23 years later, we’ve both adapted to married life. We both learned that day that nothing wreaks havoc on a budget quite like embarassment.
It’s not uncommon for people to be embarassed and self-conscious about budgeting their finances. Shopping the sales, using coupons, making sure discounts and items are properly credited, buying a product that “feels” like second-rate, all can bring out the EMOTIONS of shopping. When the emotions are let loose, so is the money.
One trick several friends use to stay on track on the grocery aisles is to carry a series of index cards.
On one is printed the word Stop.
On one, the phrase “You Don’t Deserve To Be In Debt. You Do Deserve Financial Security” as well as things like “You Deserve Peace“; “You Deserve To Have Nice Things. You Don’t Deserve That Overpriced Junk“
On one, “Don’t Be Embarrassed That You Are Too Smart To Waste Your Money Like They Are“.
“You Don’t Need To Spend To Love“
or whatever else does it for them. Those cards get carried around along with the shopping list and coupons, and they actually do help them remember that the budget is a blessing, not a curse.
Remember, Donald Trump shops at KMart. The heiress of a well known flour company uses coupons and shops sales. Rich people who stay that way don’t waste money.
Haha, great post! I love the anecdote, as well as ho you tied it in to the general problem of embarrassment.
(BTW: “wreaks” havoc, not reeks.)
WHAT? The real problem with this post is that your husband is an idiot. If a man had a problem doing that for me after 6 months and said all that sexist stuff to me we’d be done unless he realized it was messed up and immediately went back and did the RIGHT thing. This post has nothing to do with budgeting!