don't take on too much debt, then it is all good.

 

[lorihadams]

I am a lot like Farmerchick....we have 2 weeks that are for bills and two weeks that are for "other" and that is when I stock up on groceries, staples, paper stuff and toiletries. All that junk.

The problem we have is fresh food and going out to eat. Not so much with me and the kids but hubby. Like tonight we were exhausted and he wanted to order out but I pulled out leftovers and heated them up....then in an ironic twist of fate he dropped his entire plate on the floor and ended up fixing himself a sandwich and ate some steamed cabbage.

You have to find a balance and think before you spend. If you really don't need it then don't get it.

 

[abifae]

Yes. My money goes to essentials, and then extra food (what can I say? I love to cook LOL), and then dance lessons, and then extras.

 

[framing fowl]

What I've found helpful is to ask myself, does this get me closer to my goals? Once I focus on the goals, it is easier to know whether it is okay to say yes or no to whatever I am contemplating purchasing. Focusing on goals and what is really important helps me with the balance thing.

 

[so lucky]

When I am tempted to buy something I want but don't really need, I give myself a few days to mull it over. If it's still there when I go back, and I still think I have to have it, I will probably buy it. I have been amazed at how my feelings change over the course of a few days.
Years ago I found a fabulous dress I really wanted but was slightly out of my budget. I just knew it would "change my life," make me smarter, prettier, more sophisticated, etc. I made myself wait, checking the store now and then to see if it was still there. It must have been 6 months later, I found that the dress was marked WAY down, on the clearance rack. However, by then, the dress just didn't move me at all. Looked rather tacky hanging there; nothing I wanted. Mmmm.....?