We are almost through the first pay period on our new budget and it's been a learning experience. First, I noticed that as the start of the budget approached I started buying things like I was about to lose everything to bankruptcy. The upside is I really did need face lotion and toilet paper. I feel like it has been a success even though we ran out of money before the next payday. We definitely thought more about everything we did and made some great and some not so great choices.
Here is what I learned about us, we like to go out at least once a week and it has to be on the weekend. If we go out on a weeknight, we will still want to go out when Friday rolls around. Not going out on the weekend feels like a punishment, and the fun we had earlier in the week is long forgotten.
Sometimes you need things that aren't food and household necessities. Last week my hairdryer blew up and I had to go get a new one. I was really frustrated that it happened right when I was feeling sensitive about money, but I realized that's how life goes and just went and bought a new one because I needed it.
Forgetting to use a coupon when you're feeling the pinch of a restrictive new budget is very upsetting! I was in such a state about my dryer breaking that when I rushed over to the store to buy a new one before work I forgot to use a $10 coupon and I almost cried. That's when I realized I need to settle down and not freak out. This is a new lifestyle for the foreseeable future so I have plenty of time to practice. I can't wait to start the next pay period, I know I can put what I learned so far to good use.
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