Do you budget money to blow?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Do you budget money to blow?
14
Wed, 10-21-2009 - 7:31am

Just wondering how many people actually budget so that, occassionally, they can go out and blow some money.

Kate


empty purse

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Wed, 10-21-2009 - 7:37am

I sure do!


I budget $20 every paycheck that goes into an account for clothes or fun stuf (I'm not a huge clothes shopper so really this is more then enough).


I was reading on the Till Debt Do Us Part Blog about a woman who had such a hard time with debt fatigue that she was perpetually in debt (go gung ho for a few months and then get tired and screw up). Finally, she decided that 25% of any extra money that came in was "blow" money (tax returns, extra paychecks etc). She put it into a separate account and when the urge struck, the money was there. Thats not a bad idea to be honest. I know that I am my own worst enemy, so there may be something there! I was thinking about trying something like that for myself and seeing how it goes.



Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Wed, 10-21-2009 - 7:52am

I always budget a little blow money here and there. Not much but enough to enjoy a coffee with dh or purchase some new pencils I may be needing (art supplies are expensive).

For the most part I try to plan bigger activities like going to movies or the symphony and work my "blow" category around that.

stacy

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2008
Wed, 10-21-2009 - 8:20am

I don't budget my money in that kind of specific way. I usually have a certain $$ amount left over after paying bills. Let's say - $1,000. That money is to last us two weeks - for gas, groceries, diapers, gifts that come along (bdays), oil changes, dog food, etc. Some weeks we have $$ left over and some weeks we are cutting it to the penny. But we never allow ourselves to spend more than that and we refuse to use savings. (unless it was a true emergency.)

Usually every 2 weeks I "blow" a little when I go to the grocery store. Normally its not for me - I will find something for the kids or something on clearance. Or sometimes I will buy myself some yoga pants for lounging around the house. It's normally never more than $20ish dollars but it keeps me happy and makes me feel like I'm getting something too.

Good post.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Wed, 10-21-2009 - 8:41am

Bex, that's really interesting.

Kate


empty purse

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Wed, 10-21-2009 - 10:56am
No, I don't, but I will in a couple of weeks.

Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus


iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Wed, 10-21-2009 - 11:46am

I don't really do this. It doesn't stop me from doing what I want though usually. I just think of it all for debt or savings and if I am doing something on the weekend I keep money back from those two things. Honestly though, I'm pretty lame and don't do a whole lot because I work so much. That is my biggest blow money saver right there!


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2005
Wed, 10-21-2009 - 11:50am
I do.
Wedding
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2009
Wed, 10-21-2009 - 4:58pm

Kate I love your question...


Not having a blow budget has gotten me into so much trouble....


I need to figure out to do it in a way that works for me...as all I seem to do (until recently) spend first and think later


Thanks for the food for thought....


God Im so impressed by all of you that stick to the extras budget...


Duke

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
Wed, 10-21-2009 - 7:38pm

I think if you don't budget some money in to blow, it is sort of like going on a long term diet and swearing you will never ever ever eat any chocolate anything ever!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2006
Thu, 10-22-2009 - 6:10am

I definitely budget "blow" money. I'm still trying to fine tune what amount will work for me - made more difficult by a wage that fluctuates from week to week.
Even before I got serious with my debt reduction, I recognized the importance of allowing myself spending money so that I didn't blow the budget even though I didn't specifically budget spending money.

I have to say that even allowing spending money, I still sometimes suffer debt fatigue.

Lyn

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Lyn

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