I realized last month that my biggest spending leak is in food. Okay…so maybe I’ve known for a while that this was a problem, whatever, at least I’m doing something about it. Right? So instead of just idly tracking this budget and watching it as it crosses over into the red each month, I decided to try going cash only for food expenses. This actually worked, for the first few weeks….and then I realized my trips through drive thru windows went up. I guess this had an opposite effect on me, when I have cash I want to spend it.
So, now I am trying to reign in this spending with new rules…no more drive thru windows. If I have to get out of my car then there is less of a chance I will stop for fast food, and more of a chance I will run into a grocery store instead. At least that’s what I am hoping. I will still try using cash only and see how it works out.
My budget for food is still really high. I need to lower that number as well...but that will come later, one step at a time for now.
But then again, maybe I am going about this all wrong. Can I really modify my behavior by enacting rules against myself? What do you think?
Showing posts with label food expense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food expense. Show all posts
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
A Long and Un-Eventful Weekend
I didn't much of anything I set out to do this weekend...and I managed to spend a lot of money in the process.
Saturday my parents and I went to a City Wide Garage Sale. It was not as fun as I thought it would be. I found a few things for myself, and a few things to sell online, nothing that great thought. I took my mom out to dinner on Saturday, and paid for drinks with a friend later that night. I ended up staying in Sunday battling what may have turned into a migraine (no, not just a hangover).
I also set myself up for a much needed massage. I am considering going back to monthly massages again. As much as I try to put it in the WANT category and dismiss it, It always ends up back in the NEED category when the headaches and pain start back up. So now I have some juggling to do with my budget.
I have been eating out too much again. I found myself using my credit card for some meals over the weekend. (It gets paid off weekly, don't fret). That means I am off budget on food this month, since I couldn't pay for it with my Food Budget Cash.
Saturday my parents and I went to a City Wide Garage Sale. It was not as fun as I thought it would be. I found a few things for myself, and a few things to sell online, nothing that great thought. I took my mom out to dinner on Saturday, and paid for drinks with a friend later that night. I ended up staying in Sunday battling what may have turned into a migraine (no, not just a hangover).
I also set myself up for a much needed massage. I am considering going back to monthly massages again. As much as I try to put it in the WANT category and dismiss it, It always ends up back in the NEED category when the headaches and pain start back up. So now I have some juggling to do with my budget.
I have been eating out too much again. I found myself using my credit card for some meals over the weekend. (It gets paid off weekly, don't fret). That means I am off budget on food this month, since I couldn't pay for it with my Food Budget Cash.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Increasing my Net Worth by Going Cash Only
I'm getting fat while loosing lbs of moolah!
No wonder I'm gaining weight...I'm spending a small fortune on food! Well, in my defense there are three days a week I am away from home for 15 hours, making dinner especially hard to anticipate. Yes, I know I could take something with me and nuke it before class, but come on now let me have some joy in life! This is why I actually have a budget for coffee. I don't really eat dinner when I have class, I find it makes me sleepy right in the middle of the lecture.
Instead I stop by Starbucks. There... I said it... the "latte factor". Honestly, I think I spend less by going to Starbucks three times a week (four if you count Saturdays) than I did eating dinner on school nights. That.... and I need caffeine.... its a necessity. (ask any other law student and they will concur). I bleed java.
So its time to cut back and stay on budget and maybe even loose a few pounds while I'm at it. And, in order to do this efficiently I think I will attempt a new strategy....cash only for food. This is very scary for me because I never carry cash. I am more afraid I might be tempted to throw down my card, or even that I might do so out of habit. My plan will have to wait until next month, when the my evil genius plan kicks into action. Okay, so its not an evil genius plan, its not even my plan really...check out all of these other posts on it:
Need a good reason to go cash only? Try 6! Check out this wisebread post on reasons why cash only ROCKS!
Ramit at IWillTeachYouToBeRich is one of my PF heroes. He challenged his readers to save $1000 in a 30 day challenge. Tip #23 of the challenge - go cash only for 30 days!
A guest post by Danny Kofke at GetRichSlowly explains why cash is king!
Trent at the Simple Dollar shows that once we recongnize we have a spending problem, and I think I do when it comes to food, using a cash only system keeps you honest about your spending.
So, I am starting tomorrow, payday Friday. I am going to start with $380 for the month, or $190 for two weeks....that's $80 a week for those who need it broken down barney-style. This is for all food..... for lunch, going out for dinner, groceries and coffee. This seems a really high, and I am hoping the sight of so much money in my grips will make me re-think spending it....or give me an anxiety attack...seriously =\
Would you ever consider going cash only?
No wonder I'm gaining weight...I'm spending a small fortune on food! Well, in my defense there are three days a week I am away from home for 15 hours, making dinner especially hard to anticipate. Yes, I know I could take something with me and nuke it before class, but come on now let me have some joy in life! This is why I actually have a budget for coffee. I don't really eat dinner when I have class, I find it makes me sleepy right in the middle of the lecture.
Instead I stop by Starbucks. There... I said it... the "latte factor". Honestly, I think I spend less by going to Starbucks three times a week (four if you count Saturdays) than I did eating dinner on school nights. That.... and I need caffeine.... its a necessity. (ask any other law student and they will concur). I bleed java.
So its time to cut back and stay on budget and maybe even loose a few pounds while I'm at it. And, in order to do this efficiently I think I will attempt a new strategy....cash only for food. This is very scary for me because I never carry cash. I am more afraid I might be tempted to throw down my card, or even that I might do so out of habit. My plan will have to wait until next month, when the my evil genius plan kicks into action. Okay, so its not an evil genius plan, its not even my plan really...check out all of these other posts on it:
Need a good reason to go cash only? Try 6! Check out this wisebread post on reasons why cash only ROCKS!
Ramit at IWillTeachYouToBeRich is one of my PF heroes. He challenged his readers to save $1000 in a 30 day challenge. Tip #23 of the challenge - go cash only for 30 days!
A guest post by Danny Kofke at GetRichSlowly explains why cash is king!
Trent at the Simple Dollar shows that once we recongnize we have a spending problem, and I think I do when it comes to food, using a cash only system keeps you honest about your spending.
So, I am starting tomorrow, payday Friday. I am going to start with $380 for the month, or $190 for two weeks....that's $80 a week for those who need it broken down barney-style. This is for all food..... for lunch, going out for dinner, groceries and coffee. This seems a really high, and I am hoping the sight of so much money in my grips will make me re-think spending it....or give me an anxiety attack...seriously =\
Would you ever consider going cash only?
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