It's been awhile since I've done a spending update. This month has been kicking my butt emotionally. Mostly inward stuff (my life is not going down the tubes or anything drastic and dramatic like that). And it's not due to too many holiday preparations and holiday stress. I've just been running on empty with emotional fire balls being thrown at me.
So, when emotional fire balls are flying through the air I tend to spend like some sort of natural disaster is about to occur, "quick, stock up! buy! buy! buy!" I think it's just a shut down of all self control due to using all of my energy to keep my feet moving and myself functioning (yes, I've dealt with depression on and off throughout my life and I can make things sound melodramatic but it's how I feel sometimes).
I'd planned a heavy dose of no spend days this month but that plan flew out the window at least a week ago. I also haven't been tallying up my spending. Now, when I miss a few days of tallying that is usually a very bad sign. Today I bit the bullet, sat down, and did the tally. Whew! It's not that bad. Apparently despite my somewhat of a shut down as of late there's still been enough unconscious resolve somewhere within me so that I've been keeping my spending pretty in check.
I've spent $254.35 this month, leaving $177.68 (plus a $43 cushion) to meet my goal for the year. We're pretty close to done on Christmas spending and we should only be needing food groceries for the rest of the month. This is doable.
Average daily spending for 2015: $18.12
Hoping to come in under $18 a day this year.
It is natural to let your guard down when you need to concentrate on yourself a bit. Fireballs are a goid analogy-dodging and weaving.
ReplyDeleteI find that I have a VERY difficult time concentrating on several main components of life all at once. Like I can spend really well and eat really well but then my house ends up trashed. Or I can spend really well and clean the house really well but them my eating goes horribly awry. Those are just examples, but when I'm really super emotionally drained its hard to do good in any of the main areas. And fireballs is very much how it feels.
DeleteI think we always are harder on ourselves and think we have done much more damage than we actually have - hang in there, you are doing FANTASTIC and even if something happens and you don't make your goal, the fact that you came so, so, so close is a tribute to how hard you worked this entire year!!!
ReplyDeleteI like your thinking! Thank-you for the encouragement Sue :)
DeleteI can most definitely relate. If I'm losing weight, it's like a guarantee that I'm spending too much money. And, vice versa. Right now, I'm pretty much on track financially, and have gained 10 pounds.
ReplyDeleteIt's really hard for me to manage my self control on all fronts, which means something suffers. I think being gentle with yourself, making small steps, and getting in enough time for a nap, a book, hot bath, 5 minute walk alone, all of that helps me to make better choices. Just like I now teach the kids. ;-)
Great advice and it does feel better to hear someone else say they deal with the same thing, not being able to keep up large doses of self control in several areas.
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