Same Song, Second ... No, Third ... No, Fourth Verse
So, I've decided to take an optimistic look at recent "backsliding." I've been beating myself up over my financial struggles for, oh, about eight years now, and all it's gotten me is more in debt. So I'm chosing not to see this as a Cheap Women failure.
Instead, I'm trying to identify some of the reasons I've struggled over the past few weeks at actually spending less and keeping track of where my money's going.
First, I keep spending all my tip money. Each week, I get this little envelope labeled with my name -- inside is cash! It's like a secret present every week, and for some reason I don't feel like this money "counts" in my spending. So, starting tomorrow, I'm going to try to deposit my tip money in the bank immediately (except for $10, which I'll use as spending money).
"Secondably," I don't feel very accountable to keep track of money. Sure, this whole blogging thing represents a certain level of progress on that front. But I'm not actually posting what I'm spending, am I? To solve that, Elisa and I have agreed to post our spending at the end of this month and then once a week. If I skip a few days, I can pretty easily reconstruct them and I'm still on track for the week.
As for tracking my spending this month, I know how much I've spent because I've only used money from the aforementioned magic tip envelopes. But I don't know where it went (okay, it went to Al's and the Purple Onion ... but I don't know specifically how much or what days). I'll have to file those expenses under "temporary insanity" or something.
Third, I keep eating out because I'm tired and don't want to prepare meals. The food doesn't even taste good anymore, and I'm sick of it. In the next few days I'm going to try hard to find a time to prepare several meals and freeze them so I don't grab convenience foods. (I know freezing food in Tupperware sounds very 1970s housewife, but this method has worked very well for me in the past.)
So here I go ... back on the wagon, or the train, or insert your own trite expression involving a method of transportation.
SHOUT OUTS (Forgive me if I miss you ... I'm a little behind)
O.Z. ... for the delicious Blue Moon Cheese
Lyndsay ... for the best granola I've ever had -- I eat it every day!
Heather ... for several home-cooked meals
Instead, I'm trying to identify some of the reasons I've struggled over the past few weeks at actually spending less and keeping track of where my money's going.
First, I keep spending all my tip money. Each week, I get this little envelope labeled with my name -- inside is cash! It's like a secret present every week, and for some reason I don't feel like this money "counts" in my spending. So, starting tomorrow, I'm going to try to deposit my tip money in the bank immediately (except for $10, which I'll use as spending money).
"Secondably," I don't feel very accountable to keep track of money. Sure, this whole blogging thing represents a certain level of progress on that front. But I'm not actually posting what I'm spending, am I? To solve that, Elisa and I have agreed to post our spending at the end of this month and then once a week. If I skip a few days, I can pretty easily reconstruct them and I'm still on track for the week.
As for tracking my spending this month, I know how much I've spent because I've only used money from the aforementioned magic tip envelopes. But I don't know where it went (okay, it went to Al's and the Purple Onion ... but I don't know specifically how much or what days). I'll have to file those expenses under "temporary insanity" or something.
Third, I keep eating out because I'm tired and don't want to prepare meals. The food doesn't even taste good anymore, and I'm sick of it. In the next few days I'm going to try hard to find a time to prepare several meals and freeze them so I don't grab convenience foods. (I know freezing food in Tupperware sounds very 1970s housewife, but this method has worked very well for me in the past.)
So here I go ... back on the wagon, or the train, or insert your own trite expression involving a method of transportation.
SHOUT OUTS (Forgive me if I miss you ... I'm a little behind)
O.Z. ... for the delicious Blue Moon Cheese
Lyndsay ... for the best granola I've ever had -- I eat it every day!
Heather ... for several home-cooked meals
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