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2nd Half of the Month

October 20th, 2009 at 03:55 pm

Well, one thing that I have learned recently, that I am going to hold myself to next month, is making sure that when I get paid, I buy EVERYTHING I will need for that month in advance! I cannot express how frustrating it is when I am doing the budget calculations again and again on my tiny little calculator, and realizing that I have to budget for a basic toiletry, and how that negatively affects my budget. Frown

So, next month, I want to do something different, and stock up on certain food items....I want to stock up on multiple cans of beans and bags of rice. Right now, I usually buy only 2 or 3 cans of beans at the same time, and only 1 bag of rice at a time. Next month I want to double that. Just so that when the cupboard is a bit bare (a little bit like now), I will know that I always have enough food to last the remaining week or two.

I will also go back to my previous patterns, and buy all the toiletries I will need for the entire month, at the beginning of the month (I go through at least 1 bottle of hair stuff per month). I am also going to see about putting my money for washing clothes into a separate envelope so that I am never in the situation (as I am in now), where I have to weigh washing clothes, over buying food. While it is in no means a sob story, it is a bit embarassing.

My bf has been more helpful to me lately. He really changed his tune of each of us buying our own food, to offering to buy me food stuff that I need. I am going to start saying yes more. We talked yesterday, and the stuff with his family is really hard and stressing him out. I really feel for him because some of the stress his family puts on him isn't always appropriate, ya know? All I can do is just offer support and maybe different ways of interacting with the family for more positive results.

Things are ok, I am just a bit bummed about my coffee budget (see......shows how spoiled I am!) and how there really isn't room in my budget to be buying coffee made from a cafe (or even McDonald's---don't laugh, it really isn't all that bad). I hope to work on my coffee skills this week.

I will admit that I notice that the way I am acting now with my money, is very similar to how I was raised. We did the same thing of being over excited when first getting money at the beginning of the month and eating nicer food, to eating the left over animal parts (it sounds gross, but hey, it is true---those parts of the animal were cheaper because people don't like to use them....and why do we eat ox tails, but not any other part of the ox??) at the end of the month and having the cupboards be bare. I really don't like that I am repeating that, so I want to work on that. I also want to state that while I have cabinet space, I don't have much, it is cluttered, and there is no semblance of a true pantry to store food like when I was a kid. The cabinets are directly over the stove, so I worry about putting cans there that may get too hot from all of the cooking. Suggestions are welcomed. Smile

Hope everyone is doing well. Smile Thank you for taking the time to read my little musings.

6 Responses to “2nd Half of the Month”

  1. Mooshocker Says:
    1256058505

    You are an inspiration to me. I really enjoyed reading this post. You are at the very least cognizant of your needs, wants and desires. Now, putting together a budget that assists you will come together much easier at times.

    One suggestion, as you stock up on rice, beans, pasta, spaghetti sauce, oatmeal, etc., try purchasing coffee beans, grinding them yourself and freezing what you don't use right away.

    Also, try online shopping for some of the items above. You may find some great deals. God bless and good luck.

  2. LuxLiving Says:
    1256064657

    Cans can be stored under the bed, in a linen closet, in boxes beside a couch covered w/a sheet or other fabric for a designer look side table!

  3. CouponAddict Says:
    1256068667

    When I lived in an apartment with limited cabinent space, we installed shelves on the wall above the table, but using a bookshelf would also work if you did not want to install shelves.

    We installed the shelves and then when we moved out we filled the holes with spackle. And took the shelves with to the next place, they are hanging in our garage now!

  4. LuxLiving Says:
    1256088436

    I just wanted to chime back in and tell you to put some semblance of good nutrition at the top of your spending plans, then work the rest out. Of course you've got to have enough food to get you through the month! Especially if you only get paid once a month??? A well fed body & mind is going to be ever more sharper in the work place - what good would it do to cut so many corners here that you become Donna Dragbottom at work and get fired?

    Another food storage idea - take a corner or alcove and put in your mini pantry and hide it all with a curtain.

  5. cptacek Says:
    1256093820

    Are you carrying your boyfriend? Is he contributing at all to the house? Sure, family problems might stress him out, but not being able to eat is stressing YOU out.

    And please think of this. Is he the guy you see yourself with in 20 years? 60 years? If not, and I say this because I know you want to start a family, why are you still with him? If he is the guy you want to grow stoop backed and wrinkly with, and he feels the same, then you guys need to work on not taking advantage of each other. Things don't magically get better.

  6. sarah Says:
    1256094466

    Are you paid once a month? I am and I absolutely hate it. I am in an end of month money tight spot also. Being paid once a month is the worst part of my job.

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