I am terrible with money...always have been. I come by it naturally...sorry Mom, but you know it's true. When Sweetheart was laid off, I became frugal out of necessity. It was at times fun. Looking for that bargain. Searching for the best price or deal. Only buying what you HAVE to have, not what you WANT to have. (I LOVE the Extreme Couponing show...it gives me a rush) We never went without. Now Sweetheart is back to work and it would be the perfect time to save up. You live and learn, right? Well, you should....I didn't. I have been on a spree. Now some of it is ok....I have the money to buy it, yet, I am not shopping with the same frugal mind I did before. I am still looking at prices, and seeking the best deal, but not anywhere to the degree I was. It didn't seem like a big deal until this morning when I went online to my bank and actually added up all the purchases.
Tuesday, I went for a day with my mom. I had a list, and for the most part stuck to it, but, oh, my, did it add up quick. That day cost me $326.39. That does NOT include food....except for the breakfast I bought for us...Mom bought lunch. I do not feel "guilty" per se...just realizing I can not do this on a normal basis like I use to.
Some of the things on my list included, rugs (those are expensive no matter where you get them)...one for under the desk to save my wood floor....
....and a new set for the powder room...the ones in the powder room got recycled up to the kids bath. It has been a need for awhile, but not one of those "need it NOW" things.
....and a new set for the powder room...the ones in the powder room got recycled up to the kids bath. It has been a need for awhile, but not one of those "need it NOW" things.Clothing...With the warm weather coming, my kids needed some new clothes. I got Kyle a new "dress" outfit....this will take care of Easter and any other outing where I want him to look better than his normal jean shorts and t-shirt. I did get him a new pair of jean shorts too though!
Zach has grown out of most of his clothes. He gets GREAT hand me downs from a neighbor but what is left...and there is A LOT. (Like 7 or 8 pair of dress pants)...are too big still. He needed a pair of dress pants for church, and for Easter, so I found this pair on clearance. I also got him the shirt, some socks, and a pair of jean shorts.
Sweetheart needed some new Polo shirts for work, so I got a great deal on 4 of them at Bergners. My own wardrobe is old. A new skirt and a couple of tops to match, so now I have a new Easter outfit too. 
Zach has grown out of most of his clothes. He gets GREAT hand me downs from a neighbor but what is left...and there is A LOT. (Like 7 or 8 pair of dress pants)...are too big still. He needed a pair of dress pants for church, and for Easter, so I found this pair on clearance. I also got him the shirt, some socks, and a pair of jean shorts.Sweetheart needed some new Polo shirts for work, so I got a great deal on 4 of them at Bergners. My own wardrobe is old. A new skirt and a couple of tops to match, so now I have a new Easter outfit too. (Don't worry...Charlotte got more than all of us...just give me a minute) Now that was a DAY of spending, right? I'm not done. After all that shopping, my Mom and I decided to get a pedicure. $30 later I had refreshed feet all ready for the new sandals I got...I forgot to mention those, huh? 
Notice the purple rug....it is one of the new powder room rugs. I should feel badly, but I don't. Maybe that is not a good thing. I get a pedicure once a year and it is always a treat from my mom or Sherry....this is the first one I have paid for myself. If you don't want to get hooked on them, never have one. That was my $300+ day. It was FUN....but will not be a regular thing. My biggest deal of the day?? My $85 worth of Estee Lauder for free. Yep...all you need to do is take your mother to the Estee Lauder counter, let her loose so she spends $90 on lipstick and lip liner and sit back while she hands you the "Free Gift With Purchase" which includes 2 full size lipsticks, 2 full size eye shadows, a cleanser and anti wrinkle cream, a mirror and make up bag......THAT was nice!! ♫Thank you Mom!♫ Not included in that spree total was the afternoon Sweetheart and I had with Charlotte. We took her on Sunday afternoon to Burlington Coat Factory where she got 2 new skirts and 3 new tops...also a pair of sandals....add another $75 to that total. 
We won't talk about the new monitor I showed you from the previous post...but it all added up to a few weeks that totaled just over $600 in spending. Kinda takes your breath away for a mnute. Everything bought was needed. Other than the pedicure and maybe the monitor, I can not think of one thing I bought that was not "necessary". My frugal friends may disagree with me, and they may be right. I know I need to keep that mentality I used when we were laid off. I am CERTAIN the Lord would have me to be a good steward of my His money. As a helpmeet to my husband it is my duty to him, to not misuse our finances. I did have an okay from him on the above purchases. He is in the business of finance, so he is much better with money than I am...that does not take much. I am afraid I have passed that spending gene down to my oldest son. Prayerfully he will be blessed with someone in his life who is a frugal spender and has the knowledge to manage money. I am praying about purchasing a money management program, or even just a book. I have seen Dave Ramsey change lives. It would have to be something Sweetheart and I do together....praying on that. In the meantime, I am holding myself accountable right here....My dirty little secret is there for the world to see...I am becoming a reformed spender. Everyone take cover, and Lord, help me!
Notice the purple rug....it is one of the new powder room rugs. I should feel badly, but I don't. Maybe that is not a good thing. I get a pedicure once a year and it is always a treat from my mom or Sherry....this is the first one I have paid for myself. If you don't want to get hooked on them, never have one. That was my $300+ day. It was FUN....but will not be a regular thing. My biggest deal of the day?? My $85 worth of Estee Lauder for free. Yep...all you need to do is take your mother to the Estee Lauder counter, let her loose so she spends $90 on lipstick and lip liner and sit back while she hands you the "Free Gift With Purchase" which includes 2 full size lipsticks, 2 full size eye shadows, a cleanser and anti wrinkle cream, a mirror and make up bag......THAT was nice!! ♫Thank you Mom!♫ Not included in that spree total was the afternoon Sweetheart and I had with Charlotte. We took her on Sunday afternoon to Burlington Coat Factory where she got 2 new skirts and 3 new tops...also a pair of sandals....add another $75 to that total. We won't talk about the new monitor I showed you from the previous post...but it all added up to a few weeks that totaled just over $600 in spending. Kinda takes your breath away for a mnute. Everything bought was needed. Other than the pedicure and maybe the monitor, I can not think of one thing I bought that was not "necessary". My frugal friends may disagree with me, and they may be right. I know I need to keep that mentality I used when we were laid off. I am CERTAIN the Lord would have me to be a good steward of 
10 comments:
um...i got nothing...hubby went out and bought a truck yesterday. I'm pretty sure that blew the whole month...lol
um...My husband just got me a new camera..just beacuse I asked for one. Maybe I can call it an early Mother's Day Gift??
Looks like you found some lovely things! I'm sure it was nice to be able to purchase a few needed things after such a long drought. I love the purple rug. It's gorgeous! So are your pretty toes!
I can't say enough about Dave Ramsey. I know folks either love him or hate him, but we're on the love him side. I wish we'd read his advice earlier in life, but it's never too late. We did purchase the Financial Peace University on DVD and have learned a lot and accomplished a lot already. It's very expensive, but I feel like we've already paid for the purchase in what it has led us to do financially in the last month.
Sounds like you had a fun day Bren, and by what you've said was purchased, they were all needed items, including the pedicure:)))
I think you got a lot for your money. After such a long time of watching every penny you deserved a splurge.
I dream of being able to do that again one day. Believe me, I watch every cent I spend but if the Lord sees fit to change our financial situation I plan on having a day like you did.
Blessings
Oh Bren I hear you!:)
My hubby and I took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at our church. COMPLETELY changed our financial picture, gave us a plan and put us on the same page. We are now debt free except for our mortgage and a small amount left to pay on hubby's new(used) car (but will have paid it off in less than 6 months).
I totally recommend this program! No more fighting about money, at all but you must be disciplined and stick to it.
Today we are taking one of our "funded envelopes" to a HUGE church garage sale....I'm so excited! 8D
Good luck and God's blessings!! :)
Alex
My husband told me the other day that he's sorry that he made me so 'poor'. Yes, it is true that I have less money than I have ever had in my life. But, I certainly am not 'poor'. I have learned so much living at this level!
God puts us through many stages in our life. Just keep learning from them and you'll be ok!
I completely understand what you are going through! My husband and I were both out of work for five months and we had very little. We ate a lot of Walmart mac&cheese during that time! :) Then hubby was offered a great job and we started to breathe a bit more comfortably. Last month, he was given a pretty decent raise and we have "splurged" and bought a few things that we have needed for a long time. Yes, the money adds up. Yes, we still have debt to pay off. But sometimes you just need to replace things that have worn out. You got fantastic deals!
I love, love, love Dave Ramsey's program. In the past four years, we've paid off over $43,000 in debt. In those years, we've also gone from two jobs to no jobs, now with one job and me at home. God is good! It's a wonderful program. We still have a long ways to go (pesky student loans) but it's great to make progress each and every month. Our children will thank us for living on a cash only basis!
Bren~ Your first sentence was something like "I am terrible with money" but it looks to me like you and money go together real good :) I don't know the Dave Ramsey's program but have heard good things about it. we try to save as much as we can when Roger is working and have no debt except for the mortgage, no car payments, no credit cards etc. and it is such a nice feeling. We also have savings that if we had to we could live off of for at least 2 years if we had to. Sounds like you had a nice day shopping, your multi colored rugs look similar to the ones we have in out kitchen and living room did you get them at target?? I remember when I bought mine and how easily they add up. Have a wonderful weekend. We are still waiting to hear about this stupid job....
Blessings,Joann
Sometimes you have to splurge a bit. As long as you recognize that you don't need to splurge all the time, you are headed in the right direction :0)
Crispy
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