This weekend was my weekend to be the budget bully.
I am doing anything possible to stay frugal and on task. I am using less laundry soap, dishwasher soap, toilet paper, shampoo, etc. I have stayed true to my DO NOT BUY list for 2006---even when that means going the rest of the year with one pair of jeans and a pair of black sweats...and holey tennis shoes.
I use coupons and I watch sales and I stock up on good bargains. I dont get my hair cut, do my own nails and make do with what I have, even though that means a kitchen that has linoleum peeling in spots, a glass stove top thats cracked, and an entire linen closet of hand-me-downs. And the wheels on my dining room chairs broke many years ago...but who needs wheels on dining chairs anyway?? (But we are down to 4 out of 6 original chairs and the table wobbles because it has been repaired many times).
Am I painting this frugal picture???
So, Saturday night, DH pops out with "Ive figured out how I can afford a new ATV."....(to the tune of $6000)...Uh, I dont care how much figuring we've done...I would like a few things FIXED OR REPLACED around the house before we even CONSIDER toys...and then the not-so-fun conversation ensued. I cant really say it was an angry conversation...but I definately felt like the mom of a spoiled toddler for the duration.
Tonight, we head to walmart and DD3 comes up with shampoo and conditioner, and a pair of flannel jammies.
Um, I have a CLOSET FULL of shampoo and conditioner that I got at great deals...nice stuff too---but she doesnt want to use it because they dont "match"..or they make her hair greasy, etc, etc. So I said fine, then buy them with your allowance...otherwise, you are welcome to use anything in the closet.
Oh boy...and for the jammies...Ive bought her 4 pair in the past two months...so NO she didnt need them...and ended up buying those herself.
I dont think Id be nominated for wife/mommy of the year tonight.
I hope I am not being a martyr. I truly want to forego so that we are in a better financial place...but somedays I feel as though I am swimming upstream.
Somedays I wonder...
Thank goodness tomorrow is a new day with new possibilities.
Sigh.
Im the budget bully of the family
November 20th, 2006 at 04:49 am
November 20th, 2006 at 04:53 am 1163998430
My daughters have to pay for just about everything themselves! In fact DD3 decided to help herself to the RediWhip I bought for Thanksgiving (without permission of course). So she is doing chores to earn enough to replace it!
Stick to your guns girl!
November 20th, 2006 at 05:39 am 1164001152
November 20th, 2006 at 10:03 am 1164017022
I do have to admit to having to reign in the DH every once in a while also. He finds it hard to believe that large balances on CCs aren't paid off in a matter of a few months!
November 20th, 2006 at 12:36 pm 1164026188
if you're DH has an allowance, maybe he can start saving for the ATV out of that? like the kids spending money on their own luxuries out of their allowances... or, maybe break down and work it like parents have worked out cars for teenagers for all time: DH saves half and the house will kick in half....
November 20th, 2006 at 01:27 pm 1164029226
November 20th, 2006 at 04:08 pm 1164038924
November 20th, 2006 at 06:09 pm 1164046169
November 20th, 2006 at 07:19 pm 1164050364
November 20th, 2006 at 09:45 pm 1164059114
November 22nd, 2006 at 05:37 am 1164173822
In a weird sort of way you should take some pleasure out of being the bully.