Balance between frugal and over the top spending spree

[mom418]

I've noticed this lately about myself. It's easy to go too frugal or spend too much on things that don't matter. I think it may be my image of my grandma-bless her, but she takes being on a budget too far, and my mom who still has trouble living within her means and always has, bc she buys things more expensively than they need to be, or buying too much, if that makes sense. So i guess mentally i haven't found the balance yet. It's easy to spend too much on food buying more upscale food- roasted red peppers..a whole list of foods i love, but cost comparatively more than i should spend. I fear spending too much on clothes so I buy nothing really until recently when i got a few outfits at good will. even when i'm at goal size, maybe i would get most of the wardrobe at good will, although i could get a few items at a time at a nice store. i really fear both extremes i guess. going to garage sales classic basement full of stuff i don't use/need, and up to my arm pits in credit card debt, which i refuse to get btw lol. i still don't have any credit cards. i'm almost 30. i'm not expecting really, advice. it's just something i'm sure will work out with time. practicing control within a budget, but it doesn't have to cost 3 dollars lol. maybe others have funny stories they would like to share?

 

[jldx2in2000]

I don't have a funny story to tell.

All I have to add is that I think some things are worth spending more on than other things. For example, anything related to my health is worth an extra buck or two to me. That's why I don't mind buying Cathe DVDs over cheaper ones or spending more at a natural foods store to get organic foods with no artificial ingredients or preservatives.

As far as spending my money on clothes, it depends. I will spend more on the outfits I wear to work as I think how you dress can impact your career path; but, for my workout clothes and weekend clothes, I will look for cheaper items.

I don't think there is a perfect balance that is right for everyone-like most things a budget approach is not a one size fits all. My budget is making sure that I spend money on the items that have the most priority in my life.

 

[Fit_mommy]

I am definitely not what you would call frugal but I also understand what it is to spend w/in my means and that's what I do. I pick and choose what I spend more or less on but no matter what, I won't spend money that I don't have. I have a credit card but don't depend on it and I make sure when I do use it for any reason that it's paid off at the end of each month. Most of my shopping is done with my check card so the $ comes right out of my checking account.

 

[dr.mel_PT]

I am definitely not what you would call frugal but I also understand what it is to spend w/in my means and that's what I do.

Same here. I went from being an avid spender on useless crap and having TONS of bills in college to being very budget-conscious, but I still enjoy a treat here and there. After I pay my bills, I find that keeping a small amount of money in my checking and transferring the rest into my savings really helps. I then use the money in checking for gas, groceries, and anything extra we do like going out to dinner. If I have a decent amount left by the time the next pay period comes around, I will treat myself to something: a new outfit, some new makeup, shoes, whatever. This way I can still get something I want and not break the bank doing it. It's helped me save A LOT!

 

[mom418]

part of my resistance is just not having any extra money for a really long time. we did simple things like stay home most of the time. grocery trips only twice a month on average. we swift shifts. like i watch the kids while he's at school, then he watches them when i'm in class. he's working now, so now we are trying to move up in the world. and set higher expectations for a 'new' house. new to us anyway, and other areas of our lives. there's alot you can get at good will and garage sales, alot of it still is in almost new, or new condition.

my grandma was one of those classic grandmas. does her own canning, big garden, etc. i still don't understand this, not sure if she still does it. she would reuse the ziplock bags. like wash them in the washer with the clothes and hang dry. i never knew anyone else that did that. she also sometimes used the wax paper/plastic bags from cereal boxes for using during baking, making candies. actually, now being 'green' is cool so many of the things she did aren't so weird i guess.