Jan 02 2009
Frugal Friday (subtitled now I know why I am broke)
Forget the student loans. Forget the impending bankruptcy. Forget the fact that Hubs was unemployed for 14 months. You know why I am broke? The King. Not only the King, but Crackdonalds, and Taco Hell. Not to mention my addiction to Red Bull.
Remember last week when I told you to take all of your expenses from the last year and go over them with a fine toothed comb? Well I was looking over ours and I just couldn’t believe my eyes. We ate out way too much. Especially for a one income family. And this was not your fancy shmancy dinner type places. We’re talking fast food and your local pizza joints. And Oh my GOD! Did we ever buy a lot of booze over the course of this last year. (And what’s sad about that is we really cut out a lot of drinking. I know in prior years we would get a case minimum a weekend and I would buy a bottle or two of wine) YIKES! See this is why it is good to go over your expenses.
Now as I was going over the expenses last night I was flabbergasted! I couldn’t believe how many times the Hubs went to a fast food joint. I am not anti fast food. In fact I love it, but I work in a very dangerous part of Baltimore City so if I forget my lunch 99% I just go hungry. The rare 1% is when I get one of my office mates to come with me or we can get a delivery. I am a packer (no dirty minds). I pack my breakfast and lunch for work. Hubs didn’t even work much last year and he was eating it up at the fast food joints. The worst part of all this? We go to the grocery store quite a bit. We have specific grocery stores (and dollar stores) that have our favorite things. Why on earth would we eat out this much?
I really can’t blame everything on the Hubs. I adore the man, but he is weak. It’s just a shame that a child molesting looking clown can come between us. The food there is like crack. That is why I stay as far away as I can. I know one french fry will lead to a thousand then I’ll want them every day.
And on that note I really can’t put all of the blame on him. About 3 times a week I take the liberty to buy the super big can of Red Bull- which is like 4 dollars! So there you have it. We’re bankrupt over a clown and a bull.
“Hubs” is one of my best board friends on Broncos Forums (my handle is “topscribe” there), and he steered me here. I’m glad he did! You are a very entertaining writer. I have a smile on my face as I write this. Keep up the good words!
I spend an astounding amount on food and eating out- we just love to do it. I just love going to restaurants and you know how it is when you are drinking and need to make a fast food run. Yeah I understand because that is a huge portion on my own budget- food and alcohol. I try to avoid fast food though because I never get anything healthy but of course I still go sometimes. At least I made a vow to stop drinking soda (and energy drinks) just because they aren’t healthy, even diet ones. But mix them with alcohol and I have no willpower. Oh well it’s a start.
OMG - I am a single mom with two jobs so fast food is my savior - but ever since the daughter had a baby we’ve done a lot of cooking - what a difference - I also used to treat myself to a nice lunch/dinner out about once a week or so - and have cut back on that - it has saved a lot of money but the new baby has nibbled away at those savings - LOL - also i was thinking about the liquor - and a bottle of my wine is $11 - if i do that 3 times a week - (whino cough whino) thats $33 bucks a week $132 a month - and thats just wine - that doesnt count drinks out etc….thank god i dont smoke - and now i am addicted to Monster - oh well - everyone has their vices
I like your blogs