Learning to think like a frugal person

chanie

I've started my own thread now called 'Chanie Fabulouly looks after her pennies' although I'll still be on here, Steph and Miz's threads.

School project
My sister has always delegated me to be in charge of school projects for her children. DN (9) has to make a Tudor House for school.

I was determined that this would be a low/no spend project:
shoe boxes/cardboard boxes (FREE)
paper mache - wallpaper paste and newspaper (FREE)
hay (asked my boss to get me some as he lives in the country (FREE)
Wallpaper for decorating - samples from DIY shop (FREE)

We haven't finished it yet and we might need to buy some white paint, but so far I'm feeling really smug and frugal.

willbeminted

Love this thread. Very inspirational. I hope everything is good with you Formygirls and you'll be back soon.

ForMyGirls

Hi Chanie, Steph, Mizmir and WillbeMinted (and anyone else who might be reading),

I am sorry that I was gone so long - it turned out the 'Big Stress' was not after all - and having it reignite when I thought it was over sent me into a major tailspin. I have spent a lot of time in a pysch's office in the last couple of months though and am at the point where I again believe that saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger".

So now it feels like I can get back on the wagon with health and money. I have decided to go back to the beginning for both food and money and rebuild my skills - because Lord knows I've indulged in many bad habits of late.

So today I have redone step 1 - writing my ARC. I decided this time to split it up: Immediate, Short-term, Long-term and Life-Long benefits. I'll put the money ones at the end of this post.

My commitments for the day:
- read and do Step 1 of the program (DONE!); and
- post to you at the end of the day.

Thanks for your lovely supportive messages Steph and Chanie - and also for your inspiring hello WillbeMinted. I look forward to hearing how you are all going!

My money ARCs:

Immediate

- Everyday that I stay on program or get back on track will build my confidence that I can live within my budget
- I will enjoy / appreciate what I buy more

Short-term

- I will be able to save time by just paying bills when they arrive
- I will be proud of myself for staying in budget
- I will feel more in control because I will know my spending is allowed
- I will be able to afford the things that are needed

Long-term

- My girls will learn financial responsibility
- I will be able to buy a home
- I will be able to afford the support I need when the big stress comes back again
- I will be able to afford to go on holidays

Life long benefits

- I will be able to retire at a reasonable age
- I will know that I can look after my family when there is a crisis

ForMyGirls

Hello again coaches,

Reporting in at the end of the day - as I promised I would. Not much to report - other than that I did enter all expenditure promptly into YNAB - which is a habit that has been slipping a lot lately. So that is a good thing.

Before I post again tomorrow night I will read the next Chapter of Beck and do whatever the next step is.

See you soon.

ForMyGirls

Hello again coaches,

I did good again today. I did my Beck reading in the morning as my highest priority for the day. Day 2 - pick a budget system and a back up. I have decided to simplify the budgeting a bit - it will be hyper boring to read so I won't explain - but I'm hoping it will make it clearer where there is and isn't money. I will update my signature and all when I get to the day that is financial stocktake.
I also entered all financial transactions into YNAB straight away - so that is good too.
Night now!

StressedSteph

Hi FMG,


Good to hear from you again. I loved you first post about sort-term and long-term benefits from staying on Budget.


I have been struggling to keep on budget during the childrens summer holidays.


Look forward to reading your future posts xxxx

chanie

Hi FMG welcome back.

I have been around, but more in a stalking capacity (although I have been keeping an eye on Steph's diary and she is doing so well).

I did have a relaxed July, where I did track my expenditure like I have previously being doing, so I am determined to get back on the wagon.

ForMyGirls

Hello again Steph and Chanie - so lovely to hear from you both and good to hear that you are both travelling well. It is so nice to be back in this space and thinking positive - rather than being in that building stress and pressure bit that proceeds a recommitment!

Day 3 today - sitting down to eat - or my variation is 'checking there is money in the budget category before I spend' - last time around I had it as having to enter it into YNAB before I spent - but I decided this time around that that just got a bit awkward - so I'll settle for checking the budget.

So I put it into action today - had a coffee meeting at work where it was socially appropriate for me and a colleague to buy coffee for some guests - I knew there wasn't enough in the budget for me to pay for all of us so I suggested splitting! Felt very good to not have gone over budget.

I ended up doing my 'stocktake' today because I figured I couldn't really do this step properly without it. I had been hoping to have my tax return money in before doing the stocktake but it was probably good not to because it made me face up to reality a bit more. Reality being that apart from the bills that have to be paid before next pay day I have $13.35 to my name. Ouch. But - better that I realise that now than overspend and not have enough to cover the bills if the tax money doesn't arrive before the bills are due. That means I can update my signature a bit later today.

Verbatim

Whew. Sounds like the stocktake was an excellent move! I'm glad things are on the up for you.

ForMyGirls

Thanks Verbatim :-) Fortunately the tax return came through today - most of it is earmarked for upcoming bills - but I managed to put $200 against one of my debts, which felt good.

Today is Day 4 - giving yourself credit. This is so one of my favourite strategies. So to show you my credit giving skills - here's some good things I did today.
1. Checked the budget BEFORE I bought petrol so that I bought what I can afford, rather than filling the tank;
2. Remembered when grocery shopping that I had neither the calorie nor financial budget to buy a 'treat';
3. Resisted upgrading to the paid version for an awesome piece of software I've been using for work today;
4. Read my ARC and did my reading this morning.
Yay me!