Slightly somewhat upset :(

[inneedofhelp]

So, I got over the shock of having my credit line reduced, and I cut out the gym and personal toiletries expenses for a couple of months and was looking forward to having about $20-$40 extra per month. Woo hoo!

I also lucked up and got a part time job and am very happy about that.

I am, however, totally ticked off at myself. I got all caught up in Valentine's day, plus a bday dinner for a friend, and I ended up over spending. Sigh. I know that my food budget of $100-$150 per month is small, but I know if I remain focused I can feed myself on that amount.

But instead, with the costs of food for dinners for me and my bf and the bday dinner, and vday dinner supplies, and Chinese new year food supplies, I spent $426! UGH!! If I had spent that money at ONE time at the grocery stores on one day, my fridge would be packed right now. And yes, I am including fast food and coffee in that amount spent.

I feel bad because I overspent when I realized I was 1) getting my tax refund and 2) had the part time job.

So angry at myself now. Next month, I am sticking to $100, but will force myself to shop no more than 1x per week. I have also discussed with my bf (who is on hard times, but I may more than him), that I will stop giving him huge amounts of food to take home. I think he sometimes resents it, even though I mean well and know that he is not a good cook and has limited funds.

Sigh.

[boosami]

Everyone slips up now and then, especially with the prospect of new money coming in. At least you have acknowledged it. Congrats on the part time job! Sounds like you have your head on straight and I'm sure you'll be sticking to your budget in the future.

Plenty of people do what you've done and don't feel guilty or angry at all. Then they declare bankrupcy and still don't feel guilty. And then they repeat it all again and again. Feel good you're not one of those people!

[PrincessPerky]

Well at least you know where you went wrong, you can work on preventing or at least containing the urge next time.

[Cassandra]

Everyone screws up. You know what you did wrong and are trying to change it- you should be proud of yourself. As boosami pointed out, many people don't feel guilty about overspending.

[snafu]

Forgive yourself, it's so easy to spend more than you planned. Do you plan your menu? That helps control over spending.

Perhaps the envelop systems would be helpful. Slip the $100. - $125. in a sturdy envelop for food expenditures. When it's gone, you can add the last $25. but that's it! You don't want to run out of money before the end of the month.

[Ima saver]

Yes, I find that the envelope system works great for me!

[Goldy1]

My downfall is food. I am one of those "foodie" type people. lol (blessed with a metabolism to envy thank goodness)
check cvs ads for the extra care buck stuff for shampoo etc.

[isthisused]

Actualy I want you to feel bad! and I want you to sit with your wallet in your hand and dwell on it for a while. so the next time you pull out your wallet you will remember how you feel right know. and if you do this enough times you should get a cold chill up your backside when you reach for your wallet. then, you will start to get ahead.

[GoodBuyGirl]

If you use cash for your frivolous spending you won't go over. If you don't have the cash then you know you can't afford to spend. Credit cards are an evil thing if not used wisely. Don't dig your own hole to financial hell.

[wincrasher]

You would be amazed how far you can stretch your food budget. My sister feeds a family of 4 on $50 a week. She uses couponmom.com to line up her coupons with what's on sale each week. You should check that out.

Forgive yourself on the overspending and move on. Remember your mistakes but don't dwell on them.

[glock35ipsc]

If you use cash for your frivolous spending you won't go over. If you don't have the cash then you know you can't afford to spend. Credit cards are an evil thing if not used wisely. Don't dig your own hole to financial hell.

Cash rules!! You can't spend it if you don't have it!

[ScottON]

The fact that you accept it happened and are acknowledging it as a muck up puts you in better stead than 99% of the population.

[B.J. Johns]

So, I got over the shock of having my credit line reduced...

at least u still have the cards. last week i had two cards cancelled, both of which had never had a late or anything else, but were closed because that they had 0 balances. if i had known that was going to happen i would have kept a small balance on them so as to keep them around in case of emergency. oh well i guess it's like glock35ipsc wrote, "cash rules".

[wincrasher]

Your cards were cancelled because you didn't use them for a period - not that you didn't carry a balance. You can't just leave them in a drawer and expect the credit card companies to keep your accounts open. Just charge alittle something every once in a while and pay off the balance when the bill comes.