what's your budget weakness?

[ZehnJahren]

Disney. I am frugal in my day to day life - eat out only once or twice a month, don't buy expensive clothes or accessories (except my Disney Dooneys, but I only have a couple of those), drive a reasonable car with a low low payment, don't shop online, don't have expensive hobbies, etc. etc - but I lose all control when it comes to those trips! Upgrade to deluxe? oh, ok. Try a new tour? Yes, please! Disney Dooney from Main Street? alright!

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

Disney. It's almost embarrassing. I'm frugal everywhere else so I can go to Disney.

 

[powellrj]

Mine is food. Eating out and groceries kill our budget. I love to cook, but since my car accident last year, I am no longer able to cook so now we eat out too much and its just heat up kind of food and lots of sandwiches. The price of deli meat is really high, but its easy to fix. DH works long hours and the kids come and go, so many nights DH is bringing something home at 9 or 10 when he is coming home from work.

 

[wishesuponastar]

Powell - so sorry about your accident. You do what you must to get food on the table. ((hugs))

 

[hsmamato2]

For me it's books. I love to read and I don't like to wait so I end up buying for kindle or buying from Amazon.

yes...... I don't have too many weaknesses, but last week at Barnes and Noble... kid in a candy store moment....my DH was shaking his head at me,while I clutched too many books to my body trying to decide which ones.... The sales, I can't believe the sales..... (I love books)
and travel..... I get a LOT of emails daily about travel deals..... I LOVE traveling..... My ereader plus the library just isn't enough sometimes

 

[nooneshome]

my DW

 

[Josh Hendy]

The budget-buster that is really killing our finances is gasoline, oil changes, tires, etc. from driving all over town (and out of town) for a million and one activities. The cost keeps going up and up and up, and the collective income of the family is not going up at all, if anything the after-tax, after-utilities, after-insurance income is going down. Practically every week I hear a politician on the news proposing a new/increased payroll tax, gas tax, utility price increase, etc. so I think that the problem is going to get worse, not better.

At some point we may have to drastically curtail the amount of driving we do for cultural/sports and social activities and only drive where necessary for work, school and shopping.

 

[Nwall81]

my DW

Ha! Love it..

 

[abmitch01]

I also have a weakness for devices. I have an old Nook that stopped being able to get library books so I plonked down the money for an iPad mini. Now I'm gonna have to read a lot of library books to make up for that cost. I traded in my iPhone 4 for the 5s because it was only $20 bucks but I haven't used any of the new features. I have a huge book on it but haven't cracked it

 

[marmalade]

My budget weakness is entertaining. I will use any excuse to cook a big meal and have people over to share it with. Over the course of the week, there are usually 4-5 nights that I am not only feeding my family of 4 but either friends or neighbors too.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Definitely eating out. We eat Chipotle 3-4 times a week. I try to make two meals out of it for myself but it isn't enough for my husband to make two meals. I also buy the gift cards through Ebates/Raise and save about 11% that way to help offset the cost. We might eat out once or twice more at other places. Our work schedules just really stink. So between 14 mealss of lunch and dinner we eat out about 5-7 times. Breakfast is always at home no exceptions!

I think another is vacations. I see my extended family who's vacations are a weekend in the mountains or beach and just think while that's fun, I'd like a little more. I have one life to live and want to make the most of it. I want to give my kids experiences that I never got. So we do a lot. We went to WDW in April, going to Boston in November, Vegas for the weekend next week with just DH. BUT we DO get lots comped as DH has lots of connections so hotels are typically free (Not WDW but I wish!).

My mom always says people will spend their money however they want to!

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

Disney. It's almost embarrassing. I'm frugal everywhere else so I can go to Disney.

That's me!

 

[smokeyblue]

Groceries just generally break my budget. I live alone and aside from a meal or two a week at my BF's or parents I cook for myself. I have a bad habit of thinking every meal needs to be an experience. This results in three things 1. Buying food that isn't in my budget. 2. Getting overwhelmed and eating out. 3. Throwing away food because I don't get to using it.

I'm working on making things better. I bought frozen burgers, chicken breasts and salmon fillets from the food service store to stock up the freezer. I've been grilling two days worth of protein and veggies every other day. So far so good. Still tweaking how much produce I need to buy, but I'm getting there!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Vacations are my weakness. Ever since the day after I graduated college a classmate & I took a tour of Italy almost 24 yrs ago. Dh has given up and knows it's just me and not likely to change. I find 3-4 trips per year just right to keep my stress level down & keep that carrot dangling in front of me. It doesn't have to be a full week; even a quickie 3-nt Disney cruise is great by the end of winter.
We took a few years off to buy a home and have 2 babies (except a trip to WDW while I was pregnant with #2.)
I'm not into material things like shoes, purses, clothes, etc. All that crap just cuts into my vacation budget. We get pizza/take out maybe once per week and only go to a real restaurant for birthdays/anniversaries/special occasions.
I think we get plenty of time out at restaurants though when we factor in all the meals we eat while on vacation.
Still though, there's nothing like a real home cooked meal.

 

[aclov]

Eating out but also alcohol! Those martini's and margaritas add up on that bill including on vacation too.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

mine is buying purses. I get them on sale but I have way more than I will ever need. I do enjoy them but I have to restrain myself from buying more. I bought two bags for Disney that I probably could've made do without

Me too, I am afraid I bought four Vera Bradley's this last trip and at home I cannot resist Kipling bags, earrings are also a big weakness.

 

[abmitch01]

ooh, I;ll have to look up Kipling bags. You're enabling me!

 

[Teresa Pitman]

My worst thing is buying gifts for my grandkids and adult children. If I know they want something, I will try to get it for them even if it means putting it on a credit card. Or if I see something cute on sale, I'll buy it.

I think because I grew up very poor and always felt so envious of the kids whose parents or grandparents bought them toys and nice clothes, I want my own kids and grandkids to never have to feel that way. I've also helped them out financially in other ways - money towards a down payment, paying off bills, etc.

TP

 

[abmitch01]

there's a sherpani bag left in my bags cart that they keep emailing me about. it's too small for everyday and I have plenty of small bags. but I want it, grrr

 

[mrssmith06]

-eating out
-Disney
-general shopping (clothes, home decor, junk for the kids)