Thrifty Store.... Part Two: Budgeting

Budgeting....

Sigh.

I feel that everything I do lately is based on a budget.  It would be wonderful to just spend and get what I want and have all the nice things.  That's what gets people into trouble, myself included.

As mentioned in Part One, I have figured out a system for making going to the Trifty Store a success. Then comes the next step.  This is one that you will need to figure out more on a personal level.  My local thrity store has low prices and they are standardized.  Sleeveless shirts: 1.79, short sleeved: 2.99, long sleeved: 3.99, pants: 4.99, dresses 5.99.  I think this makes it easier in some aspects to budget, but hard to resist the impulse buys. 

I came up with $30 initial monthly budget to be used at the thrift store.  This was when I just was looking for something to do on the weekends to fill my time, plus I had a goal of saving money to not work for a whole month.  This worked for about two weeks.  When I did the math, that's only 7.50 per visit.  Yes, I could stick to that, but that's not fun, and if I was trying to lift my spirits, that was not the way to go about it.  Doubled by budget, giving me $15 a week to spend, raising my monthly budget to $60.  Could I do it cheaper?  Yes.

Here's where a budget hits reality:  I could live on $30 at the thrifty store.  I would buy less.  I would not enjoy myself.  I would end up not being able to stick to this budget for very long.  $60 gives me that flexibility.  I can spend 15 and not feel to tightly constrained.  If I go over budget one week, say spending 20, it still gives me 10 the next week. 

Budgets suck.  Suck out loud.  I guess that's why so many people go over budget.  Setting a budget that works for me, one I can stick too makes it suck a little less.

SIGH...