Read an article online about increased borrowing to make ends meet. Mostly credit card spending.
What caught my eye was a woman bemoaning her increased spending due to rising prices and what would happen if her auto tires needed replacing OR her dog needed to go to the vet.
What??? You're having trouble feeding yourself on your current income, your credit card debt is increasing and you have a dog??? The dog is a budget buster!
Getting personal. I am a cat lover. However, where I live pets are a no-no. I accept it. I knew the rules before I moved in and have lived for 15 years without a cat. Today, a cat would be a budget buster.
Other budger busters?
-- Smoking. Glad I quit 17 years ago when a carton of cigarettes was less than half of what it costs now. I couldn't afford to smoke at today's prices. Budget buster.
-- Recipes with more than a few ingredients. A pinch of this, a dab of that, pretty soon you're talking real money. Budget buster.
-- Subscriptions. Budget buster.
True story. About thirty years ago I came home after being away for a couple of months, flat broke and with $5,000.00 in credit card debt. I asked myself, "Is this how you want to live?" No! I bit the bullet and paid off the debt in about a year of skinny living and have been debt free ever since. My credit card use is paid in full every month. Some months I don't use my credit cards at all.
What are the busters in your budget? It's never too late to get smart about spending.
Penny Pincher
