What I learned by writing things down...

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2005
What I learned by writing things down...
4
Wed, 11-02-2005 - 7:13am

I have always resisted the idea of writing down every purchase to really see where my money is going, i don't have the patience to keep up with it.... I think i know where the money is going.... I forget. Well, since I have tried everything else to reduce our spending and this seemed like the only other thing left, i tried it this month, at least for the groceries, because this is an area that I always feel like I struggle with. I knew I had gotten much better than I used to be but still felt like I was spending a fortune there. So this month I wrote down EVERY single penny I spent at the grocery store, it was as simple as making a folder on my desktop and recording the reciept amt. every time I went, and I was very surprised to find out that I don't spend as much as I thought! As of right now I only spent $353 and I started on the 8th so I will go until Nov. 8th. If you would have asked me before I probably would have had it pegged at more like b/n 6 to 7 hundred. Using this information I was able to talk to my dh, and he and I agreed that the real downfall is his eating out his lunch every day, so while it will increase my bill at the grocery store I am going to MAKE sure to pack his lunch every day b/c the few dollars it will cost daily for me to buy something is better than the $5 to $7 he's been spending. Now I also made a folder for miscellaneous and I didn't keep up with that one as much, next month I will be faithful in doing that one, b/c I spend a good portion there as well, we are talking about trips to wal mart etc. for household items, like t.p, shampoo, laundry soap etc.
I think what I took out of this was that I thought I was spending so much at the grocery store, and the whole issue of my husband eating out for lunch every day was secondary in my mind, now I realize that the eating out issue is actually the one that needs worked on. I'm so glad I did thism and I would encourage everyone else to try it too, you might be surprised what you find out!

Shannon

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 11-02-2005 - 12:03pm

You know, I have always resisted that as well. I did start making notes in my checkbook reg once, recording what I bought at WalMart and Target especially. I hate it when I get home and realize that a few things I got I really didn't need.

I think I may start doing it again. Need to go to WM today. Ironically I shop there because I HATE it (prefer Target), thinking that being someplace that I hate will force me to get only what i need and get the heck out of there! Most of the time it works...

Kathy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2004
Wed, 11-02-2005 - 1:57pm

I resist this too...I wonder if I'm in denial about all the needless purchases I make??

Went to wal-mart today for sodas and stuff for the office and browsed the Christmas stuff aisles. There is so much cute stuff!!!! I did resist and only made the office purchases. But next week, after I make my Christmas shopping plan, I'm headed back there for a few things.

I'm glad we live in such an affluent society, but I suspect that I would spend less on unnecessary items if there weren't such wonderful choices available. There's a whole row of toothpaste, for crying out loud! When I was a kid, there were maybe 3 kinds, that's it. Today's average corner grocery store has more options than in ages past was not even available to a king! My 2 cents is that there are far too many choices in this overconsumptive free-market society. But I love having lots of choices! What a dilemma!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 11-02-2005 - 5:55pm

RIGHT ON! I totally agree with you! Remember when you were a kid and you knew money was tight because you had chicken for dinner...a lot!? Now I need a loan to buy enough chicken for one or two meals a week for five of us! Now its ground beef thats cheaper, though with bird flu on the horizon the beef industry will raise prices--supply and demand. I think I liked mad cow better...they couldn't give the red meat away!

I am hoping to raise my children learning that its what you ALREADY HAVE that's important, and not what you want. My SS is SO materialistic it isn't funny. Blows his paycheck every week.

Kathy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 11-03-2005 - 7:54am

ITA with your post.

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