Budgets and decisions

In my attempt to spend less, which is a goal that Eric and I both have, I have had to make some hard decisions. I like to go out to eat, out with people, go shopping, etc. However, I have had to start picking and choosing where I go and what I do. I've been frequenting the library a lot, watching movies from Netflix, and generally trying to eat at home more.

I've been bringing my lunch to work - Chef Boyardee and I have become quite familiar with each other (can't go wrong for $1 lunches!). I've been trying to resist being super lazy at night and actually making something when I get home instead of picking something up.

It's not easy trying to break habits that I've developed over the last year or so. It's easier to develop the habits. However, I can't complain a whole lot about spending more time at home and taking time for myself. The hardest part recently has been trying to fulfill my obligations as well as I can, but with restrictions. That means I do have to make hard decisions and pick and choose where I go.

One day, maybe I won't have to make the hard decisions, but I'm not betting on it. I can only hope that I don't let it stress me out as much as it has been lately.

Do you have any budget saving tips? If so, what are they?

More reading...

So, as I posted earlier this week, I finished The Believers. The other night, mostly due to the resignation of Rick Wagoner from GM, I started Why GM Matters. I know that not everything the media says is true, so I decided to try and learn a little more about why one of the largest companies in the U.S. is getting such an unfair shake, especially after the whole bank bailout.

I'm only about 50 pages into the book, but I'm starting to see a little bit of what Mr. Wagoner inherited - a broken business model. I'm not a business person by any means, but a company that has operated the way GM did for years is not easy to turn around. I'm curious to see what the rest of the book has to say, but I think the book is telling a little more of the story than the media has been.

Reading more about what has happened to this company also makes me angrier about the financial bailout to banks and financial institutions - where was the accountability for them? How come the administration hasn't told their CEO's to step down? How has that money been spent?

A lot of this is just off the top of my head questions, and it may or may not be coherent. But, had to get it out.

Oh, did I mention I might be biased because my dad has worked many years for auto suppliers? So yeah, I feel a sort of loyalty to American car companies.

You're closed?

Today while I was getting ready for work, I realized that I was running out of clothes to wear...and the dirty clothes pile was getting larger! I didn't have time to stop at the bank before I headed to work, so I figured I'd just stop sometime today.

Well, it turns out that EVERY branch of my bank closes at 4:30pm...yup, that's 4:30pm. Before the 5pm that I usually leave work. So, before I left work, I figured out where I could go before they closed - NuUnion Credit Union.

This made me start thinking - why am I still with a bank? They can't even be open while I'm NOT at work! But, while I'm thinking of switching from my bank to a credit union, I have to keep in mind lots of factors, including my paycheck and auto payments.

Any opinions?

A change would do you good...

I'm not even close to being as frugal as Em - though I'm starting to pick up a thing or two from her (mostly eating at home). I'm certainly trying to eat at home more often (not as easy as a single), and also trying to stay entertained at home.

I've been frequenting the library a lot - for books, movies, music. It's a great resource, and I can get a whole season of TV for a week on DVD!

I also don't have cable (oh, how I miss MSNBC!!!!). I keep a Netflix subscription to make up for it (it's still half the price!), so I've been watching movies and some more TV shows.

Also, having the dog around makes me want to go home more often. It also means that going to and from work, I'm saving some gas (not a lot, mind you) by not going many other places after work. I'm also getting close to paying off a credit card, where that money from that bill can go toward a different one. Woo hoo! One of these days, I'll be out of debt...

Word.

Very interesting commentary from Lou Dobbs.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/22/Dobbs.January23/index.html


How are you going to spend your money? I'll probably pay off debt...