Why is that?

My May issue of Money magazine contains an article titled "11 Ways to Improve Your Financial Self Now". In it, the author states, "Accept the new norm - and set realistic investiment goals...you got used to double-digit returns when times were good...if you had simply set realistic expectations, you wouldn't feel so bad [now]...But, our brains don't work that way. 'We focus on the most recent experiences to frame our expectations'." It's that last sentence that really struck a chord with me.
In February, my husband had a great month for commission checks. So, what did I do? I paid every single bill early and even plunked down extra on our credit card debt. But, then what do you think happened when March was lean? That's right; there wasn't enough in the checking account to even cover regular expenses, much less tiny "splurges". We were broke. Ugh!
But, I'm trying to learn a lesson here and I've think I've got it. Even when the checks are big, I will simply continue on the financial plan we have set for ourselves and even attempt to cut more fat from the budget.
Here are a few new tips I found in LHJ. Andrea Atkins advises:

#1 Once a week shopping forces you to eat what's been sitting on the shelves. If you run out of bread, substitute peanut butter on graham crackers in the kids' lunches; it's pretty much the same thing.

#2 Send a brown bag lunch for everyone in the family two times per week.

#3 Go the extra step and DIY. This includes tasks such as Dry cleaning, Mani-Pedi appointments, and car washing (use a bucket, not the hose, except for rinsing).

#4 Stay out of the stores! [This works. I can't tell you the last time I was at the mall. What exactly is the point? They don't have groceries, which is the one and only item my family actually NEEDS.]

#5 If you must buy something, say for a birthday party or whatever, enlist the internet. GOOGLE "promotion codes for ________ (fill in the store name). Save % off or shipping or sometimes both.

#6 Visit www.dmachoice.org to take your name off a half-dozen catalog mailing lists. [I don't know about you, but I want something out of every Oriental Trading magazine that graces my mailbox. I've started throwing these right in the trash can in the garage; I never even let them in my house!]

These tips are mine:

#7 If you adamently remain addicted to ShapeDollars drinks, at least make the effort to buy the discount cards at Costco. You can get 5 x $20 gift cards and pay only $80. Savings = $20

#8 If the savings seems small to you (ie: I'm only saving $6 a week by brown bagging it), remember to multiply by the days, weeks, or months of a whole year. $6 x 52 weeks = $312. If this number still seems small, add up all the little changes you are making until you get into the thousands of dollars. This might help your determination to save, even in the months of surplus.

Uh, what?

To begin, let me say that I am hesitant to apply labels and reluctant to accept labels, especially those that are popular "au moment". But, when I was thinking about what I wanted to write tonight, I recognized some accuracy in the off-handed comments made by a handful of doctors about me possibly having OCD tendencies. :-) I had previously determined the symptoms of this affliction to be along the lines of counting cracks in sidewalks, waiting a certain number of seconds before touching a doorknob, or wiping a counter-top only with my right hand (hey, wait a second!).

However, as I reflected on the week, I made the connection between the actual name of the disorder and my actions. For example, I have been completely OBSESSED with this Stampin' Up! thing I'm trying to get going for the summer. I have checked my email looking for new Evite R.S.V.P.s approximately four times a day for the last four days. I am so looking forward to sharing packs of paper and ideas, that I'm combing the catalog constantly, circling items I need, ogling things I want, reviewing what I already own. Ugh! I am starting to disgust myself. Is there nothing else on the planet worth obsessing over? Did I really just almost click SUBMIT on a $450 order?

Fortunately, I have perfected (naughty word for Type-A'ers!) a few tricks to keep myself out of trouble. STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING! The first one move I made was to navigate away from the demonstrator site which is the one and only place where 20% off entices me. USE ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS! Second, I logged in to this blog since I created it as my accountability backup. Looking at the tag line, which formerly read "my commitment to not spend money on 'extras' for a whole year" before I changed it because I was grouchy, halted the COMPULSIVE part of OCD real quick. Messing with the layout and formats alleviated some of my drive to make a snappy purchase.

Thank the Lord for trick #3! Or, literally, thank the Lord IN step #3. PRAY and LISTEN to the ANSWER! Because I have asked, I have been blessed with friends that are there for me no matter what kind of a mood I'm in.

Stacy - Thank you for allowing me to interrupt your schedule on a daily basis and never making me feel bad about it.

Cati - Thank you for the park trips; they really help release me from the traps I set with my own hands, in my own house.

In conclusion, I have not been diagnosed with any disorder nor do I want to be, but that doesn't mean I can't employ strategies to counteract negative behaviors. In fact, I just saved $450 by doing that. I need to get off the computer now, though, because the Buy One Get One offer on the SU website is calling my name. [Wait, I think that's a different disease!]

See ya' !