Feb 17
I thought I would be saving money but I’m finding that I am eating out more often. I’m doing happy hours, dinners, brunches (my favorite meal of the day), late night snacking, Fremont Pie at night, El Diablo for dessert at Tango, Trophy Cupcakes, Frost Donuts, multiple chocolate stores…etc. So many new restaurants to try out because friends are sending me links to new or recently reviewed eateries.
I really need to tone it down a bit but when you’re out with friends or want to catch up with a buddy, eating is oftentimes the way to go. Even if I were to join a friend for an activity it usually involves food either before or after the activity because I am hungry every three hours…. Whine, whine, blah blah.
That’s a whole ‘nother diet…The Great American Stay-at-home-and-eat Diet! But I love food….whaaaaa!
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Tagged with: desserts, food, money, saving
Jan 26
Spaving. Spending money in order to “save”. I am the queen of this, but I am wanting to step down from the throne, and just become a person who scores only needed items on sale instead of grabbing “great deals” just because they are “great deals”. Here is a link to an article discussing the highs and lows of “spaving.”
http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2007/12/04/101945_spaving-the-road-to-ruin-is-spaved-with-good-intentions.html
One paragraph talks about the most extreme “spavers”:
“These spavers are constantly telling anyone who’ll listen how broke they are, how they don’t have money saved for retirement or the kid’s college, and how they don’t have money for the bills this month. They have no money to spare yet, every week, they are reading the sale flyers and trawling the clearance racks at Target looking for a deal on something, convinced they are saving money by buying items on sale. They have huge stockpiles of stuff, representing thousands of dollars, for use “someday” sitting unused in their houses. If they hadn’t bought all that stuff, convinced it was a great deal, those thousands of dollars would be available to pay the bills. They’ve spaved their future right down the drain.”
I am totally embarrassed to admit that I have fallen into this boat a time or two. Not to the point where is has seriously gotten me in trouble, but I have complained about not having enough money and then proceeded to go to Target and look at the end caps for great deals on whatever.
I would like to think that I am making progress, however. I have been slowly retraining my brain to understand that saving money is the act of depositing into my savings account. Purchasing something, regardless of the price, is ALWAYS spending (unless it’s free, but in that case it is still not “saving” unless you put the value into your savings account).
I think that is the big lesson I am really learning on TGAAD–quit spaving on clothes! So many “great buys” sit unused in my closet. I wish I had just saved the money and either spent it on a vacation or spent it on one or two really quality items that I love.
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Tagged with: saving
Nov 02
So….My original plan for getting on the diet was to show me how to save $$ and mot spend so lavishly or items that are unnecessary such as clothes because I have enough for 2 people. The problem is as I look over my bank account and break down my spending I have not save a dime. NOT ONE! I don
t know if I’m hanging out more because I feel I have more money to play with or what. SO when the question from last week was what do you do with the extra money from not buying clothes I can’t answer because I have no idea. I NEED to save $$ does anyone who has successfully saved $ from being on the diet have any smart ideas? I mean I would much rather be buying clothes then not even being able to see where the $$ is going at least I would be able to look at the great cardigan or sweater dress I just purchased. Until next time please send some ideas…..xoxo
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Tagged with: budget, dime, money, saving
Feb 15
Last year I made the choice to stop purchasing new clothes, and this year I have chosen not to purchase any clothes at all. So far, so good. In fact, I don’t even miss the endless, mindless shopping and I’ve decided to put my saved cash toward something fun, my first vacation in 5 years. My husband and I chose to head out to Park City, Utah for some pretty intense snowboarding. We traveled with friends to keep the expense down, but really enjoyed ourselves and I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to go. My three lifestyle changes that I have implemented have made the trip possible. No smoking, means that I could still breathe and be active at 11,000+ feet, getting up early and working out prepared me for four straight days of hardcore riding, and the money that I didn’t spend on clothes helped to fund the trip. I finally feel unencumbered, rather than just sacrificing by participating.
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Tagged with: clothes, diet, exercise, Park City, quit smoking, saving, shopping, snowboarding, The Great American Apparel Diet, vacation
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