Stupid tax

**mateosbaby** · 10-01-2008, 07:44 PM

OK, I'm an idiot.

Didn't return my library books on time, about 1-2 weeks late, depending on which book it was, and I had a pile of them. It's going to cost me $47! Ouch! Yeah, could have renewed them online (my only stupid reason I didn't is because in the course of getting the house ready to sell, we moved the office upstairs and my purse stayed downstairs, far away, rather than relatively closeby before), or I could have just dropped them off without checking out more books any of the numerous times I was anywhere near the library (no excuse for this one). This at a time when we overspent (again - how does one keep the budget in one's face without forgetting about it for most of the month???) and have no money in our checking and almost as much in our savings. I need books for homeschooling this week, and of course can't check any out till I've paid the fine. I'm dreading telling my husband. He's gonna kill me! (Not literally...

Thank the Lord we get paid on Friday, but I am so afraid it's going to happen all over again that I'm just ready to give up and forget budgetting. It obviously doesn't work for me. I must be doing something wrong with this budget stuff. I put it in Excel now for Matt's sake, and now I can't keep tabs on the dumb thing. I sit at the computer off and on all day and forget it's there. But the printed out one gets lost and buried on my pile of junk on the desk. What do I have to do??? I certainly can't tape it to my computer or on the wall because of the constant showings and open houses. I am just so frustrated.

Anyway, I'm so down right now. I just have no idea how to do this. It sucks.

**sdrjeolsen** · 10-01-2008, 07:54 PM

oh, ouch! Sorry (((Hugs)))

Maybe post your budget inside a cabinet/drawer that you regularly use? Cut yourself some slack, I know selling our house took up a lot of my brain space

**mom2three** · 10-01-2008, 09:58 PM

It sounds like when we were selling and preparing for the move. I had a library fine of $96.00. Don't kick yourself too much. How old are your kids? Are they working on the internet themselves? Could you assign one the "chore" of checking books that are soon due and renewing online or the task of putting due dates on a calender? You are definitely not the only one - there is so much to selling a house, some things slide.

**Cricketlegs** · 10-01-2008, 10:15 PM

My budget is part of me. Everyday I deal with money. It can be making sure the air is on 75º to keep the bill down or skipping something unnessessary when I cook or staying home and not using the gas.

Running the household budget needs to be on your mind every minute you are awake. You should make every decision based on cost and time.

Really, think about it. There is nothing on TV so you go to the computer, do you leave an unwatched tv on running up your bill or do you make the decision based on keeping the bill within your budget and turn it off.

Make the budget became more than a passing fancy. I have a one inch notebook binder, spiral, and columner pad in mine for budget. There is even a pocket for those pesky bills. It sits by the computer, goes to the couch when I want to be comfy and even travels in the car on errand days.

If no one in your home takes it seriously you will never be financially secure.

**dcompton** · 10-01-2008, 10:15 PM

Make a condensed one (or use itty bitty type) and tape it to the bottom of your mouse pad?

I like the idea of making a child first vice president in charge of library books if you have one who could do it.

**mateosbaby** · 10-01-2008, 10:41 PM

LOL First vice president of library books. That's too funny! Unfortunately, my oldest is 5.

I'll have to figure out where to post my budget so we actually look at it every day. I'll ask my dh for ideas. He seems to be "knowledgable" in all things wasteful (he gave me a little bit of a hard time with the fine, but I asked him not to rub it in too much since I've already kicked myself all evening for it).

**frugalbabe** · 10-01-2008, 11:17 PM

You're human there is not a person alive who hasn't done something like this. Especially a mama to littles who is trying to keep a house in constant show-condition. Sounds like you've already slapped yourself on the wrist now move on. When things calm down and you've had a chance to settle this will become much more second nature --- honest!

**missmanny** · 10-02-2008, 04:13 AM

Don't Don't Don't give up, you can do it! we all pay stupid tax from time to time. Think of it as more of a fine (like for speeding) it is to stop you from doing it again.

**Jeanna** · 10-02-2008, 08:23 AM

Wow that seems expensive. How much are fines for being late? Ours here is a quarter a day. Of course with you homeschooling you may have a load of books. I know I did when I home schooled. I seem to keep a fine at the library. I think I owe them about 6 bucks now. Since I am in there all the time they let me pay a little along and still let me check out books. Guess I am lucky on that account.

**Greebo** · 10-02-2008, 09:13 AM

The fact that you made a mistake with money proves that you're over 12, no more, no less. Everyone screws up.

Quitting isn't an option - the alternative is much, MUCH worse.

**rachelj** · 10-02-2008, 09:24 AM

You say that your husband is more knowledgeable about "all things wasteful". Would it be better for him to be in charge of the budget?

Just asking...

I am good at not spending money (for the most part

) but money makes me nervous. So my dh is the one that pays all the bills - he is just much better suited for it all. Yes, I still do little ones here and there - like yesterday I paid for ds's preschool tuition. Stuff like that.

**mateosbaby** · 10-02-2008, 08:50 PM

I'm not entirely sure how much fines are, but I think they are like a dime or so a day. Multiply that by 7-14 days, times about roughly 40 books... Yeah, it's a lot.

Don't worry, I'm not giving up...yet. :-/ I am going to do my budget tonight as we get paid tomorrow. And this time, we're going to have to have a little talk about how to keep this in our face. And I have to make a set day to go to the library, evidently...

I pay all the bills, but more and more and little by little he is helping me do the budget. I am very good at math, that's not the problem. I can make the numbers work. The problem is making us stick to it and not "forget" it's there. And our biggest problem of all is eating out. With my morning sickness, I am eating tiny meals all day long, and then I don't feel like cooking a normal meal for the rest of the family (tired, full or too hungry to wait for a meal, or whatever). So when there's nothing to eat, eating out is what happens. Today was better, though. I made lunch and dinner today, and waited for both.

Grocery shopping tomorrow, so hopefully that will help as well.