Please, someone ease my guilt!

[bigbabyblues]

Let me say this guilt is totally self-imposed, not a word from DH about it, he thinks I'm crazy to be feeling bad!

Background: My paycheck is direct-deposited into a checking account we have set up only for our house payment; every two weeks they take out half the month's payment for the mortgage; what's leftover is my play money. The last 3 months it's been my Disney money. I take the leftover and move it to the Disney savings accout that I started to keep me from spending it. Before Disney trip came along, the money went to pay for my braces, which are now finally paid for.

Last week when I got paid, I decided we (mostly I) needed some new clothes for our trip to the beach next week. I got the extra money from the checking account, and went shopping. I bought things we did need, 3 shirts for DH, two tops and a pair of shorts and flip flops (a whopping $1.29 for the shoes, lol) for myself, swim trunks for my 3-yo. I feel terrible because that was Disney money and I spent it. I do have money left, but instead of putting it in the Dis fund, I think I'm going to go ahead and buy the paint we need so we can finish getting our house ready to go on the market next month.

It's not like the money I spent is going to keep us from going; I've been saving about 2-1/2 or 3 months and I have almost half of what I need saved (about $650 so far). I guess I'm just afraid it's going to become habit. I don't have that much longer to save for our trip, because when we sell the house and move (hopefully in the next 4-6 months at the latest) I will be a SAHM completely instead of working part time.

Am I a bad disney-saver?

Steph

 

[tinaluis]

Give yourself a break -- most budgets fail because you don't have any "mad money" built in and instead just save and save and save -- even if it is for Disney. Definitely buy the paint for your house because the better it looks the more likely that it will sell at or near asking price and also sell quickly. Enjoy your weekend at the beach! Good luck with selling your house too.

 

[MEM]

Also, consider the fact that the clothes you purchased can be used at WDW and the paint for the house can be recouped in the sale price of the house which in turn could be added to your Disney fund. Practical expenditures like yours are justifiable.

 

[canwegosoon]

First of all you are doing a great job, saving money.

What I think you could do is save 90%-75% of the money you were saving each month for disney, and no cheating every month. The other 10-15% you could keep at home in an jar for emergencies (the little ones that always pop up) or clothes etc. But you should make a deal that if you cheat again out of the Disney money you have to pay a "Service Charge". I think you will be a lot less tempted to cheat if you have a 10% mad money.

Or you could buy DIsney Dollars right away with your saved money...and that could stop the attempt to cheat again too.

Good luck!!

 

[mad4themouse]

Stop beating yourself up! You didn't go to Las Vegas and blow it in the casinos. You bought necessities! I think you're doing just fine. Enjoy your little splurge and don't give it a second thought.

 

[GoofItUp]

Steph, I really know how you feel. Our Alaska cruise is next month (DH and I, plus we're taking his mom and dad). We have saved and saved and saved for months. Now it's almost time to go on the trip and I am so sick of not being able to buy a few things! I've actually been exercising like CRAZY for the last few weeks so that I could wear a formal dress my sister is loaning me rather than have to buy a new dress! Last weekend, though, I'd finally had enough! We bought a new pair of tennis shoes and a rain jacket and pants for DH. When we got home, I ordered a rain jacket and pants for myself. And, since the trip is only 3 weeks away and I'm not quite where I want to be weight-wise, I went and bought two pairs of ultra-support panty hose and had ice cream last night! Sometimes you just have to do something nice for yourself or you go crazy!

 

[HenDuck]

Don't feel guilty!

You are obviously doing a great job saving for your trip. Just remember that you are ten steps ahead of people who put their vacations on their credit cards!

I'm not judging those who use CCs (because I have been there!)

I'm just saying don't be so hard on yourself. You're doing the best that you can as we all are.

I have found too that if I make my budget to tight (which I am prone to do), I don't have enough money for NOW. That causes me extra stress that is unnecessary. So you have to account for the things that you need today too.

You're going to have a great trip. Don't worry about it!

 

[MrsPete]

The question to ask yourself is, "Did you need the things?" If the answer is yes, then you shouldn't feel guilty. If you don't buy things as the need comes up, then suddenly you find that you have NOTHING -- then it costs a lot to replace everything at once. I tend to buy myself 2-3 new outfits each fall and each spring; it's not an outrageous amount, but it's enough to replace worn out /outdated things.

On the other hand, if you already have flip-flops, then it's a waste even at 1.29. If your son didn't have swim trunks (or if he had only one pair), then it's a good spend. On the other hand, if he already has three pair, then it was wasteful.

 

[purplebelle]

You need clothes to wear in Disney...
You need to look nice @ Disney for pictures...

Don't worry!

 

[LoveThoseLabbies]

How is blowing money in Las Vegas any different than blowing money at Disney? Some people enjoy spending their entertainment $ in Las Vegas, while others do it at Disney. When you get back from Disney your money is not any less gone than it is when you return from Las Vegas.

IMO, one should never use money needed for the necessities in life for a vacation. If you have to, save longer for your dream vacation. Disney (and Las Vegas) will still be there next year and the year after.

 

[PattiPB]

Hey now, people!!!!!!!!

Remember that every person who comes to Vegas and spends their money is helping to fund MY Disney obsession!!!!! LOL!!!!!!

Steph: You did great---RELAX and enjoy your purchases! I'm a HUGE saver, but if I can't enjoy my life on a daily basis as well, what the heck am I saving for!?!?!?!?!?!?

And I really, really, really needed that new Liz Claiborne purse I bought yesterday!!!!! Really I did. No really. Seriously, I did. Stop looking at me like that!!! LOL!

 

[Sandy Feet]

bigbabyblues - You're doing fine. Don't worry.

LOL - I love it...pantyhose, vegas, liz claiborne bags...PHEW!...I feel much better about my visit to the hair salon yesterday


To save some extra money for Christmas (or whatever else comes up) I'm putting away some every month into a term deposit that I can't touch till the end of November. It's a savings club offered by the bank every year. This helps me not to spend it.

We're DEFINETLY spending A LOT going to Orlando this summer, I cringe at the amount. Another couple of months savings would have helped, but so be it. My dh can schedule the time off in August more easily than Dec. If we left it till next year one more of the children would be paying adult prices.

 

[HaleyB]

Yesterday I took $17 out of my Disney Money and got a french manicure. It was the kids last day of school and my last chance at a manicure for awhile. And I am days away from my trip! But my nails sure do look pretty.

 

[disneycrazed139]

Well, you're probably doing much better than most. I haven't saved a dime truly. Well, there is a change jar. That might be worth something.

It's like we all give up everything just to go to Disney. It's sort of backwards thinking. Not that we care. We love it! Just keep saving and doing your best with it. It sounds like you've saved quite a bit.

 

[ericamanda01]

You and I couldn't be anymore alike. I went to Old Navy and bought 12 items, mostly for DH-2-be and I spent about $140. I felt so bad I considered taking back all the item I got for me. Then my DH-2-be reminded me that I need to spend on my self every once in a while to prevent insanity! We work hard and deserve a treat every once in a while. I did come to relize that I did buy basics that we can use on our honeymoon in September. I felt better after that and decided that I had to look nice for Mickey! So don't feel bad! Your human!!!! Most importantly your a woman and women shop, it's in our blood!

 

[bigbabyblues]

You guys are right, we did need the clothes...BUT now our beach trip has been canceled at the LAST minute (16 hours before we were supposed to leave), but we'll need them for WDW....now this Sept/Oct.

We could have bought the clothes with the regular checking account, but DH only gets paid once a month, on the last day of the month, so I didn't want to take the $$ out of there being this far away from his last paycheck.

Happy planning (and spending, lol)!

Steph