After reading the comments on my post, doing some thinking, and really looking at myself...I realized I need to make some changes.
As I have said many times on here before, my mother has also shown love through things. And although I try in a lot of ways to do some things differently than my mom, I realized that I do that too. I buy for my step-daughter...no matter what. Just like with prom. I had the money set aside for her makeup. But she wanted some extra things. Instead of saying no and sticking to my budget, I spent the money. So that is issue #1.
Issue #2 - I need to stay out of stores. And I have said this before too...but I shop just to shop. I don't buy expensive things, but I can easily spend $20 on cleaning supplies when I have plenty at home. Or I buy things at the grocery store when we really don't need them. No...I'm not going to TJ Maxx and buying all the cute stuff I want for my house. But buying $60 worth of unnecessary food/supplies is just as bad. I am just trying to justify it because its "food" or "household supplies."
So I am going to write down every time I spend money. And I am going to notate how I'm feeling, why I'm buying, and whether it is a need or a want. I am also going to try to go over the budget and see if I can make sure I have a little bit of money for me. Maybe if I have $10 in my pocket that I CAN spend, I won't feel like I HAVE to spend it. But if I do spend it, I won't feel guilty.
And I am going to be either at the house or at the shop all weekend. Both places need work and I need to stay away from stores. Sorry for the long post....but I am hoping I am on the right track.
Figuring it out
April 19th, 2013 at 02:36 pm
April 20th, 2013 at 03:27 am 1366424856
April 27th, 2013 at 12:34 am 1367019272
I'd arrange your smallish stuff in your storage (pantry, refrigerator, junk drawer, cosmetic drawer) as artfully as possible, take a picture, have the picture developed as a photo. Carry photo(s) with you, possibly along with any shopping list. When you are debating about buying, pull the photos out. It should work in two ways: first to remind you that have it or something like it already, and since you probably know what you have just by the silhouette, second you can check to see that you don't have it.