This year, I am really going to try to not buy anything I don't truely need. I don't know a better way to term this, but I am really going to try to cut back.
I know it's nearly impossible for us to go straight to "No eating out" so I am leaving it in the budget to have a little fun. I also LOVE to buy DVD's and such, especially since next year with no roomies, I won't have to throw money away by buying cable. YAY! However, it's a pure want to buy a dvd ... and thus shouldn't be done this year. I don't think this is something I can manage.
So, in my new budget for this year, I am going to allow myself some "fun" money. Not to mention, a few trips to Disney. This year, I didn't buy a season pass though ... gasp! My daughter has been asking to go to Disney since October, poor girl. What are we going to do?!?! I am thinking we might go to a few of the special parties, one in the spring, one for Halloween, and then for Christmas. I could never quit Disney cold turkey.
Also, I found out my friend is getting married in Vegas sometime this year. I have never been to Vegas as an adult ... so this is going to be in a "need" category.
Maybe I should label the categories "Need" "Want" and "Sanity". I think that might actually work.
Figuring out needs vs. wants
December 30th, 2007 at 01:05 am
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December 30th, 2007 at 08:04 am 1199001844
Definitely look into the used or resell market for DVDs that you know that you'll be playing many times - all I do is go into Amazon.com. Also try the public library for DVDs that you are trying out or figure you'll play once.
As for eating out - know your habits and see if you can pursue them more cheaply. What makes eating out fun? Is it a dish, the restaurant, the experience? The biggest secret, in my opinion, is that the more times you eat out the less satisfying it is. If its great once a week, its not twice as great twice a week.
December 30th, 2007 at 02:16 pm 1199024172
I get 2 a month for $6; wouldn't that be cheaper than buying DVDs?
Getting just 2 a month makes it a special occasion when 1 arrives in your mailbox; i save mine for the weekends.
I never really watch DVDs more than once, so to me, owning doesn't make sense.
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December 31st, 2007 at 02:37 pm 1199111830
We're taking this year off b/c she's not free this year. I am really saddened by this ... sigh. But, I had already decided we would go for a year and then take a year off. There is so much to do in Florida that it seems silly to me to spend all of our time at Disney, even though it's something Juliette and I both LOVE. This year we'll be doing a lot of free/cheap things, and visiting our local zoo and aquarium. It'll probably end up costing more than if I had just bought Disney passes, honestly.