Budget Creep- it’s a killer.
You know what I’m talking about, though it’s super sneaky. Maybe carrots usually cost 99 cents a bag, but the grocery store a little closer to you has julienned carrots for $1.49 and you think “I’ll just get them here, it’s so much easier than going to the other store for just one thing.”
Then those dang carrots make life so much easier when it comes to food prep, you just start getting them, even if it costs a little more. I mean, it’s only 50 cents, right?
Maybe you get steaks to cook at home once a month- but you know, maybe you get a craving to do it more often. After all, it’s so much cheaper to make them at home than to eat out. It would be irresponsible not to get more steak. It moves to every other week, then suddenly you’re cooking them weekly now, because mmmm steak. Even better- Porterhouse is on sale for only $1 a lb more than the sirloin you usually get. What’s an extra dollar a pound?
If you’ve ever been to Target, you understand how $1 + $3 + $3 + $2 somehow adds up to $97.53. It’s the creeeeep. You don’t realize how quickly a few bucks here and there can turn into a significant sum of money. I know I’m not the only person that has gone through a receipt line by line with a calculator, convinced something funky was happening. And guys let’s be honest- it’s not about the extra 50 cents for the carrots. It’s about how easily we justify an extra fifty cents here and a dollar there in our spending- and before we know it, we’re wondering how far it is to next payday, or why our savings is looking a little more pitiful this month. For some people, it’s truly a “which bill do I pay” or “will my parents give me a loan until payday” problem.
Shopping without a budget can be a paycheck killer. That’s why it’s so important to have a budget that fits your household needs and to take a hard look at your spending every once in a while. I really, truly, don’t want you to stress out over an extra 50 cents for your carrots. After all, Kristen B. shows us how she coupons to fancy cheese, because sometimes you gotta treat yourself! She also shows us with a raw realness (tears and all, sometimes), how to work a budget. That can mean hard choices, and occasionally it means failing- we are not perfect creatures, even with a budget.
So often we hear “Oh I just can’t afford…” or “Must be nice to have all that extra money laying around…” when it comes to our vacations. It’s not so much money laying around, as knowing where our money is going and deciding if we’re really brand loyal to that fancy salad dressing, or if we can be happy with the store brand to save a little extra. Every extra penny is money towards our vacation, or our dream home, or being debt free! Reach for it guys, I believe in you! If you need help with learning how to budget, check out Kristin Cooper’s wonderful Saving For Disney course- it will teach you how to make a budget, how to save money, how to stockpile, coupon- the sky is the limit.
Trip:
We’re still waiting on Disneyland to release prices! I’m going to be bald by the time this happens guys, I can feel it. A fellow SavEar said she contacted Disney and they are “hoping” to have it released by August or September. WHAT? Erin did let me know that I can pay for the Disneyland tickets and a Good Neighbor hotel with GCs- and I’ll plan out how much we’re going to spend on food, so I can at least get a discount on that money spent.
I’ve been bouncing ideas for a few little changes to our trip off Erin. It’s so nice to have a captive audience who has to listen to my wishy washy ideas. Buwahaha! The SavEars have given me excellent advice on the hotels and their advice has synced up well with Erin’s, in regard to hotels!
2020 West Coast Trip Goal: $4000
July 7th to July 13th
$32.32- Secret Shopping.
$27.01- InboxDollars – So glad to kiss this one goodbye, it’s been a LONG journey to cash out.
$27- Secret Shop out of the Dining Out Budget
$13.30- FREE Chickfila out of the Dining Out Budget. It was a great week for free food. I pretend we spent this money, and instead transfer it to the fund!
$9.76- Disney Visa Rewards
$9.14- TopCashBack
$5- Dabbl Disney GC
$2.80- Various Surveys/Tasks
$0.65- I found it on the ground. Money is money, I’m not too proud to pick it up!
Total earned this week: $126.98
Fund Total from last post: $854.60
Current Fund Total: $981.58
Only $3018.42 to go! So close to breaking into that first $1000 saved!
Check out what happened last week!
Wait, where are you going? Destination Revealed.