Why do I still feel bad when I budget?
Find a Conversation
| Sat, 11-26-2005 - 4:52pm |
I'm a very frugal person. All of my entertainment needs come from either the library (books, CD's, DVD's) or occasionally I'll go to the dollar movie theater if I want to get out of the house. If I shop for clothes, which is rarely, it's always at the thrift store (I refuse to pay more than $10 for anything!). I don't have newspaper or magazine subscriptions, and don't stop by Starbucks in the mornings, and I only buy the .89 shampoo. I wear so many layers and blankets to keep my heating bills down that I feel like the Michelin man waddling around! In all, I think I'm a great budgeter.
So why do I still feel bad when I do something extra for myself? I went Christmas shopping today, and spent about $100 for the 5 main members of my family, and decided on the way home that I was really craving a turkey sub from Arby's, so even though I had just gone to the grocery store last week, I went ahead and pulled through the drive-thru. But now I feel guilty!
I think it's just because I know that I have so many big expenditures coming up, that I'm paralyzed with fear. I owe my doctor $150, my divorce lawyer $400, and the leasing office of my new apartment $725 by March. And I need new tires for my car desperately. I just want to pay off the big things right away, so I don't have them hanging over my head, but I shouldn't feel guilty for treating myself occasionally!
So what do I do to stop this?

I like the term "sanity money."
Shannon