You all know that I have vowed to keep a budget and actually stick to it. Let me tell you. It's hard. I'm going through withdraws. Shaking, nervousness, sweating, jittery, anxious, withdrawals.
Over the weekend we were in San Francisco. Lovely. Gorgeous weather. Beautiful. What I love most about being in California with my MIL (mother-in-law) is the shopping. Deals, deals, deals, everywhere you go. Coach, Gap, Villeroy & Bach, Carter's, well you get it. Designer, designer, designer. Sale! Sale! Sale! Outlets galore! Discounts galore!
And the bestest of the best thing of all? Macys in Union Square. They have EVERYTHING. Any designer you can name. Prices you can't even imagine. How does ANYONE afford THAT?!? And of course you have me, drooling; eyes gleaming.... if only I were rich.
I was in handbag heaven. Coach, Dooney, Michael, Chanel. Oh.... Chanel!
I'm sick. So, so sick. I coveted, I lusted, I.... just can't help myself. It's like red light running. I can't believe people would do such a thing. I yap, yap, yap and then run 3 yellow, near red lights on purpose. I just couldn't HELP myself. A disease if you will. I'm sick.
So where was I going with this? Because I'm starving myself of my foolish designer ways, I'm crashing... HARD. I just want to splurge soooooo bad right now. I need new jeans. Not just ANY jean, but designer jeans. My brain keeps telling me, "but you know nothing will fit as good as a lucky jean". But my budget! What about my budget! I promised!!!! This time I was really going to do it! Then I think of all the other things I could buy with that money. Like finishing a 72 hr kit, buying a decades worth of wheat, a 50,000 gallon water storage tank, well you get the idea. Then I think of Jana - what would she think if she found out? Well she probably wouldn't need that wholesome-ly tubular to the max stuff. And probably the most sickest part of it all. I wouldn't feel guilty. I woundn't bat an eye lash. I wouldn't get a clump in my throat, I woudn't instantly feel sick to my stomach....
But I'm not. At least not today. And look at me... drooling at the mouth. On the verge of foaming. See? It's a disease. How do you cure it? Can it be cured? All I can think about it my next "big" purchase. Should it be Gucci? Guess? Louis? Shoes? Purse? Jewelry?
Slap me. Somebody quick. What's wrong with me?!?
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10 comments:
Stay with it! It's hard at first, self control is never easy. Your finances are on a diet and we all know how hard diets are... you can do it! With each resistance you gain power! Just think how long that handbag will keep you alive if you were trapped in your house for a while. Just think of James...put it in a mission fund or college fund.
Nothing is wrong with you! We all have our addictions. Mine happens to be office supplies, but that's a story for another day. Suggestion on the clothes (admittedly an infantile suggestion, but a suggestion none-the-less). Try putting the clothes you are absolutely sick of in tupperware containers and storing them for a while. Only keep out and wear what you can manage without puking (even if you have to puke in your mouth and swallow it). Then, take out the box of clothes you were sick of a few months later and - presto - new clothes. This way, you get to go through your clothes (not exactly like shopping, but kinda) you get to organize your closet AND keep your budget at the same time. Kind of dumb, but it works on Ben with toys anyway. And I'm actually excited about my maternity clothes that were stored for over a year.
Maybe you need to figure out what part about items being 'designer' appeals to you. Because I promise, there is lots of great stuff out there that is not technicially designer. Maybe if you can get rid of the 'designer' wants, you can be happy with much less expensive versions and only get those versions when you really need them. I love quality and style and know there are a lot of cruddy brands out there, but I find plenty of good stuff that is not designer - for good prices and still quality (and I only get them occassionally of course)!
You can do this! (And if you give in at all, give in to Nordstrom Rack or Marshalls where it is designer brands for cheap, not Macy's or Saks)
But Shannon's points and Sara's ideas are better, so go with that! It has helped me avoid buying a clothing item many times to realize I really don't NEED it.
Oh yeah, and just change the subject in your mind; distract yourself. When I start browsing magazines, websites, stores of modern furniture/home decor, I start thinking we can somehow purchase those new chairs we've been needing, etc. ... but as a week or two later when I'm not looking at those magazines, websites at all, I totally forget about it. So distraction. There you go.
It would be my supreme pleasure to smack you silly.
Oh my gosh - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Macy's! I worked there during my college years and now I have all kinds of stuff I don't need. Like a set of gold-plated flatware for 12 people. And a set of lead crystal candlesticks from Mikasa. And two silver candelabras. And... tons more. I don't use the stuff, but I have it. I guess Shannon is right though - it won't keep me alive for very long if rough times come. (Besides, lead crystal has a bad aftertaste anyway.) Don't give in. You can do it!! I like what Sara and Breanne had to say - I've tried them and they work for me. :)
Hey, we all got our thing. You like fashion shoes, clothes, etc...I like food. If I have an extra $50, I would rather go out to eat then go shopping. I am jealous you got to go to San Fran!! So fun!
Hmmmm... maybe you and Aaron should talk.
you are so funny! I can totally relate! Hang in there...stay strong!
Megan is right. She says her thing is going out to eat, yours is shopping - those are both some of mine! I like it all! I would be equally happy with a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant or to a favorite clothing store. Although, I'd probably prefer the clothes actually - they last longer, unless of course the restaurant made for unique memories!
See, I like it all. My comments on these budgeting posts are as much for me as they are for anyone else :)
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