Staying Energized and Encouraged

Today on my lunch hour I went through October's and November's spending from our budget spreadsheet and I was completely shocked. In the past 2 months, we have spent a little over $1000.00 (yes, one THOUSAND DOLLARS!!) on eating out in restaurants, including fast food.

OMG!!! Wow, that adds up fast!

I know I've been depressed about losing my dad, and I know I've been trying to comfort myself with shopping and meals out, but I didn't think it was THAT BAD. We're talking $80.00 dinners at Kiernan's Steak House, Rocky's, Red Lobster, Outback, etc. and I should have known better than that! We obviously blew our "date night" budget of $30.00 a week, and we were actually doing pretty good with that for a while. (our date nights are every Thursday night- Josh gets home early from work and it's just me and him, no kids) But then it started creeping into the weekends (well, we deserve this, after all we've been through) and then weekdays followed very soon after (I'm too tired to cook! What's twenty bucks here and there for a take-out meal?)

This definitely shocked me back into my senses and I am recommitting myself to staying within our budget for date nights, and groceries. (yes, I've been blowing the grocery budget too)

And here I was yesterday, thinking about how I couldn't wait for the new budget to kick in on November 22nd so I could be off and running to the grocery store! Our grocery budget is $80.00 a week and I don't think I've ever been able to stay within budget. I say "I", because I do pretty much all of the grocery shopping in our household.

It just amazes me that we spent roughly $500.00 a month on eating out alone. That could have went toward credit card debt! Or the emergency fund! Or long-term savings!

It's time for me to pull my head out and get back on track!

There are other ways I could be dealing with our family crises, and not just swiping the AMEX every time I feel the urge!

And spending money, whether at the dollar store or Wal-Mart, or Sallies... or going out to eat several times a week might make me feel good while doing it, I almost always feel worse than I did before after the reality sets in.

I have a pair of boots that I bought almost two weeks ago, and the receipt is in my planner. I've decided to return those. Although it's only $24.00 I'll be getting back, it's better than nothing! And right now, seeing our emergency fund dwindle away... well, every little bit helps. (time to cash in those pop cans from the back of Josh's truck!!)