Falling Off The Wagon?

[Libby]

I know I've seen threads in the past about having already fallen off the wagon and then how to get back on but never really one about this?

So tell me....how do you realize you're starting to fall but have not completely fallen off the wagon?

I'm just checking back into what I call 'reality' lol and thought I was on top of my game but clearly am not. I've been trying to keep on top of the holes in my budgeting and watching my spending etc but I can't really pinpoint where I started to fall off. I seem to have caught myself mid-fall (ha-ha) but to be honest, never really noticed I was falling.

What are some of your warning signs where you've caught yourself slowly sliding? And what have you done to stop and reverse it?

[never2late]

I've been struggling with this a bit myself lately. I threw a surprise 50th for DH at the end of August; dropped a bit of a bundle on that, but I paid for it with cash, so I justified it. In retrospect, wish I had prepared a little bit better and spent a bit less. It seems once I get in the mode of spending, it just gets easier and easier to do. I have been buying a lot stockpiling, but I really need to stop doing that at this point and get back to paying off debt. Once the wallet opens, it seems to develop a dark hole to nowhere. At this point I just need to concentrate on no-spending days, recycling leftovers, etc.

[shoiji]

I usually can tell when the amount I would like to be saving seems to be falling short. Unfortunately I have been needing different things for a volunteer job so spending has been more than I would like. I am glad I did have the money to spend, but in the back of my mind there is a voice saying STOP!

Hopefully when October rolls around I can start saving like I want to.

[dcompton]

I agree with never2late. Once I start spending - usually for something legitimate -- it does get easier. It can easily bump up to a habit. That sort of happened to me this summer, when spending became more of the norm than usual.

Also, getting more of something than I need, but that can be hard to judge in the moment -- that's usually the wisdom of hindsight. It always seems like a good idea at the time.

I use a CC for ordinary purchases, and when I have begun slipping into spending mode, entering the purchases on the computer and seeing a total that should not be that high so early in the month can be a wake up call to stop while I'm still ahead.

[Cricketlegs]

When I stop knowing what is owed or what balances are is when I know I am NOT concentrating on my budget.

When I am on my game I can rattle off numbers and pay offs right off the top if my head.

[AmyBoz]

We pay off our bills every month. So, when I start wondering and checking balances to make sure we have everything covered, I know I've fallen off the wagon and it's time to tighten up and get back on!!!

[dcompton]

Another sign for me -- usually walking through a store I'm thinking "I don't need that ... I don't need that ... I don't need that either...."

When that begins to turn to "Oh, that would be good for dessert ... that would be really pretty in the kitchen ... you know, I could use another set of sheets ... what a nice color...." Then -- I better watch out! The wagon seat is getting slippery.

[Minner77]

What if I told you I am one of those strange agents who rarely if ever gets into the off-the-wagon mode? I just have worked hard to develop a philosophy of what's really important to me in life (not that you all haven't also), and since my DH and I have our long and short term goals firmly established, it's pretty easy to not overspend. Not that I don't break out my Visa -- because I sure do! -- and not that I don't splurge at the grocery store when there are whopping good deals to stock up on, it's just that I am well aware of our desire to balance our intake, our outgo, and our savings/investments for the long-term benefit of our family.

We have a sound EF, some nice investments, and no debt outside of our mortgage. We are, at the same time, painfully aware of how all could collapse at any moment. It helps a lot that I was born into a very frugal family and that for most of my life I had very little money to spend. Too, I was "born old," -- and boring!

I'll say in all seriousness, not just to flatter the awesome people here, that when I start to get lax I find it of tremendous value to start really participating again here on FV. There are so many wise and warm people here willing to share their wealth of knowledge and the depth of their hearts with us all, and I've benefitted greatly from it.

Random thought: When I'm trying to really save, I just plain old don't read ads, much less venture into stores.

Another random thought: I find (just my humble opinion...) that the words "justify" and "rationalize" are often tip-offs that one is spending unnecessarily.

Shoiji: I hear ya on spending for volunteer work. My volunteer jobs "cost" me, too, but they're sure worth it!

[Thevail]

The sign I notice is... "it would be a lot easier if I..."

I spend more money on "convenience" than on anything else.

Easier to pick up lunch on the go.. since I'm so busy today.. than to have planned in advance.

Easier to just pick up a new cute set of kitchen towels than to just knit some out of cotton yarn I already have.

Easier to go to the correct aisle in the hardware store and just get what I need from the right shelf.. than to sort through all that stuff at the salvage store just to save a few bucks.

Man, "easier" costs me a lot of money.

[ml2620]

I know what you mean...I don't think I've exactly fell off the wagon, but we are getting in to an expensive part of the year when my husband's income drops significantly (and believe me, it wasn't great at ALL this year) and I'm realizing how tough it's going to be and how careful we will need to be.

Last month I did have a small windfall and used it to buy much, much needed clothes for work. I accumulated $75 in Kohl's cash from that and will use the Kohl's cash to shop for Christmas gifts. Despite the fact that it was totally necessary to have those things to maintain a professional image and show I can work, act and dress like management (i.e. ready for a promotion), it was hard to let go.

I agree that when I start browsing in stores I know I'm in trouble. Last year, when I really dug in to my frugal plan, I made lists, researched on the internet and walked into a store and sought out a sales person immediately to help me find what I needed. It kept me from looking around and browsing, and depending on the store, it set up an opportunity to negotiate price, since they knew I was only in the store for that one thing. Lately though, I've been browsing, and those days are OVER.

[Moor]

For me, it was when I stopped coming to FV. I was letting my dh and kids talk me into things that I knew were not right, but I didn't want to tell them no anymore.

When I am on here and able to read about other people being frugal, then it helps me to stay on track. I have gotten my dh back on track, and now since we only have to the two youngest living at home, it makes it a lot easier to stay on track.

But I know that there are things that I really need to start doing more of. Those are things that I am going to be tackling this winter. Like getting a stockpile, cooking more from scratch, doing things myself instead of getting others to do them for me.

[geckoace]

i know im backsliding when i check our accounts and i see charges that have posted and i dont even know what they are.. usually fast food meals or when the total transactions takes up page after page... then i know we need a debit card fast, which usually gets us right back on track

[frugal is fun]

I have a credit card balance that I can't pay off in one month. That hasn't happened since last Christmas. And yes I can justify everything but I should have waited, paid it off, then charged again.

So to reign my self in, I went back to basics, cooking from scratch, making bread, buying fabric to cover an old blanket instead of spending 3 times as much on a new blanket. Go to Goodwill first for the things I need.

[Minner77]

I don't get people who refuse/ are too embarrassed to buy used. I chuckled once when I ran into a friend in a Goodwill, as both of our sons were cowering in the cars, mortified that someone would see them (or their moms) shopping at a (gasp!) thrift store.

Among other wonderful reasons, shopping thrift stores fits beautifully with my reduce/reuse/recycle matra. I have a sophisticated, trendy friend who couldn't wait to tear into the garage sale gifts -- and they were labeled as such -- given to her at her baby shower. Turns out it's a tradition in her circle. Gotta love it.

[ShellyB]

Sometimes I just want to shop and I am not a shopper or even like shopping but I feel like I have been depriving myself.

What I do is go to the thrift store. I look at all the lovely clothes and knick knacks there and then there is no way in hell I'm gonna spend full price at a regular clothing store.