control my spending

really really bad at this.

I spend to the point that I have to draw money out of my savings account to prevent overdrafting. ):

Its not like I am out buying expensive things. For instance, on Wednesday, I spent $105 on: a dress from Express; nice khakis, a sweater, 2 pairs of tights from Gap; and boots from a weird store.

I love everything I bought to bits and cant believe I got all of it for hardly $100.

But still. I am not working and have an income of $400 a month from parents and stock. $200 for groceries/medication, $200 for survival. Not good.

i have trouble saving money i spend way to much and don’t save any i just want to live good and things others have is that to unreasonable to dress nice to eat well

This is something I’ve needed work on my whole life. Or, at least since I’ve had extra cash. It really shames me to admit it, but while I was in school all the money I got back from my scholarships after paying for classes and books and everything … I didn’t save it or invest it, I spent it all. I’m so good at rationalizing things in my head so that they make complete sense to me and I used to think that I should enjoy the fact that I had money to spend because I assumed when I got out of school I’d have to start paying all sorts of bills and living expenses and I wouldn’t be able to buy new jeans or crap on e-bay. It kills me to think of the thousands I spent in four years on shit that mostly isn’t around anymore. But oh well. No regrets, right? I did at least enjoy myself in those years. The problem is that I’m addicted to spending.

In the past year, I’ve been able to curtail a lot of spending because there just isn’t enough money. I just have the bad habit of thinking I can afford to buy myself something when I have a little extra.

I think the bulk of my spending goes towards food and drink. I enjoy eating so much, as do all my friends, and I always feel like an expensive meal out is worth it. I enjoy cooking at home, I’m just usually to tired to bother. And there are so so many good restaurants in Miami.

It seems like everything I’m setting goals for right now ties back into the Master Cleanse that I’m doing. Among all the things I’m hoping to benefit from after I’m done with that, I’m hoping that food will have less of a hold on me and I can spend less in that area. At least for the time being I only have to buy more lemons. :)

I’ve never really consistently tracked my spending, like with a checkbook. Last year I tried using this website called Xpenser where you text anything you spend to your online account to keep track of it, but of course, I gave up on that pretty quickly. I just got a new app for my iPhone called Balance which is like a digital checkbook (plus it does the math for you!) and so far, so good. It’s easier than Xpenser and I always have my phone with me, so I’ve been good about keeping track. I think it’s helping.

Gas prices have gone down, and I am working at home two days per week, so a tank of gas now lasts twice as long and is cheaper. That helps. Since I’m not travelling to the States every other weekend, the savings now seem large. I’m just waiting for January when Christmas is over. I don’t spend a lot at Christmas, but from May to now, it’s just been one large expense after another. The expenses are expected, but there’s not enough time to recover between each. 2009 should be less problematic.

The realization of last month’s overspending (and debt use) has made me super-conscious of spending. This week I’m quite happy to have taken lunch to work and foraged in the kitchen to use what we already have before buying more.

Planning to staying at home in the evenings, only going out when we have enough tasks to fill an evening also means less gas money spent, and far less impulse buying.

Last month my husband moved in, we fixed up our new apartment and got everything in order.

While I know this month was odd, we spent almost 50% more than my entire month’s take home pay. I can account for most of that in one-off purchases that will not occur again for a long time, and too much junk food in place of real meals.

It irritates me to no end to have so much debt that I have less than $100 per week to do everything. I’m working on the debt, but how many more ways can I lower my spending?

I’m getting a new laptop for my 18th which is in a few months. Initially I was going all out and finding the best laptop I could for around £500… I actually found one at £550, which, until recently I was going to have. At this price I was going to have to put a little towards it.

Now, as I come to terms with how poor I’m going to be, I’ve decided to take this goal a lot more seriously! I’ve been scouting the net, and found a laptop – with a slightly lower spec – at £400. This way, I don’t need to put anything towards it!

I’m kind of annoyed that I won’t be getting the laptop I had previously wanted, but if I can save £150 then I’ve got to do it!

I now need to find ways to save money when it comes to going out… this is where all my money goes…

It really hit me how important this is!

The other day as I chatted with my sister about University, I couldn’t believe how poor I am going to be over the next few years. There’s me thinking I get three loans:

• Tuition Fees
• Accommodation
• Maintenance (money to spend on myself – or so I thought)

I really was in cuckoo land! That last loan is nowhere to be seen.

The way it goes, is I get two loans, one I never see (Tuition Fees) and the other for “accommodation”, or that’s what it mostly goes on, so I’m left penniless!

I’ve really got to get my act together if I’m going to stay out of the poor-zone at University… now that was a shock to the system!

This has definitely not been something I’ve taken seriously…

I guess the fact that I’m almost skint half way through my holidays shows my lack of commitment to this goal.

The problem is, I don’t work over the summer. It’s not my choice, it’s just the way the job is, so by the end of the summer I’m back to zero and have to build up my savings again, only this year, I’ve gone a little spend-happy and I’m down to my last pennies half way through my hols.

Something to work on next summer!

I’m going to be skint at this rate by the end of the summer, and I still have things that I need to buy.

Ah well, it’s only money, can’t take it with you, haha!