Tuesday, November 3, 2009

I Have A Problem

I had to deplete my savings plan/vacation fund coin jar today.

My checking account will be -$515 if I don't get to the bank before 3:00.

ARGH!!!!!

I have a problem.  I have the money to put in there, but like I said, that requires me cashing in my coin.  I'm writing myself an I.O.U.  Hopefully I pay it back.

But that isn't my problem.  My problem is, I like to buy expensive stuff... 


I have an extensive blue jean habit.  Which would probably be okay if the jeans didn't cost $140 a pair.  Or if I could settle for just one pair when I was shopping.  Or, better yet, if I could just get it through my thick effing skull that in excess of two dozen pairs of blue jeans is MORE than enough for any woman and I don't even wear half of them so I have NO business buying any more.


But that isn't the extent of it.  I also have a make up habit.  And we're not talking drug store make up.  I think I'd be doing a heck of a lot better if I were satisfied running to the local CVS and picking up a few different varieties of Wet n' Wild eye shadow...  But no...  In the last, oh, maybe 45 days, I've spent around $300 at the MAC counter at Macy's.  WTH!?!?!?  Apparently I don't have enough shades of eye shadow.

I am a master rationalizer, too.  I keep telling myself, "You're not charging it.  You are debt free (except for the mortgage).  If you want it, buy it."  UGH!!!  NO!!!!  I need to stop spending my damn money!!!

When The Chef and I were together, he did a really great job of reeling me back in from my insane shopping binges.  It was not uncommon for me to come home with new Kate Spade or Coach handbags, or a whole pile of North Face vests in miscellaneous colors. I have an extensive collection of designer boots and sneakers.  But I have to stop.  I am finding myself falling back into an old pattern of over-indulgence and I don't like it.   

I have already made up my mind that I will not be going back to work full time (The over indulging wouldn't be so bad if I made more than a pittance bartending wage.) so I can go back to school in the spring.  So now I just need to have my head extracted from my ass and get back on the budget program. 

*Pep talks requested.  Keep my ass in line!*

15 comments:

Unknown said...

You can do it! Leave your wallet in the car. Or take $20 out of the ATM and that is all you're allowed to spend. Or maybe a journal would help!?!

Ducky said...

Hmmm....what size are you? I could buy the stuff you don't wear from ya and that would give you some extra moolah for spending on....whatever.... for the first time in my 30 years of life I bought a Coach purse....and STILL feel guilty for spending $200 on a purse that was a season old when I bought it...

You gotta have blow money its important but also setting limits is important. We're doing the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace stuff....good stuff...of course we're not debt free so KUDOS to you for that!

Cat said...

Leave your debit card at home. Writing checks is harder.

Do a budget for what you need. Set up your savings to automatically transfer whatever is extra straight to savings on payday.

Those are just a few things I do that help me... but I lapse all the time!

It's awesome that you're debt free though- wish I were!

Tattoos and Teething Rings said...

I can't help you, you sound like my husband. I swear, he has 100 pairs of shoes! I figure, as long as we're not in debt it's OK; what's money for, anyway?

Mike said...

Most people who over spend usually are filling a need ie. lonliness, fear, insecurity. If you can get a handle on those things usually the spending problem gets better.

jules said...

I think I have a solution. You need to live in a small town like me where you have to drive 2 hours to get to any kind of store other than Walmart.

Jeans? What size? I only have 2 pair of Lucky jeans. I love them and wear them daily. I couldn't imagine having that many!

Senorita said...

My friend is a huge MAC whore. She has almost all of the eyeshadows.

I am cheap. I buy most of my makeup from the drugstore.

At least you are debt free though. Good for you !

Dee at Pedestrian Palate said...

(Best Rob Schnieder imitation) You can doo eeet!

Nancy@ifevolutionworks.com said...

Ugh,I can't even offer you help here. I'm just as bad as you are!

Tracie said...

I kind of quit my shopping habit - cold turkey. I used to be pretty bad. I'm not sure how I did it. One thing is that I stopped going to the mall and "browsing" on-line. I do understand what you're going through.

KristinFilut said...

So, I met the guy I've been spending time with (STILL WAITING FOR NAME SUGGESTIONS!) for lunch today and the first thing out of his mouth was, "So what did those jeans set you back?"

Grrr.... LOL!!!

Coachdad said...

Loved this...

Unknown said...

oh good luck. Shopping is like dieting to me. Tell me to stop or cut it , I just want it more. I feel deprived mentally, and then it's all downhill from there. Hi from sits!! GOOD LUCK!! It's a noble endeavor!

Liz Mays said...

I cut myself off from shopping nearly 3 years ago. So far, so good. The first year was horrid though!

HautePinkCloset said...

I so wish I could offer you some advice or words of wisdom but I have none! I am bad at only spending on what I need. I have a serious handbag problem( I mean serious) and the bags I love happen to cost $800+ (and that's on sale).
Wishing u luck in finding away to stop the insanity, I haven't had any yet....

Btw, I have an award for you on my blog!
onechicmommy.com

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