Freaking Out a Little

**daughter of pearl** · 08-02-2008, 11:31 AM

Hi folks...I have been doing really well for a bit now, but today I am really tempted to go blow the budget...I am trying to listen to reason and distract myself with other things...any advice?

Janet

**DJ1972** · 08-02-2008, 11:38 AM

OMG that was sooo me yesterday. I think it was the tax free weekend thing. I was just in a foul mood and wanted some retail therapy...even sat around pouting about it. I couldn't for the life of me justify it though as the only thing I haven't got for the kids school is shoes, and I knew if I went shopping I would spend about $25 in gas, $20 eating out, and god knows what on other things besides shoes that I would have found. So, I ordered them online (free shipping), and I stayed home and listened to Dave Ramsey on my Ipod while I did laundry and cleaned out a closet. Soooo, proud of myself today. You CAN DO IT! Find something to distract you......start a project, a book, take a walk, bake some brownies for an elderly person, anything, just don't shop!

**knotme** · 08-02-2008, 11:50 AM

My absolute favourite way to save money is to.............

Don't go shopping............

**Marie78** · 08-02-2008, 12:03 PM

You can fight the urge...I was holding and playing with the most adorable puppy three weeks ago. The adorable puppy cost $1,000. I had to fight the urge to wipe out my entire Vacation Savings for our trip to LA in Ocotober and my EF Fund. I came very close to making one of the dumbest decisions this decade for myself.

I talked myself into putting down the puppy and walking away. I had to work really hard to convince myself that the adorable puupy would go to a loving home, and I coudn't blow my hard earned savings like this, and my fiance would kill me if I brought this dog home, and I really want to rescue a pound puppy someday because they would need a home more than the adorable $1,000 puppy that somebody will pay top money for. I walked away and it took a lot of strength to say no to myself.

I have faith that you can resist your urge too

! Envision all of the things that will happen if you blow your budget, especially if you have somebody else in your life that would be effected by it.

**ladykemma2** · 08-02-2008, 12:48 PM

go to dave ramsey website and listen to the archived radio shows. on friday he lets people share their success stories and scream "I'm debt free!"

it's free.

**Momof3girls** · 08-02-2008, 12:49 PM

If you have a library near you, go there. Spend a few hours there and read magazines, check out the movies and books.
Usually that helps me a lot.

**Darlene** · 08-02-2008, 12:51 PM

Write down your goals and look at it often. Think of the cost of gas, stay home. If you get the newspaper, those ads go straight to the recycle bin without you looking through them.
You don't NEED what you think you WANT.

**daughter of pearl** · 08-02-2008, 01:03 PM

Thanks everyone so much...I have spent the morning alternatively pouting and crafting (I'm making a beaded mobile for a friend)...you folks have the best advice!! I am going to listen to Dave Ramsey's radio archives...thanks again!!

**hippytreehugger4ever** · 08-02-2008, 01:46 PM

When I get like that I just take $5 and head to Dollar Tree.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 08-02-2008, 02:37 PM

I know that sometimes, I look at my budget and I wonder why I do it.

I give it a few minutes thought and I miss the days when I used to buy things online from Victoria's Secret, plus fast food all the time and then on top of that, I'd just use my cell phone more than I needed to.

I then look back on how much I saved and I'm on

.

I've never had money in savings before, neither has DH, until we came to Frugal Village. I've gotten into the habit of disciplining myself to put every dime that's left in our checking accounts into savings when we get a new influx of income. I look at our debt snowball repayment plan and smile because I know by June 2010, we'll be out of the hole and can put money into retirement.

Trust me, I get the urges to spend money too. I go to Superstore and they have everything on clearance, but then I remember it's just something that I don't need. I look in my closet and realize I have too many clothes. I found too that a nice bowl of ice cream and some TV helps calm me when I want to "blow the budget".

**missmanny** · 08-02-2008, 10:17 PM

I think that by posting you have probably already saved yourself from well yourself...

Don't stress, we all get that feeling, some of us like me more then others, make sure that there is a little bit of wiggle room in your budget for some occasional low proced treats, it makes that time go much easier.

**frugal-fannie** · 08-03-2008, 12:01 AM

1. work so much you don't have time to shop.
2. Make a list of what you have and realize you probably have more clothes or what ever than you could use in a life time -right now.Be very thankful for what you do have. I remember what it was like for me to not have things when I was poor and then I think of the world vision kids I support who have next to nothing or the nomads on the direct tv special that spend 6 months of work to make $500 and it is a life threatening journey to sell salt. Salt that costs us 29 cents at the 99 cent only store. Then I want to turn off all my electric because I feel guilty wasting electricity that cost more than these people make in a year and not waste food or products. After that I feel so blessed,thankful and grateful to be right where I am.
3. right down your goals and work out a plan, break it down to small reachable goals and reward yourself when you reach a goal. I have some cheap books that I put away and when I have time. I am going to read them.
4. If all that doesn't work window shop and buy a small gift certificate. along with your free panty coupon from Victoria Secret.

**Wendy99** · 08-03-2008, 10:51 AM

Sometimes when I feel like this I take $5-$10 to the salvation army or goodwill and go shopping lol ... a lot of the time I find something I truly need (like yesterday - clothes for my self including shirts and shorts (I only had 1 pair of shorts) and curtains for dd room (she had a blanket hanging up), shirts for dh ... it's kind of like going to a garage sale - never know what you'll find ... (this is for if you truly can't stop the urge to shop given the ideas above) ..