Why is it when you decide to be frugal that ... ?

**Lady Jennelle** · 04-26-2007, 08:53 PM

Ugh - why is it when you decide that you are really going to start being frugal and adding to EF fund that all kinds of things come up to set you back?

Okay, I must admit that they aren't big expenses but still ...

For one, since it's getting to be storm season and I don't have a lantern in case power goes out, I've pretty much made up my mind that I need to get one.

I mean, if the power should go out ... I do have a flash-light but that's not enough to be able to read or crochet by and I "have" to be able to be doing something at all times or it drives me crazy.

Secondly, I had no plans on having to buy a new remote but then mine quits working and of course, since I'm used to having one - it seems like a necessity.

Just wondering, when you decide to really get down to business with being frugal and to build up your EF fund - do you find things that you need [or think you do], that takes $ from your fund?

I'm starting to get discouraged a bit here ...

Love,

Jennelle

**Kana** · 04-26-2007, 08:57 PM

I know, right? Literally like, an hour after I joined this forum, my DF brought in the mail and in it was a letter from my bank saying my mortgage payment is going up $20 to make up for last year's escrow shortage. Stinkin' property taxes!!!

**julieb** · 04-26-2007, 09:00 PM

It does get frustrating sometimes. Our budget looked so good and I even paid off a credit card. Yesterday I found out I am laid off from my job and I don't start my new job until May 7. I feel very discouraged right now.

**Sari** · 04-26-2007, 09:17 PM

Love that Murphy, right? LOL

**Lady Jennelle** · 04-26-2007, 09:21 PM

Well, it looks like we're all in this together, huh gals?

Thank God for FrugalVillage and all of our friends here so we can help to encourage each other!

Julie, I'm so sorry about you being laid-off and that your new job won't start till the 7th of May. *Hugs*

Love,

Jennelle

**DJ1972** · 04-26-2007, 09:29 PM

What is that saying?.........What doesn't kill us will make us stronger! Hold your head up and keep plowing through, and who knows, you may have the strength of hercules in the end!

**Lady Jennelle** · 04-26-2007, 09:35 PM

Good advice, DJ!

I guess the thing to do is when things like this happen is to, save what we can [even if it's only a few dollars] and go from there knowing that at least we've saved a bit, right?

Also, learn to be more creative in saving in other ways.

Thanks for your perspective on this thread!

Love,

Jennelle

**justpeachy92** · 04-26-2007, 09:40 PM

Well you could be like me, I stressed for days trying to figure out how I was going to pay for $1500 in medical stuff over the next couple weeks, I kept coming up a little bit short running the numbers without paying a bill late. Then I remembered I have an EF.

**starsapphire** · 04-26-2007, 09:46 PM

It WILL get better! It happens to us all, don't let the setbacks get you too discouraged, pay whatever you need to pay and keep moving forward. Last year I was paying off credit card debt and in the middle of it I had to buy new tires for my car, and had some medical stuff come up and had to pay a $500 deductible and copays. I bought the tires and paid the bills and just kept my eye on the prize.

**Lady Jennelle** · 04-26-2007, 09:47 PM

Wow, compared to you ... I have nothing to whine about. *hangs my head in shame ...*

I'm so thankful that I have full medical including prescriptions for just a co-pay which isn't much at all.

Thank God for your EF fund, huh?!

Love,

Jennelle

Originally Posted by justpeachy92

Well you could be like me, I stressed for days trying to figure out how I was going to pay for $1500 in medical stuff over the next couple weeks, I kept coming up a little bit short running the numbers without paying a bill late. Then I remembered I have an EF.

**jamie79** · 04-26-2007, 10:09 PM

It happens to everyone. I think you need that lantern. It does seem like one step forward and 3 back

**Lady Jennelle** · 04-26-2007, 10:16 PM

Since my birthday is on May 8th [oooh, I'll be a whole 51. Ouch!

] ... I think that I'll use that excuse to buy the lantern for myself for my b.d.

Love,

Jennelle

**FrugalMomof3** · 04-26-2007, 10:31 PM

I know what you mean, our EF is well near $0 but it helped us get our house up to code (smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detector, florescent light cover, new outlets, etc... everytime I start getting excited that it's getting close to being the full amount, things come up and swipe it all out

I just figure, if I didnt have an EF but CC would have been used so I dont get to discouraged about it, I am thankful, really.

**Lady Jennelle** · 04-26-2007, 10:35 PM

Not having to resort to credit card usage is one way to look at it [of course I don't have any of those because of very irresponsible behavior when I did have them in the past.]

Still, I bet it feels good to know that your house is up to code and that it's safe for you and your family, huh?

When it comes right down to it, we are really all so blessed, aren't we?

Love,

Jennelle

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 04-27-2007, 02:10 AM

Boy, do I know THIS song! We just made the final payment on our new carpeting (one year, no interest) two weeks ago and whammo!, DH hit a stob while mowing the lawn and broke the crank shaft on the lawn mower. it was completely ruined, so we had to buy a new one. I put in on my Visa card (the first I have had in over fifteen years) that has no interest until the end of the year. I intend to pay it off in sixty days.