Debt Support Group

You must allow yourself some indulgances. Even if it is a $4 coffee you know you can make a home.

I love diet coke. I always get it on sale but I always have some in the house. That's one thing I won't cut out of my budget even though I know I can drink water for free or make a pitcher of lemonade for pennies.

Sometimes the small stuff keeps us going on debt repayment.

Going out to lunch with friends. I really miss just making a phone call and planning a lunch date with my girlfriends.

I do still go on occasion but usually it's when they invite me and offer to treat. So I maybe go three or four times a year.

stacy

I think that you must must must have some money set aside that you can do what you want with. Otherwise you are going to drive yourself completely insane.

I think I am going to start putting aside 25% of "found" money (bonuses, Christmas presents etc) as ME money. This way it won't blow my budget and when I feel the need to splurge a little, I can. I also set aside $10 a week for ME money. I generally let it accumulate and then when I want to go to dinner or buy a shirt I can!

Hope this helps!

Bex -

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift -thats why its called the present."

It's so funny that you posted this.  Let's say I "stimulated the economy" a little yesterday.  To the tune of $98 at Walmart.  It was in a way things that I needed, but also, I could have made do without.  But I've done without for sooooooooo long.  DH is making a good income now, but come Thursday, I realize how much more we have to fork over to the Bankruptcy court. 

The purchases were:  a new 3 quart saute pan.  $22 (I burnt one up a couple of weeks ago)  A new bath room rug $13; It had been over three years since I had purchased new rugs for the bathroom.  $24 new thermal curtains for bedroom.  I washed mine that were 5 years old and they ruined.  At least these are thermal lined and will help keep the cold out.  The rest was spent on plastic for five windows, which I do not regret spending $15 and some personal hygiene items.

I'm so proud of the saute pot.  Since I do a lot of cooking, I really don't regret this purchase.  I think I will keep adding a new piece every couple of weeks since a lot of my pans are old and desperately need replacing.  Also, the items are made in Texas (not China!). 

I have to admit I've been a little "green" with envy this week.  DH is in Florida on business.  He's been eating Calimari (spelling ?), steak, Italian, and enjoying beach side motels in Ft. Lauderdale and Daytona, not to mention temps in the 80's & 90's.  Since we never eat out anymore, I can only dream of what it taste like, since I had a can of vegetable soup and rice & veggies the last two nights with the dog.

Oh well,  at least I have a new pot, rug and curtains!