Seven weeks

[clevermanka]

It is beyond ridiculous that I got paid today and I'm already pretty much broke. I paid off my credit card this morning (which I do every month now--no more credit card debt for me anymore, thanks), and it completely wiped out all but a smidgen of my checking account. I can't even put anything in savings this month. That's unacceptable. I browsed through my last statement, and nothing jumps out as being terrifically outrageous, which makes it all the more crucial for me to fucking reel it in. Obviously I'm developing a mindset of Need/Deserve that is Just Not Healthy.

In the last month, here are the things I bought that weren't groceries, gas, or gifts for the holiday season:

$60 each, 2 Easton Press Fairy Books: I knew I'd take a hit on these. I told myself I would kick myself to hell and back if I didn't go ahead and shell out the money. So OK. Bad decision. Too late now.

$70 Kohl's: Heated Mattress Pad. Needed. Totally. I'm not beating myself up over that one.

$90 Brown's Shoe Fit: Hideous athletic shoes that I have only used once because I discovered (after fifteen minutes of frustration) that there is no place in my living room that I can jump rope without hitting something--a door, a table, a couch. I would return these, but the receipt is long gone and I can't in good conscience return shoes that I did wear for thirty minutes and now have little creases across the toe. Boo.

$30 each, 2 chiropractor visits: She's been working on my vertigo issues and I haven't seen any improvement after four treatments. I think I'm going to throw in the towel on this one. It helped my allergies, but it's not helping with the vertigo. I'm canceling my Monday appointment.

$135 Jensen's Liquor: Case of wine. It's been lovely, but I think I should have a new rule, which is No Savings Account Money = No Booze. Seems fair.

$16 Movie Tickets: Sixteen dollars might be a petty amount at this point, but sixteen bucks could feed us for a week if I was super frugal.

$25 Flickr account: Seemed like a good idea at the time, but could have waited until next month.

That's almost $500. Five hundred dollars on things I could live without. Even taking out the $70 for the heated mattress pad, that's still over half my paycheck, just blown on unnecessary crap. Bleh. I'm embarrassed and disgusted with myself.

So I resolve that until my birthday I shall spend no paycheck money that doesn't go directly towards food, housing, or transportation. If I get money from selling things, I can use that money to buy something extra. And yes, I am planning to stop by Half Price Books this evening with a box of stuff. Why do you ask?

So, January 31. That's seven weeks. Wow.

You know what's as bad (if not worse) than not spending extra money for seven weeks? Thinking that not spending extra money for seven weeks sounds like a difficult thing to do. That's revolting, my friends. Revolting.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_luaineach/]

$70 Kohl's: Heated Mattress Pad. Needed. Totally. I'm not beating myself up over that one.

Isn't a heated mattress pad AMAZING?! Jim and I have had ours for three years (I think) and we STILL glory over how fucking fantastic it is. We bought one for our friends L&H last year for christmas and they still haven't even taken it out of the box. I can't seem to make them understand what they are missing.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yes. I love it. Love love love it. I wanted one last year but couldn't find one and I refused to settle for a stupid electric blanket. So Not The Same. If I was down to my last $75, I would have gone ahead and spent the money on it.

L&H are fools. Fools!

[grnvixen.livejournal.com]

Doesn't look like you are squandering a lot, altho that is more than I tend to spend on wine at one time :). Maybe if you just adjusted the timing? Held off on some purchases until after the CC payment?

Savor the Joys of Anticipation :)!!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

It's much cheaper to buy by the case, and if I'm drinking a couple bottles a week anyway, this is more economical. A dozen bottles for $135 is a really good price--especially considering most of these bottles were $12 or $15 each if bought singly.

Held off on some purchases until after the CC payment?

As I said, from now on, no savings account deposit, no booze! I determine my savings account deposit by how much is left over after I pay off the credit card. The fact that this month that was zero dollars was a big wake-up call.

Edit: (and, really, I consider the wine the second-least-regrettable-purchase, just after the heated mattress pad)

[grnvixen.livejournal.com]

Wine difinitely has a priority :)!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

No Joke. Really. No joke. My New Year's Resolution for 2008 was "Drink More" and I swear it really did help me get through some rough spots this year. I don't care if that says bad things about my mental health. My blood pressure didn't suffer, and I didn't go on eating binges when things got emotionally rough.

Wine is better than donuts.

[nataliesee.livejournal.com]

Do we wear the same size shoe? 9-ish depending on the brand? It might be a long shot (your feet are super narrow, right? or am I just thinking of the squicky folding aspect...?), but I do need new running shoes and if you're looking to sell, I can see if they fit.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I'm a pretty solid 10. And these aren't running shoes, they're crosstrainers, which means they have more padding in the toe than the heel. You're certainly welcome to try them on, though! Perhaps running on the treadmill would require less heel support? Dunno. But yeah, if you want to try them out for a session or two of running, that's cool. I'm not squicked by wearing shoes somebody else wore.

[bestill.livejournal.com]

Money is a funny thing. I don't really make big purchases, but little purchases, even $5-10 here and there, can add up too. Keeping track is a good way to see where it goes. But don't beat yourself up--what's done is done.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I'm not really beating myself up. Yet. Just realizing that I've got to get a handle on things. And also, I need to STOP ALREADY with the mindset of "oh, I can afford this little indulgence."

[stuology.livejournal.com]

It is amazing how you stop really thinking about it once you get past the point where buying one extra thing means you don't pay rent or get food. I'm glad I'm not on my college student budget anymore, but I need to start thinking everytime I just pick up a book or that extra "I'd just like to try this" food item or that bottle of caramel Baileys for my hot cocoa or a game or a DVD and so on...

Too bad I have such teeny feet, or I'd buy the shoes from you. The only person that I will be able to share shoes with is Ada...probably when she is around 10 years old.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

It is amazing how you stop really thinking about it once you get past the point where buying one extra thing means you don't pay rent or get food.

Exactly. I think this is something (much like the One Thing Of Happiness Meme) that I should do regularly. At least once a year, sharply curtail my spending habits. It's good to be reminded of the difference between Need and Want.

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

I got your cup liner yesterday. It was the last he had and he pulled it out of a cup. I don't know why, I wouldn't have sold it that way. But I got it!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU. J Charlesworth thanks you, too.

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

I totally relate to your post in that I couldn't seem to get in and out of the mall with out getting 3 cheap and toasty sweaters!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm just hoping I can sell stuff at the bookstore tonight so I can pay you for the liner!

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

Um it was So not that big of a deal~6$! and I got 3 sweaters for under 30! I made twice that in tips last night so I call it a wash. We're good.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I am not above accepting charity at this point.

=D

Seriously, though, thanks. I appreciate it.

[9thmoon.livejournal.com]

An interesting challenge. Maybe I need to try this, too. I'd be really embarassed to post about how much I spend dining out.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had that particular wake-up call last month and had already nixed my weekly restaurant outing.

Ouch.

Let me know how you fare!

[kansas-dave.livejournal.com]

It's not completely revolting. Money represents your ability to reshape the world as you would like it to be. That's true whether you're buying drinks, seeing movies, or donating to a charitable cause you support. Maybe feeling driven by an uncontrollable urge to consume would be revolting, but just spending isn't (to me).

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I disagree. Feeling like not being able to spend money on things like $60 leatherbound books and cases of wine is a hardship is revolting.

I have friends who are single parents who are having problems scraping together twenty bucks so their kids can have something under the Christmas tree this year. Thinking seven weeks of not being able to buy myself stuff is a difficult thing to do, in my opinion, revolting. I don't want to be that person.