Budgeting....

So one part of being married that is quite the adjustment is having someone to answer to....Chase just read that line and he reminded me that I am the one that pushed the budget idea. So yes, I will get you ready for this entry by admitting I dug myself in a hole by starting this one. Last Saturday we bought Quicken from Costco. After doing the free online trial I realized that I desperately could use some help with my some of my financial habits. One of the great contributors to this lightbulb in my life...I would go through the online transactions and realize if the name of the store didn't come up (some only come up labeled as the address of the place of purchase) I was more than often not completely clueless to what the money was spent on. With some help from google.maps I quickly learned the addresses of some of my frequent stops. As my frustration over not knowing about where our money was going (- the actual attempt to set up a spread sheet and being religious about tracking it) we decided Quicken would be a great computer program for us to track our finances.....Not only track our habits...honestly us bank online lets me know the money i spend, but the help with budgeting and actually sticking to it was what we were looking for. So it's been 4 days...and I'll be honest, the three places I spend a significant chunk of our money: Ross, Walmart and Smith's Grocery. I don't know what to say...it's the deal problem. Who ever thought bargain shopping would be a double edged sword? Well I live to tell you it is. When something is a deal, I can't pass it up. See when you are single and you work full time, I mean there is plenty of money to spend. And I'll be the first to admit my mind rationalizes any purchase and the number of that same purchase. Consequently I have recruited Chase to help by doing all this budget stuff with me, one of the perks of marriage for him... So now, a week later (I know started the entry last week) I haven't brought myself to actually working with the program. I have opened it a couple times, but I quickly find myself side tracked on target.com or something. So Quicken has not been a complete success yet....but we'll get there. What was I thinking being excited for a budget? Lately when we discuss the budget or Quicken Chase can attest that I say "Chase it doesn't matter where it's spent.... food or clothes....as long as it doesn't go over the spending budget. " That comment started after I ventured into the baby clothes at Ross to pick out a gift for Chase's sister who just had a baby last week. I called chase and told him I had to start buying now (because of all the cute baby clothes out currently) so whenever we decide to have kids, I don't have to spend on baby clothes. So really it's like a pre-sacrifice for my kids. THis is toxic thinking I know, mainly I've learned that old habits die slowly or don't die at all. So I'll decide my priorities fast...either keeping Ross in business or saving for a house. A pile of clothes won't keep me dry when it rains...so I won't give up on quicken yet. And whenever you think your parents don't know you at all...I can attest they do...this is an email I recently received.....

From: Russell Wilson

Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 1:54 AM

Subject: Motivational Quote of the Day

FROM NIGHTINGALE.COM "Rich people start off as poor people. The difference is they take the nickels and dimes and they invest it — they didn’t spend it all at the mall." — Ric Edelman: author of "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth," financial guru.