I adore my weekends.
But the weekends always kill the mission. I spent too much this weekend. *sigh for setbacks* What can I say, a girl has to eat! I took advantage of some sales at the grocery store though and saved some money that way, as well as stocked up a bit for future meals. Must… have… discipline!
Unfortunately, my bank card is screwy right now, it doesn’t swipe anymore (which might say something about my spending habits that needs addressed) so the grocery store ATM this morning ate an extra $3 in fees.
We kind of splurged on dinner Friday night at the Irish pub (a cheaper dinner than I was going to splurge on, and some of the money did go into savings!). Aside from that, my only other frivolous purchase this weekend was a CD. I can’t spend anymore extra money till I get paid next though. Have I said it yet? Must… have… discipline!!
I think Monday would make a great payday, rather than Friday! It’s too easy to spend money on the weekend right after getting paid. I think corporations and consumerism are responsible for Friday paydays. Friday paydays = Good for the economy, bad for my bank account!
Lessons from the weekend:
1. Take full advantage of Buy One, Get One Free sales. (I did this and spent $14 and saved $6. This beats coupon clipping, which is also an incredible way to save money. See #2.)
2. Clip coupons. I’m sure you may have grown up and seen your parents clipping coupons for the grocery. The good news is that coupon clipping isn’t just for the grocery store anymore! “2 for the price of one” or “$5 off $20 purchase” coupons are popular at restaurants these days, as are “Buy 9, get 1 free” style cards which also serve as incredible money-savers.
3. Don’t use ATMs that cost you money. Make it a point to get cash at your bank. Most people bank at banks close to home, so it is just as easy to stop at a bank near home on the way out rather than get cash back at ATMs that cost you an arm and a leg to access your own money.
4. If for any reason you do forget to get money at your Bank ATM, find a CVS, Walgreen’s, or local grocery store which allows you to use your Debit card to get cash back at the register. Buy a small pack of gum for 25 or 50 cents. This way, you get the cash you need for a smaller fee (a fee for which you actually get something in return)!
Balance:
Checking: $150
Savings: $125
Stumble It!