spend less money

and sometimes we are forced to get back up. So, today we realized that there was not enough money left at the middle of the month. To that end, back to target went:
1. One unwatched movie – an impulse purchase
2. 3 picture frames – because I settled and they weren’t a priority
3. One mirror – inorder to save for a funky non-traditional one
4. Sand and stones – that were unnecessary for my Pottery Barn Glass Vase

and back to Children’s Place: $85 of unnecessary clothing for children that are cute without the trimmings and will be just fine until the budget can really sustain it.

Guilt – Costly
Gas – $4.00
Time Investment – 45 minutes
Total Refund – $145
Peace of mind of doing the right thing, even if you are late- PRICELESS.

has been a painful process as I was looking at our bank balance and the after holiday flood. Then, the school said, we already deposited all the checks you inquired about. Lesson – no, I don’t have a bonus of money, I just have a better cash flow than previous weeks. Still more obligations than money, but I’ll never know that if I don’t have accurate and timely records. Enough of that, this time it worked in our favorite. Spending less money should be a part of a plan to manage finances…not let them manage you.

I really am starting to believe that there is a devil in target. I am so convinced that there is no possible way to come out of the store spending less than $100. Of course, many smart people would say – don’t go. Other smart people – have a list and stick to it. I simply say, I have failed at all tasks on some level at this story – for many, many years. I thought I went to Target to grab some laundry soap, a pair of sweats, and some odds and ends. That might be the issue. The odds and ends are putting me at odds with a rational handle on fiscal management. I went through each of the items at home – need/don’t need. There were 2, okay maybe 3, things that I didn’t need – but the most expensive one was $13. And with an MBA, it seems unclear why I can’t add up that my lack of discipline in this area is heading no place fast. At least no place I want to go. Urgggh – I tell you, I think I’m going to be on a shopping fast – nothing, nada, for 30 days – until I have peace about what is real vs. what is unexplainable based on my practice. A smart woman should be able to overcome this demon.

So, I like the spa. I like the experience, the sounds, the people who perform my services. I like the spa. My pocket screams – you must spend less, you must spend less.

How did I find the spa? My friend gave me a spafinder.com gift certificate, and after 1 year – I finally found a spa, and used them. That was not a guilty pleasure, it was after all a gift.

Same friend – a tremendous resource. At Costco, you can purchase 2 – $50/spafinder gift certificates for $79.99. You save $20, and for me that makes a lot of difference. Now, everytime I go, I think to myself, you are saving 20%, and Costco, dear Costco, I’m so happy to be a member.

I believe I should have stock in Starbucks, I enjoy my time there – but with a tight budget, I’m going to have to release it. Well, I haven’t decided to eliminate it – but I now brew coffee at home, limit my outside coffee purchases to cash, no quick swipes, and the best thing to do would be do get the gift cards through the kids school so I get tuition rebates on my overall purchase.

All of that being said, if I add up what I spend monthly in coffee and look at my savings account, there is something wrong with the picture. Maybe I should make each cup of latte cost $8.00 – so I’d have to save at least as much as I spend, and I rarely have any question about what that would do to my trips for creature comfort.

Nothing should taste as good as being financially stable feels.