Here I am at the end of the month mortified, frustrated, and panicked. I’ve overspent this month in my misc. category by $285. While this money can be taken out of February’s budget, it will have to come from $$ I planned to put towards an upcoming trip and savings.
What’s worse is that the $285 is only for my miscellaneous spending. There is another $323.74 in “extra” charges for January that have already been moved over to February’s budget (a new car battery and a “moment of weakness” shopping trip are the bulk of this figure). That’s a whopping $608.74 that should have been put towards savings goals and my trip. WOW.
But before this post ends up being a self-pity parade, I know this predicament is due to my choices and my choices alone. I have realized that I’m an emotional spender–when things in life get rough, I let my finances go out the door. After carefully examining the past few months, my spending reports, and my incessant demands for better from myself in terms of spending, I know enough is enough.
Serious changes are needed, and I feel they should be seen on more levels than merely my finances. I’ve read much about the relationship between psychology & finance, and I know it’s time to put my breadth of knowledge in these realms into practice (one of my Masters degrees is in Psych). It’s not going to be easy; it’s not going to be fun–but it’s necessary.
