It's hard to be frugal

**Jaded** · 05-01-2007, 10:35 AM

when you're overwhelmed by life. I'm going through that at the moment, and being frugal is the least of my worries. I know it would help me to try to do things to save money, but I'm so depressed and tired, I just don't care.

I'm going deeper in the hole every day, and getting more depressed about it. Every time I try to be frugal, I blow it. Like the other day, I bought BOGO pasta at work, put it in the break room, forgot it, and someone took it. So there's $1.09 down the drain. Then there was the half gallon of milk I left out overnight and had to toss.

I don't feel like cooking from scratch when I get home from working on my feet all day long. I try to buy the cheapest things I can, but that's about all I can handle right now, and that's not enough.

I just can't think straight, I'm so stressed, and you really have to have it together to be really frugal and make it work.

**Radish4ever** · 05-01-2007, 10:52 AM

First of all, (((hugs))) to you! BTDT and it's such a yucky, out of control, spiraling downward type of feeling!

How about focusing on what you CAN control? Maybe starting with those dinners you don't want to make. Have you considered maybe cooking your meals for the week on the weekend? THen you just have to re-heat and you're set! Nothing to worry about besides heating an oven and poking your food in there! Or, if you have one nearby, have you considered maybe getting a box of food from Angel Foods Ministry? It's $25 and contains a good mix of pre-made and raw foods to work with. Time AND money saver!

Don't worry if you're not being your "most frugal" all the time. It is extremely overwhelming and time-consuming all at once! I've been telling myself to just focus on one or two things at a time!

**ellebee** · 05-01-2007, 11:07 AM

Hi Jaded ((hugs)) I certainly know how you feel - I've been there many times. I agree with the last poster about doing things you can control - I always try to see my successes and forget about the failures - easier said than done but take a minute and write down all the right things you have done in the last week - I'm sure you will see some progress in your frugal journey - Being frugal isn't about being perfect remember! Hope you feel better soon

**Jaded** · 05-01-2007, 11:15 AM

Thanks for the advice. I work on weekends, and lately, my days off are taken up with Dr.'s appts. due to a Workers Comp injury. Today, I'm making what I know is a vain attempt to just get the house clean.

If I can do that, I'll pick one thing and do that. Maybe it will help.

**LynnLC** · 05-01-2007, 11:15 AM

I'm with the others ! Just try to pick one manageable thing at a time. Somedays, that may be just keeping your head together! We've all been there. Hang in there and stick with us

**staceyy** · 05-01-2007, 04:15 PM

Perhaps www.flylady.com can help.

**Ceashels** · 05-01-2007, 05:33 PM

What everyone above me said.... with all the hugs too. You need to do it one day at a time. A crock pot can be your best friend. Even if you fill it with nothing but some root veggies and the frugalist piece of meat. You could have a healthy and delicious meal every day with little work.

I wish you luck.

**Jaded** · 05-01-2007, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by Ceashels

What everyone above me said.... with all the hugs too. You need to do it one day at a time. A crock pot can be your best friend. Even if you fill it with nothing but some root veggies and the frugalist piece of meat. You could have a healthy and delicious meal every day with little work.

I wish you luck.

You know, I have a great crock pot, the cadillac of crock pots. I made my ex buy it for me one Christmas so I could make us meals, and all I've used it for is to boil peanuts. LOL

You're right, of course, that would be a simple thing I could do.

I hate Flylady! She makes me feel inferior! LOL I can't even get past the "keep your kitchen sink shiny " part.

**Radish4ever** · 05-01-2007, 06:18 PM

Oooh flylady bugs me too! I feel SO overwhelmed by it. LOL

**autumnlynn** · 05-01-2007, 06:31 PM

I second the suggestion of using the crock pot. I couldn't live without mine. It makes life so much easier. Sending hugs and good thoughts your way.

**Ceashels** · 05-01-2007, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by Jaded

I hate Flylady! She makes me feel inferior! LOL I can't even get past the "keep your kitchen sink shiny " part.

roflmao... that is where i stopped too!

**KrieBabie** · 05-02-2007, 01:50 AM

Just thought I'd join the hugging party...I completely understand how you feel. It's hard to go about things normally when you don't even have your basic needs met. And although money doesn't buy happiness...having too much of a lack of money makes you feel like you're not doing your job as a wife/girfriend/mother/etc. Feeling like that hurts and the next thing you know, you have to force yourself to get out of bed in the morning. Sometimes living your life normally isn't an option. If you don't feel like cooking/housework, don't. You're not going to look back on your life in ten years and say to yourself..."Wow, I wish I did that load of dishes".

The crockpot idea is good. There are several very delicious, easy, and actually quite frugal recipes on the web.

And try sav-a-lot for your convience foods.

Take a couple of deep breaths, and get some rest. Make a game plan. It helps...or at least keeps hope, one or the other. Things will get better.

Everything will be okay in the end...so if it's not okay, it's not the end!

**thrifty gal** · 05-02-2007, 10:41 AM

Everyone has given great advice. I just came out of a HUGE slump. It lasted about 4 months. I went into more cc debt, and was totally unfrugal!! aarrrgghhh!!! But, I finally came out of it, and I'm so glad. I wished that I had at least done what I could, and not completely abandoned every frugal thing. This will pass, so hang in there!

**Minner77** · 05-03-2007, 10:19 AM

Dearheart --

Maybe you can only do one thing a day... so don't worry about it. Do that one thing. Maybe it's only one thing a week -- do that. Just keep on keepin' on. Don't throw your hands up in the air and say the heck with it. Do what you can, take lots of deep breaths, and know that a lot -- a lot!! -- of good people care about you and are pulling for you. So maybe you tread water for a while --'tis better than regressing, yes?

Praying for you,
Mary