Lost My Way! My Spending Diary

I have to warn you that this is a "personal" type blog, but it's still on the topic of Spending it Wisely and I want to share with you.

I have to admit that I have totally lost my way of spending wisely lately.  I have let my busy schedule and my personal life affect my spending habits!  I have been eating out far too much because it's quicker and I haven't been seriously grocery shopping in over a month now.  

I'm slowly recovering.  I changed to a coupon binder instead of accordion file and have kept it organized.  I decided to start a stockpile and it's getting there. I have been shopping like crazy at Walgreens and CVS and getting health/beauty items for pennies to put in my stock pile.  So, that's a start.  Oh, and yesterday I got 14 tubes of toothpaste totally free! (Thank you to my dentist for his stack of Colgate coupons at the front desk.)  And I found some Sensitive toothpaste on clearance for $1.47 and had 4 coupons for $1 off so I got those for $.47 each.  (I digress...I'll have to post about that later.)

I have totally lost my sense of budget.  I plan on sitting down this weekend and hashing one out.  No matter how frustrating it may be, I'm going to get one together.  And I am going to stick to it!  Because to be honest with you, my finances are a mess!  I have totally disregarded my spending habits, ESPECIALLY on the weekends I don't have the kids.  I've had several life changes and it's just hit me hard.  I lost my sense of purpose for saving.  But I have found it again and I can do this.  

Here are some things I can do without:

1. Pedicures

2. Getting my nails done.

3. Eating out ALL the time.  On occasion is OK as long as within my budget.

4. Getting my hair "done".  
Which I have basically quit already.  I've been dying it at home for a while now.   
5. Sodas.  
I have been doing well with cutting them out for the most part, but I want to cut them out completely.  They are bad for you and they are expensive and unnecessary. (My older son is going to hate me for this one, but he'll get over it.)

6. Here's a big one for me...going out.  
I love to go out, be social, have drinks, gamble at our local dog track, etc...you get the point. I still want to be social, but I have to be budget conscious social. This is the one I know I will struggle with the most!  I am hoping all my friends and family will understand and hopefully help me to stay on track.

Here are some things that will help with my budget:

1. Weekly meal planner
I have NEVER planned my meals. :(  I want to, but I feel like I never have enough time.  I just need to do this.  

2. Grow a garden
So much cheaper than buying produce at the store and more healthy!  I hope I can do this though because I have a limited green thumb..and no tiller.  But I know where I can borrow a tiller.  And I have recently got my front flower bed together and the roses I planted are still alive, so I can do this. :)

3.  Couponing
I have been doing this since I started this blog, but have had my slackingness the last few months.

4.  Bring my lunch to work
I have totally slacked on this and it saves so much money! 

So, without getting too personal, that's what I plan on doing to get back on track.  I will try to let y'all know my progress along the way...even if I slip up. :)  I want to take you on this journey with me.

If you have any advice for me, please feel free to comment or send me an email.  I would love to hear how you keep on budget! 


Thanks! And have a great weekend!  This is my weekend without the kids, so it should be nice a difficult to stop my bad spending ways...haha. 

Jonnye
Click HERE To Be My Fan On Facebook!
Join Me on My Journey to Save Money, Subscribe Via Email Now!