[Pure Bliss] Money Money Money

[Lauren]

Hello There! Now it's time to talk about something, that I am not too sure I want to publish to the internet...for the world to see. Alas, this is a blog about my goals, so I have to share it, and maybe someday someone will stumble across this post, and be inspired by how far I have come since then, and I will be glad I shared...and maybe I'll stop writing run on sentences by then, but probably not.

So here's the scoop.  I have a goal to have lots of money.  

I am sure that's a goal a lot of people probably have. For me, the combination of not making a lot of money + a love of spending money= $0 in my savings account.  Now, I would like to buy a house one day for my future family and I to call home.  Although I am sure that I won't be buying this house alone, considering I don't know who my future husband is yet, I don't know how much money he will make.  So right now, I just need to make sure my money is in a good place...make sense? I know I won't always be making $12,000 a year, but right now I am working on putting good habits into place, so that when that number goes up, my savings account does not stay at $0.  Honestly, I used to be really bad about spending money frivolously, and then hoping I have enough money to pay the bills.  This is not a practice I recommend, and so I have put a new habit into place to curb my spending problem.

1. First I started using Google Calender to budget my paychecks from my "day job."
I have it highlighted my paydays in purple to symbolize royalty (to attract more money of course.)  When I click on it I can open it up, and see the details where I list where all the money from this paycheck will be going.  To be honest, I have been doing this since about October, and it has yet to go as planned. More expense pop up then I plan for, and they eat up that $70 that is to go to savings.  The good thing is I sit down every other week and look at where my money needs to be going, so I am no longer spending frivolously.  You may notice the $10 for Starbucks, and think I am crazy.  I am..but there's a method to my madness: Starbucks is one thing that drains my money. I used to buy a drink here and a drink there, and not realize how much money I was pissing away on Starbucks.  Like a food diet, a money diet never works if you feel like you are being deprived, so I put $10 from each paycheck onto my Starbucks card. That's one delicious coffee treat a week.

2.  Now, I am going to look at why am I spending the money.  

Working with Danielle on my eating habits, has honestly helped how I look at my financial situation.  Often times people use food to satisfy a need that sometimes food just isn't meant to satisfy. Same with money. Am I buying that shirt because I need new clothes, or am I trying to use that shirt to feel more fulfilled in life?  I don't know if this is the case, but for my "monthly challenge" on the financial front I am going to keep a money diary.  Every day at the end of the day I will write down what I spent my money on, why I needed it, and perhaps my mood at the time.  This will help me figure out if there is a deeper meaning to this frivolous spending I am doing.

Do you have any money related goals, or tips to help with mine? I know money is often a touchy subject, especially in the blog world where it's often sunshine and glitter. If you're brave enough, I'd love for you to comment with your thoughts!

Have a lovely day!

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Posted By Lauren to Pure Bliss at 12/05/2012 12:57:00 PM