frustrating budget blunders

[abmitch01]

I got a super deal of $50 for season passes to our rep theater. It's for 6 shows and it's always really good. It ends up being cheaper than a movie to see a great play. So I parked in the lot across the street and there was no attendant on duty so I thought it was free on Saturdays. Came out after the show and our car was towed. I should've walked to the back of the lot and read the signs. But I saw other people parking and walking to the theater without paying so I figured I was ok. $150 later I'm really kicking myself for such a stupid budget blower.

what budget blunders have you done?

 

[eliza61]

I got a super deal of $50 for season passes to our rep theater. It's for 6 shows and it's always really good. It ends up being cheaper than a movie to see a great play. So I parked in the lot across the street and there was no attendant on duty so I thought it was free on Saturdays. Came out after the show and our car was towed. I should've walked to the back of the lot and read the signs. But I saw other people parking and walking to the theater without paying so I figured I was ok. $150 later I'm really kicking myself for such a stupid budget blower.

what budget blunders have you done?

LOL, let me count the ways. So a couple of months ago I was in the market for a new washer and dryer. Of course I hear about a great sale in a store about 30 miles away from home. schlep all the way out there and by the time they tacked on tax, shipping cost and removal cost, throw in gas, toll and time I ended up about 50 dollars over if I just went 2 miles down the road to the home depot.

 

[ronandannette]

Failing to properly research our Anniversary trip to Hawaii last fall did me in. We got a good w(within budget) price on the flights and hotels, but we spent WAY more than I'd planned for food and activities. We don't take too many land vacations - we almost always cruise or go to DLR where we know exactly what to expect. I had imagined there would be tons of discounts available in the moment (coupon books, cut-rate tour kiosks, etc.). I really, really, should have done the legwork in advance.

Also, we're renovating a condo right now before we move into it. We redesigned the ensuite shower and had the old one ripped apart before we realized the configuration of the new one would require a custom-made shower base and glass walls. There's $1,500 we shouldn't have spent - and particularly embarrassing too since DH and I both work in residential construction and do these things every day.

 

[abmitch01]

ooh that's a tough one to swallow

I didn't see Frozen but my friend's kids sing Let It Go all the time. I'm singing that in my head. $150 isn't the end of the world, sigh

 

[tvguy]

Also, we're renovating a condo right now before we move into it. We redesigned the ensuite shower and had the old one ripped apart before we realized the configuration of the new one would require a custom-made shower base and glass walls. There's $1,500 we shouldn't have spent - and particularly embarrassing too since DH and I both work in residential construction and do these things every day.

We just remodeled and $1,500 seems like a bargain. But DW insisted on Corian walls to the ceiling, and a Corian floor for a 60 x 32 shower. The floor pan alone was more than $1,500.

 

[ronandannette]

We just remodeled and $1,500 seems like a bargain. But DW insisted on Corian walls to the ceiling, and a Corian floor for a 60 x 32 shower. The floor pan alone was more than $1,500.

We went with a Shluter-System that is custom constructed on-site by a plumber friend of ours and were already planning tile walls anyway so we did get off cheap (relatively speaking). Through industry connections we could have had a Hytec acrylic pan made to order but it would have been mucho more dinero. Yeah, not our finest moment. We would have fired ourselves (or each other ) if either of us made this kind of mistake on a customer's project!

 

[abmitch01]

we recently went in on a house with my parents because my mom is terminally ill and I am a nurse and it will be easier to care for her if I'm on site. Also, my kids will be going off to college and I didn't need my large town home. We bought a new construction ranch that the person who had picked it out backed out of the deal. We loved it, it suited our needs. Well, my dad would tell any of our friends who asked how much it cost. And every single one reacted with, "What? you paid way too much!" We had kind of looked around and this seemed comparable, there weren't many new ranches to look at. I really hope we didn't get hosed on this house. I have to get my father to zip it when people ask, lol.

 

[Pooh2]

I put my cellphone through the washer this week...

And no, the old rice trick did not make it work again.

 

[leebee]

Well, DH took the PTCruiser in for an oil change. $1000 later, we got it back. It seems the radiator blew a seal or valve or something and that needed to be fixed, and then there was the front end brake job. OK, the car HAD been making an odd noise, and I trust this mechanic implicitly, but really… right now, during the summer, when I am not working and therefore not being paid?? Sigh… I just keep reminding myself that it's another $10 in Disney VISA reward dollars for our trip in October.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I ordered about $100 worth of books for the upcoming school year.

They sent (and charged me) $270 worth of books for 3 subjects I didn't order for since my daughter has already completed them.

I get that mistakes can happen--but when I went to vent (those are heavy books I have to ship back. VERY heavy) and inquire about what to expect from a Facebook community, I got a smackdown. How dare I bash this company before having given them the chance to fix it!

So my blunder was ignoring my other issues with this company and going with them because it was "just one class" against my better judgment.


No--I will not name the company. But can I just say that when "they are a small but good and honest company" is tossed around often--it just doesn't hold much weight for me when they make a huge financial error at my expense? It is the same response I always get when I mention an issue with them.

Probably doesn't fit here--but I was looking for a safe place to vent and right now I am out $270ish plus shipping until the matter can be resolved. :-(. And I used my debit card because they didn't take Amex when I bought from them in person at a homeschool convention.

 

[abmitch01]

that stinks!

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

I wasn't budget minded in my younger years when planning my wedding. If I were, I would have not spent an atrocious amount on flowers!!!

 

[GracieB]

I parked at a meter at Goodwill, fed the meter, but not for long enough. I came out, all happy with a $6 find, only to see a $70 ticket!

 

[abmitch01]

that sounds like me. I was trying to do something altruistic- take my ill mother to a play, she rarely gets out, drop her off in her wheelchair at the door with her oxygen, cross my car across the street. Follow what all the other people were doing and bam, get towed. I was so afraid of how my mother was going to react that when she saw my face she started to cry because she thought someone must've died for me to look like that, lol.

 

[pkelly6]

Bought a rapunzel tiara on ebay w/free ship for my little DD; it cost $8.50. Looked nothing like the picture so had my older DD take it to the post office for me. Cost $9.50 to ship it back.

 

[abmitch01]

I bought a Vera Bradley bag on ebay listed New with Tags. Came with no tags and a hair clip with long hair in it and used cough drops rewrapped up. Gahross. But shipping it back was half the cost of the bag so I just washed. The seller insisted that it was NWT when I complained. I took a picture of the hair clip and used cough drops but they wouldn't budge.

 

[seashoreCM]

Well, DH took the PTCruiser in for an oil change. $1000 later, we got it back. (snip) Sigh… I just keep reminding myself that it's another $10 in Disney VISA reward dollars for our trip in October.

Bought a $200. camera on sale for $100. That night found that a stock went down $1000. Saved $25. using coupons at the grocery store. A stock went down $250. Scored an airplane ticket for $250. and next day that itinerary costs $500. but another stock I owned was worth $2500. less.

 

[wendybeth75]

Bought a $200. camera on sale for $100. That night found that a stock went down $1000. Saved $25. using coupons at the grocery store. A stock went down $250. Scored an airplane ticket for $250. and next day that itinerary costs $500. but another stock I owned was worth $2500. less.

I think it is time for you to quit bargain hunting!

 

[agavegirl1]

I divorced my biggest budget buster 6 years ago. He "wanted" to be in charge of his own finances and I let him. He lost 40% of our net worth in 4 years with dumb investments and an actual scam before I told him he could not be trusted with money. I got us back to break even by scrimping and saving and paying off debt at which time he decided I was "no fun anymore" and we divorced.

Not my budget mistake...but...I think marrying him was my budget mistake. He had no respect for a budget whatsoever.

 

[jojosam]

I divorced my biggest budget buster 6 years ago. He "wanted" to be in charge of his own finances and I let him. He lost 40% of our net worth in 4 years with dumb investments and an actual scam before I told him he could not be trusted with money. I got us back to break even by scrimping and saving and paying off debt at which time he decided I was "no fun anymore" and we divorced. Not my budget mistake...but...I think marrying him was my budget mistake. He had no respect for a budget whatsoever.

I'm about to see if I'm in this exact same position. Things are rocky and he wants to be in charge. I've managed things for 12 years and he has absolutely no clue what he's doing. Should be interesting. Thankfully the investments aren't his, so at least I will have something to show if things go sour!