So far this year, nothings really happening. Started off 2009 with a lot of excess purchases of food take out/movies ect. But that has calmed down once I put my foot down. Last month we spent a wee bit much in luxuries and I worried we were backsliding and reforming old habits. 2009 was starting to look crummy but BB and I were both able to adapt back to our frugal ways after a hard day of "fasting" (NSD).
I am proud that though we still WANT things, we are getting deeper into a frugal mindset and it is easier to do without.
We just started tracking spending and being really committed to financial freedom this summer...I am proud of how far we have come. It was very painful the first few months, but it really is getting easier and easier to do without.
And it is easier to train my brain to run numbers/think about long term consequences/and to have a lot of patience.
I am actually surprised that after 28 yrs of thinking one way; I am able to train my mindset against thoughts I grew up with in just a few months. I guess that's part of getting older. Maturing, becoming responsible and doing what is right, not what is easy.
But it was tough- no ignoring that. I can understand why its so easy to "fall off the wagon". It's so much easier to have the mindset to spend than it is to save...but once you get through to developing a comfortable/frugal lifestyle, and creating a mindset that thrills over savings and reacts violently with guilt over stepping out of budget line, life gets easier.
And better. I love the discipline and self control I have. I feel empowered and respect myself more. And I respect my husband too- it's hard enough for me to do this-BB really did not want to do this but did it because I asked him to. And he has changed so much that now he WANTS to save; although he is still a bit liberal with the spending, he has come as far as I have and I love him more for being able to accomplish this change of attitude.
Hopefully the painful part is over and we are on the track to a long, healthy and prosperous life.
I think I am through the "Want Withdrawals"
January 4th, 2009 at 02:15 pm
January 4th, 2009 at 05:06 pm 1231088816
I also have the objective of getting my spouse and kids onboard. so I'm very interested in any tips and successes you and others may have in that area. I think like most things it comes down to motivation - as long as I alone am stuck with the budget battle it won't work. I always think of a quote from Office Space, one of my favorite movies - "what's my motivation, Bob? If Initech ships a few extra units, I don't see a dime."
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