Budgets.........what a lovely idea!

until one uses it up before the week's end! Which is easy to do when you have a very spendy week and find yourself by Friday with $20 left. I had my younger son buy our lunch before we went to the snow because I was afraid I would dip too low and get dinged $33! It's difficult to stay within a certain range, but it's good for me because normally I would just "get" more money! Now that does not a budget make!

I also realized something yesterday. I have a mentality of "I'll get some new ones next year". I noticed that when it was pertaining to my wannabe Ugg boots I was wearing. I wore them in the snow and I love the ones I got from Costco, because the soles are really thick and have nice "treads" so I wouldn't slip. Anyway, I thought "oh! I just got these, I don't want to ruin them", but the next thought was...I'll just buy some new ones next year. What a dumb thought! They weren't even ruined and I was already thinking about the new ones! I really hope to change those thoughts through this challenge I am doing. That's crazy! I realize I do that with everything. I'll just get a new one. Well, I really won't be able to get new ones because I got them in November last year and this November I can't buy any, so there goes that idea. Thank goodness.

Budgets also make you aware of what you buy and really make better choices. I do find I go to the grocery store more often. I used to do once a week shopping, and I found I wouldn't use half of it sometimes and end up throwing it away. I now go to the store and get only what I need. Some things on my list can wait until next week. This keeps me in check. My pantry is no longer stocked, but I find when it's stocked I don't use a lot of what I have! I've stopped buying things that are in the "oooh this looks yummy or fun to have" category. Especially boxes of baked goods stuff. I have a lot and need to work on making them! Well, actually I have a few now. I used to have a lot.

Which leads me to "bulk" buying. I've decided in the long run, not a good idea. I'm still eating frozen Spongebob gogurts. I have a platter in my pantry with "bulk" buying purchases. Still trying to get through them all. And I've given some to my nephew. The cracker/cookie box. I decided it's not worth buying that much. I end up with it for months and really, we don't need to eat more than a few of anything. It's not health and it just plain gets boring. I think it's cheaper to get MORE! MORE! is my mo. Gotta change that! In the long run, it's just a waste!

Which leads me to waste. Gosh, I feel like the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie book! Actually, I am that way......but that's a whole other post! I find that when I buy bulk, I end up throwing a lot of it away. I just see the dollars fill up in the trashcan. Or it just sits in my pantry for months. I actually started dating things so I could see how old they are. It's eye opening to do that. You're a bit apprehensive to grab the salad dressing when you find out it's 8 months old! Sometimes I am sooo shocked! So I choose not to buy in bulk. It's disheartening and frustrating. Dogfood, coffee, and laundry soap are about the only things I choose to buy in bulk, because they do get used up. But no more food stuff. It may be more expensive, but at least we're eating it and not tossing it!

So here's to Spongebob yogurt! Strawberry or Blueberry?
Victoria