Yes, realistically we all have "exceptions" each month. I think it is better to be realistic about it...don't you? Kind of like dieting, the more you starve yourself the more weight you will gain when you finally gorge!
I do have to give you a big kuddos...I'm impressed with the sitting in the parking lot of the Chinese food place...that would NOT have worked with me. The smell would draw me in alone..you are my hero!
It was hard and I'm still scratching my head with how we managed to pull away.
I got a haircut today and paid $30 (with tip) but didn't buy the product she used! So I saved $20! . . . snipped. . .
Woo-Hoo!!
That's what usually gets me too! The darn product. When I lived in DE, I went to a girl who owned her own salon attached to her home. It was very nice and very reasonable and she did a great job! Then, I moved down here and not only have I not been able to find a decent stylist (I've been to 4 different ones in the past year) but they are all HIGH
priced!! I had been going to one girl for a little while and each time I went, the price steadily went up. The first time it was like $30. The next time it was $32. Then the thrid time I went it was $39 then the LAST time I went she charged me $55!!
AND she didn't do anything different any of the times I went!! I hadn't been thrilled with her work and when she pulled that I was done. I have a guy friend who goes to her (she raised her prices on him too) and he said something to her and she said that I shouldn't have been charged that much, it was a mistake.
But I was tired of never knowing how much it was going to be today and that was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
Then, another girlfriend had been nagging me to give "her" girl a try. She raved how I would LOVE her and how she wasn't expensive at all. Shouldn't be anymore than say $40. So, I go to see her (w/ DFriend in tow) and she does do a good job. The bill was $85!!!!!!! And then she wanted me to buy product. Ummm, NO. When we got outside Dfriend couldn't believe it was that much and then she informs me she doesn't pay cause they barter services
(Dfriend is a massage therapist).
So, my coworkers completely guilted me in for drinks. I picked up my friends tab, since she bought last time ... $30.
...snipped....
Doncha' hate that? I mean, I don't know about you, but I always just want to pay for myself that way I don't feel like I owe anyone anything. But, DH has this friend who's always like, "Nah, dude, I'll get it this time. You can get it next time." Then when we're not really prepared to go out or whatever, or we decide we're doing a NO BUY then's when he's calling in his "next time". I mean, it's not like he calls and says, "You owe me." But I KNOW we do. So, of course, we always end up going. Because, I mean, I feel like, how can I say "I know I owe you but I
had the money that day to pay for MINE when you so graciously offered. Today, I don't."???
Today, I spent $3.19 on breakfast. It didn't come from my January money as it was left over from a Christmas gift but it really aggravated me that I had to even spend it.
Yesterday, we didn't make it to the grocery store and therefore had nothing in the house for breakfast so I made DH stop on the way to church. After I spent it I started thinking $3.19 is almost enough to buy 18 eggs and a loaf of bread. For a little more than $3.19 I could have had breakfast for the week. That's how I've started thinking. I mean, I'm not try deprive us of ever going out but for a long time we were eating out EVERY night, buying lunch (sometimes) and stopping for breakfast quite often. In December, when we had to stop for our house purchase, I was shocked to have the realization of just how much we were spending.
Thanks for letting me share. Sorry it's so long.
(The security guard at the Aldi had that "now I've seen it all" look when she saw me loading my purchases into the luggage! 
)
