Age: 25Hometown: Harlem, NY, NY
Phrase that describes my relationship with money: Concerned
Phrase that describes my parents’…: Careless
My 21-day goal: To spend and save more responsibly
My weakness: Buying things I don't need
My fear for these 21 days: Not being able to follow through
What I will miss most: Dining out/fast food)
Okay, so I'm starting this financial fast for few reasons. I have been unemployed and am trying to save money; I need to pay bills and debt (which isn't mine, BTW), and to build up my credit rating again.
Being unemployed sucks! If you're currently unemployed, you know how hard it is to come by a permanent job again. With that being said, I think my goals should be to save money, pay off my bills and to look for work. How am I doing? I work a temp jobs when they are available, and my resume is posted on job search engines, etc. I pay my all my necessary bills, e.g. my cell phone and my gym membership (although, the gym isn't *truly* necessary because I don't even go!) My student loan is in deferment. Yet, I have to pay off a car loan that I helped someone else obtain. Now, I am stuck paying off the loan... Yet, I cosigned. So I must (and am!) taking responsibility. I now know better.
In addition to paying off my bills and looking for a new job, I am trying to save money..."trying" being the key word here. I am "trying" to do what is needed in order for me to have a better life. To this end, over the past couple of months, I have become a lot tighter (frugal) with my money, particularly when it comes to buying something for me. For instance, I may go into a store to buy something because I first saw something lovely in the window. Yet, once inside, other things catch my eye. Before I know it, I have grabbed those things too! Yet by the time I finish scanning the store to see what else is available in my size, the line at the register is ridiculous. So such helps deter me from making impulse purchases because I am NOT waiting on a long line. The line delay gives me time to talk myself out of buying what is in my arms.
So, once I have held onto the money, the problem now becomes saving it! For example, on any given day, my monthly bills could be paid up and yet, I will still have the feeling of "well I am getting money next week, so...I can go ahead and spend what I have now and simply replace it next week." With that I'll think of something I might "need" (or want?) to buy and buy them...like little knickknacks and things.
Oh, BTW, food is the enemy #1 for me! I love it and I love to eat. For goodness sake, I even went to culinary school! So to my stomach is another place where my money goes. I could have food in the fridge, and probably have cooked the night before...so there's leftovers too, and yet I will still go to Popeye’s for a two-piece for dinner. That's $6 and some change I have wasted! Case in point: three minutes before this fast began, I raced across the street and bought two red velvet cupcakes from Make My Cake...just because it was within walking distance! I also will buy a sandwich or something for lunch when I have wheat bread, sandwich meat, and cheese in my fridge -- at home!
I need to learn that I don't always have to buy my meals on-the-go and learn to carry snacks and water with me while I am out and about during the day.
Saving my money and my sanity is my goal for this week! Because when you don't work -- and all you can think about is paying off bills and debt -- you can get stressed out!
God bless & Signing off,
Frugally Confused
6 comments:
As an older participant on this journey I would like to share that our worlds are not far apart. I've been unemployed since June 09. I had not updated my resume nor had I looked for a job up until last week when I came across a job description that I feel has my name on it.
At 52 years of age I no longer want to subject myself to the daily woes of the 9-5 plantation. I don't want to deal with people's moods on a daily basis i.e. today you're happy go lucky and tomorrow you're the spawn of ...! Particularly if these behaviors are being demonstrated by the powers that be. Hence, I am looking to become an entrepreneur.
In December of 08 my son was diagnosed with a chronic illness. One day God put in my spirit to pick up yarn & a crochet needle. I was taught how to crochet at the age of 11 and hadn't picked it up since. I watched a few "How to.." videos on YouTube, and as a result hats, scarfs and you name it materialized. I had no idea that crocheting was going help me through numerous hospital stays, clinic visits, and above all calm my spirit, and supplement my unemployment.
However, I spend money as if I'm employed. Part of the comfort is that my rent is based on my income. Had my rent not been subsidized I'm sure I would have been forced to find a viable source of income. I've been justifying my spending by saying "God will provide." I recently received a notice stating that my building is under new management. Perhaps the comforts of living in subsidized housing will be no more.
YARN! I probably have enough yarn in my room to crochet a sweater, scarf or hat for the entire FCBC congregation! If I see a new yarn or yarn on sale I have to buy it. I keep buying baskets & ottomans to house the yarn.
I also love live music, eating out and an occasional visit to a "Grown and ... lounge." However, the further I get in my walk I find myself doing the lounge thing less and less without making a conscious effort.
To be overly frugal can be depressing. While I do believe we need to enjoy life, I know there must be a balance. People have been struggling with over consumption for centuries. New debt diets and food diets are being concocted every minute, when all we really have to do is incorporate balance into our daily lives.
Since my son's diagnosis I've neglected to pay my credit card bills. This has been weighing heavily on my heart, and at my age I know that this can come back and bite me where I sit. As a matter of fact to some extent it has already done so. I've had to tap into my retirement fund to make ends meet.
I have been mulling over a plan of action. I have yet to calculate my debt (avoidance), but I've been very conscious of my spending. I went to the supermarket yesterday with $25. I found myself checking the price on everything and in the end I had to put non-essentials back. They even had to yell "Key" to void two items (embarrassing). I purposely left my debit card home knowing that if I didn't have enough cash I would whip out my card without a second thought.
This morning I decided that I am going to take the smallest bill I have and pay on it weekly. As soon as I'm finished blogging I'm going to send a check electronically. As a matter of fact I am going to set it up automatically to pay weekly until the debt is cleared.
I'm also going to return a bag of winter yarn that I'm not using. I was going to buy a bin to put the overflow of yarn in, but instead I'm going to empty a bin that I already have. I'm either going to throw things way, giving them away or create something with the contents if possible.
Peace & blessings
Adriane
PS How about saying this whenever we feel weak "God is the head of my life not shoes, food, yarn etc..."
God bless you for this. I know how difficult it is to not want to go back to work, but the bills you have are telling you otherwise. Dealing with nasty people in a hostile workplace isnt something I want to go back to either. But I have recently enrolled back into school to finish my bachelors, in hospitality management. I am a pastry chef and know how frustating it is to want to be your own boss. Not wanting to work for someone else is something we both can agree upon. I also spending my money as if I had a regular 9-5. But I have journeyed on this 21 financial fast because I know that I need to manage my money better so that I can be a better steward, and more responsible as to where my money goes and what really needs to be done with it.
I am also glad that you said you love to knit and crochet, because I want to learn how to knit and crochet better. So maybe you can teach me a little something.
I will pray that you succeed in all of your endeavors, and pray that your son will receive whatever it is that he may need to guide him through that difficult chronic disease.
Thank you for your words and God bless.
Frugally Confused
Hello Adriane,
You have hit on many key things in your post. I do understand not wanting to work in an environment where you are working with people who are tempermental. At the same time God has called us to be good stewards over what we have. With your debt and such piling up it may be wise, if possible, to take on something part time while simultaneously building your business. If you live in Harlem you can join associations such as the Harlem Art Alliance for $15 a year. They will keep you updated with fairs and such where you can sell your creations. I am a crafter as well so I understand the desire to buy. I try to stay away from Michaels as much as possible because I know I will come out with something.
I am proudof the small steps you are taking such as with what you did in the grocery store. It can be tough but God is instilling something in you that will be life changing. Trust me. I am super frugal but I also do not feel deprived. I do spend money but I just spend it with intention. When you are ready, I can help you construct a plan for getting out of debt. I am working with some of the other members off line as well. God Bless.
Hey Frugally Confused,
Trust me I am a foodie as well and understand your pain. My problem is I cook as if I am married with 3 kids and end up having a ton of leftovers. Because I do not like to waste I can end up eating the same thing for days and to break up the monotony I will speand money on fast food. I do find that carrying snacks does help. It is tough because you have to remember to do so but it works.
Hi Adriane, God Bless you for your courage to communicate. I too am an older person 50yrs. to be exact and I got into this financial freedom fast accidentally, I just showed up and here I am. I am so glad. I never wanted to look at my fiances because because they have always been in the red with a enourmous student loan but embarking upon this journey has caused me to take inventory of self and that is a good thing. I too have worked in a hostile environment for a number of years. Right now I am on workers compensation and the only thing I see in my future is to retire. But what am I retiring to, I have used up money in my 401k plan, I have dipped into my pension so if I retire I have nothing viable to support my self in terms of a "comfortable living." At best, because I live in an income based housing I will be thankful to be able to have a roof over my head. And anything else will be gravy. When I look at my present circumstances and my future it looks dark, dismal and bleak to me SO instead I look towards GOD because I know he has brought me thus this far and my life is in the balance of HIs hands. I know GOD has the power to change anything so what may appear to be bleak, dark and dismal, I know I just need to clear my lenses because with God nothing is impossible. And Prayer Does Change Things! ps. As I have embarked upon this journey I realized that I don't think fcbc has anthying for the "inbetweeners." You know the people who are over 35 but are not yet seinors. Because we are an ever evolving community of visionaires and dreamers maybe something can get started. I have not knitted or crocheted since I was a young girl and that is something I would love to do but have been putting off. Maybe now is the right time with your skills and my willingness to learn I see a business in the making! God Bless (you) your (son) and (yam) for (New Begginings).
Under Construction,
Thank you for your comments. It is true God can change anything and prayer does work. We must remember that along with that sometimes God may be waiting on us to step up and do some things in our lives. Just in using your example, we can pray for God to help us out of debt or our circumstance but if we never face it (i.e. looking at the debt and figuring out a plan) then do we not leave God's hands tied in a sense? I think you are beginning to do those things and that is great. It is never too late to begin again, start a new business or get out of debt because of who God is and who God called us to be. Stay encouraged and keep going!
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