What busts your budget?

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
What busts your budget?
11
Tue, 05-10-2005 - 3:56pm
We all have them - things that we expect to spend X on during the month, and then, come month's end, we have spent X plus lots more than X!!

All my best,
Danni

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2004
Tue, 05-10-2005 - 11:51pm
Eating out when dh is home. He has this awesome power to convince me to eat out. Of course I agree (even though I know better) cause that means no cooking or cleaning the kitchen or dishes. But I'm trying to lose weight and I'm extremely determined to do it so it has been a lot easier to say no since he's been home.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004
Wed, 05-11-2005 - 9:00am
Utilities, utilities, utilities, eating out and impluse buying. I planned to buy 2 prs of pants, and 4 shirts. I bought 4 pr long pants, 2 skorts,and six shirts. Not good, now I have to figure out what I'm returning.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-21-2003
Wed, 05-11-2005 - 10:39am

... I don't have a budget that can be busted... :-P

Okay, seriously - I tend to spend way too much on 'eating out', in my case on going to lunch break together with colleagues and thus buying food instead of bringing my own. Which is ~15 $/week, which is too much.

Also, always on the list of dangers: Books, magazines, computer games.

... and having no budget mean I don't really control how much I spend on our regular food bill.

Greetings, Jordis

ivy_jordis

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Wed, 05-11-2005 - 10:47am

Off the top of my head, those things for me are dating (once you've been dating a while and you share in entertainment costs, but not so far along in a relationship where you are working together to save money), dd getting invited to other little girl's birthday parties and my friend coming into town this weekend (she isn't coming to sit in my living room and save money with me, lol).

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2005
Wed, 05-11-2005 - 11:14am

Truthfully, right now it's our lawn and our house.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2005
Fri, 05-13-2005 - 10:30am
Groceries!!!!! I can truly say they are the one thing that drives me nuts that I can never get a grip on. I always feel like i spend too much at the grocery store despite all my attempts to be a good shopper.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 05-13-2005 - 1:03pm

Me too!

As much as a try to use coupons, plan menus and shop the sales it seems like something always comes up. Last week it was a pot luck at work. The week before that it was company stopping by unexpectedly. Next week it's frozen meals. I'm going out of town for a few days and they're already planning a pizza night and a Chinese night. It will have to come out of the grocery budget.

I'm working on improving my pantry so that I don't blow the budget on last minute additions. Its slow going.

Lynne

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2004
Fri, 05-13-2005 - 3:34pm

For me, it's the unexpected stuff, like car repairs (Feb & March), medical/dental (need a crown this month--no insurance). I'm so strapped with everything right now from custody trial legal fees, that I can't build a savings account to fund these emergencies, so up goes the CC! My first priority these days is keeping that attorney on the payroll. Man, it's frustrating...

Had to buy a new car battery last night--fortunately only cost about $50.

Everytime I get over a grand in my savings account, I have to take some out again.

YO-YO ing
Cupcake

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2005
Fri, 05-13-2005 - 8:57pm

Hi Blossom,
Ah, yes, house and garden. Plants, soil, mulch, fertilizer, tools. Some people lust after cars and designer clothing. I lust after plants, books, DVDs. I am debt free, but what a struggle it is to forego traveling, eating out, all the things we have come to expect in a wealthy society. My house is my haven. I try to make it cozy and welcoming and I shop at discount and seconhand stores, sew some of my linens using fabric from wholesale outlets, do whatever indoor painting is needed, but thre i much I cannot do on my own. I dread the prospect of having to replace the water heater some day, having the exterior repainted--it has to be done by professionals. I am lucky to have a friend who helps me with some plumbing problems and home maintenance. I don't know how I would manage withouy him. Why haven't our communities evolved toward a more collaborative way of life? Where are the quilting bees of yesteryear? Largely, we are on our own. I think this goes hand in hand with all the problems that lead us into debt. There is not much sharing or trading of skills, services and goods any longer. Neighbors used to help each other, trade plants, share food, help each other. That is not often the case any longer even in small towns.
All in all, for small family units or individuals struggling on their own, unexpected expenses are the real budget killers--an illness, an unavoidable house maintenance problem. I have done some learning since I got divorced three years ago--I got the house, and mortgage payments, he got the money--but I still need to learn much more. I am fortunate to have a pension and fairly decent health insurance. Even so, next month will be a new experience in frugality once I stash the IRS and state tax money away. Budget, budget, budget can be a creative challenge but it is often a great bother.
Today the forester for power company let me know there will not be much tree trimming in my area, therefore I won't get the nice FREE wood chips which make such a lovely mulch for my garden. Major bummer. I will be looking for old newspapers. I heard that if you mulch with 24 layers of newspaper and a bit of soil or mulch, the weeds will be gone by the time the paper decomposes. That will be interesting to see. My weeds look like they would laugh at napalm. Ah, well, let us be optimistic.

tigermouse

Avatar for mquin73
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 05-14-2005 - 11:32pm
Usually it's groceries, sometimes it's eating out. We really don't have a budget for eating out as our budget is way over extended as it is, so when we do eat out it's always busted. It seems that food is a BIG part of our problem! lol Not funny really, but kinda.


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