Sabotaging Myself

I have gotten pretty good at being frugal with groceries and household supplies, but I can definitely improve in both areas. I think the place I need to work the hardest is impulse buys and clothes for the kids. I have no problem buying second hand clothes for them, but I am also a sucker for cute kid's clothes. I have also found that the older they get, the more difficult it is to find good quality second hand clothes that aren't covered in stains or washed out.

I also find myself doing more recreational shopping as the stress at work builds, the demands on my time increase, and it becomes harder to be vigilant about my spending. It is easy to get a quick "pick me up" from the pleasure of buying this or that for the kids or the house. While I think I am careful about shopping sales and buying inexpensive things, the few dollars here and there add up quickly. You would think that the busier I am, the less opportunity I would have to spend, but it doesn't seem to work that way.

I also succumb to those dangerous thoughts of, "well, if I have to work anyway, we might as well enjoy the benefits of a second income." So, I justify another toy, another kitchen gadget, another cute outfit for the kids. What I really should be saying is, "we don't really need that, so put those few dollars towards saving and planning for the future." When I do end up buying those silly things that we don't really need, I carry the guilt every time I touch or see whatever it might be. I beat myself up when I review the monthly bills. The stuff sucks the life out of me. I really need to re-read Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover." I want to "live like no one else, so I CAN live like no one else."

I want more for my family. Not more stuff...more LIFE.