Personal Finance Is Sexy, But I Still Mess Up.
Every now and then someone asks me if I ever mess up and waste money. And my answer to that is always the same - Yep, mess up all the time. Just because I blog about personal finance, doesn't mean I'm mr. perfect ;) I'm a lot smarter than I was 4-5 years ago when it comes to money, but I still mess up. And a lot more than you'd actually think.
It doesn't matter if I track my expenses every day or every week, the real world is no match for a human. The only way you could win 100% of the time is if you were locked up somewhere or if you were, in fact, a computer. And seeing how you're reading this right now, I take it that you're neither of the two.
The trick is really just about messing up on the smaller things rather than the BIGGER things. If you can rock out your spend-less-than-I-make-lifestyle & stay away from huge mortgages & car payments, I find no problem with slipping up every now and then. It's not optimal, and you never PLAN to do it, but it happens. It's all a part of life, you know?
In fact, just last Friday I blew $5.00 on these damn cinnamon sticks from Pizza Hut because I wasn't paying good enough attention. Then I spent $3.50 for chap stick 15 minutes later because I didn't take the time to look for my normal .99 kind. Every week I do stupid stuff like this, but I try and not let it get to me. I know I'm handling our finances pretty well 90% of the time, and as long as we hit our major goals every year we're on track.
So do I, J. Money, ever mess up? I sure do. And I'm willing to bet every other person reading and blogging about personal finance does too. You can't make the right call 100% of the time, it's just not possible. It's more about being comfortable in your own financial skin and allowing yourself some breathing room. If you can master that, you'll live a much healthier (and happier) life. And one without going insane, as well.
It doesn't matter if I track my expenses every day or every week, the real world is no match for a human. The only way you could win 100% of the time is if you were locked up somewhere or if you were, in fact, a computer. And seeing how you're reading this right now, I take it that you're neither of the two.
The trick is really just about messing up on the smaller things rather than the BIGGER things. If you can rock out your spend-less-than-I-make-lifestyle & stay away from huge mortgages & car payments, I find no problem with slipping up every now and then. It's not optimal, and you never PLAN to do it, but it happens. It's all a part of life, you know?
In fact, just last Friday I blew $5.00 on these damn cinnamon sticks from Pizza Hut because I wasn't paying good enough attention. Then I spent $3.50 for chap stick 15 minutes later because I didn't take the time to look for my normal .99 kind. Every week I do stupid stuff like this, but I try and not let it get to me. I know I'm handling our finances pretty well 90% of the time, and as long as we hit our major goals every year we're on track.
So do I, J. Money, ever mess up? I sure do. And I'm willing to bet every other person reading and blogging about personal finance does too. You can't make the right call 100% of the time, it's just not possible. It's more about being comfortable in your own financial skin and allowing yourself some breathing room. If you can master that, you'll live a much healthier (and happier) life. And one without going insane, as well.
Labels: about j., blown money, life, personal finance
posted by J. Money at
7:32 AM
20 Comments:
Good Answer J! Yep, I am a personal finance blogger and I mess up all the time too. But like you said, it is important to make sure you don't mess up on the big things. Thank goodness I don't mess up like I used to!!!
Anyone who says they are perfect is either boring or just a liar!
Amen! I've had friends who really do think they are perfect when it comes to money, but it IS impossible. As you say, we're human.
I remember one, in particular, who would go out to eat with friends but NOT ORDER ANYTHING because he felt eating out was a waste of money, period. I'm sure even HE has wasted money here and there, though you might not get him to admit it.
Best thing is to make mistakes painful and learn from them.
It's hard to admit messups when you have readers that look to you for advice, but you're right J, we all mess up. They may be few and far between, or all the time but its best not to focus on them.
Realize and note you made a mistake and move on so you can start repairing any damage to budgets or long term goals and don't dwell on the mistakes.
I'm still working (sometimes struggling) to improve my financial responsibility, so it's nice to see that even the pros are human. Thanks for sharing your experience with the community.
Everyone has these little flubs, as long as you keep the big picture in mind you are going to come out ok.
Same, every now and then I just get that candy bar or something I am craving and waste money or get that smoothie I really don't need. Can't be perfect, a lot of times can spend a few dollars here and there on stupid stuff.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
Focus on the BIG stuff like:
1) Being the best employee
2) Getting a graduate degree or more formal education
3) Studying up on investment opportunities and executing
4) Maximizing your savings yields
etc
We all have little oopsie moments. I sometimes even buy things I know I already have just because it is more convenient for me to have it RIGHT now that to wait until I get home. I've bought clothing, beauty products, even food. But as you said, as long as it's the small stuff it isn't so bad. Though I am consciously trying to curb that behavior after cleaning out my purse and makeup bag and finding 4 mascaras and 5 chapsticks (some even of the exact same shade/flavor!) It's a little disheartening thinking of the money I've spent on stuff like that, but now I'm working to use up the extras and not buy new until I REALLY need it! Good to have an eye opener once in a while!
I believe these "mess ups" you are referring too is just called living life! $3.50 for some chapstick? You would never make the cut for that show you were mentioning a while back; I think it was called "Bank of Mom and Dad." Don't be too hard on yourself. You still have a full wallet and some moisturized lips!
This reminds me a lot of Ramit's "Big Wins" philosophy, which allows breathing room on the nit-picky little things and focuses on decisions with major financial implications. It's definitely an attitude that's less likely to lead to insanity. ;)
@Single Guy Money - you got that right! rewind us back a few years and we were trouble.
@Evan@myjourneytomillions - haha, indeed. either that or a hot blonde.
@David - I would love to meet that friend of yours one day :) I bet I'd have a whole bunch of posts to write about him afterwards! you should interview him for your site. haha...
@Jason Wier - hmm...yeah, I suppose one or two big mistakes wouldn't hurt. hopefully people learn after a cple big ones and they learn how to research and ask for help so they don't make mistakes #3 and 4 and 5, etc....I'm all for learning after mistakes, but I'd never wish it upon anyone...only small ones. unless they're big dicks ;)
@Jesse - Yessir, catch 'em and see if they're worth watching out for or not in the future. Some I know I'm going to make (like the ones I list above) but I'm find with 'em....more about the bigger ones I always fall for.
@lleenieWeenie - It's all a work in progress my friend! A little here and a little there, eventually you'll work it out :)
@Kyle - Yup! you got it my man.
@Craig - For sure. All I do is budget my "mistakes" in since I know they're already going to happen :) I'll add an extra $100 here or there to cover myself. Then if I go under I know I did better that week! haha...
@Financial Samurai - That would do it! Although some might argue w/ point #2 w/ further education these days....I'm still all about that, but I know some are wishing they hadn't. But I follow ya.
@MK - I am so GLAD I'm not a chick as I'd be the same way :) Luckily there's only so much you can fit in your money clip! haha...although I do have chap sticks all over the place - car, bedrooms, different jeans, etc.
@Rachelle - For sure, I'm not upset about them or anything, I don't mind at all making them :) I just put them out there to let others know that we all make 'em - even people like me who blog all about financial responsibility and sticking to budgets...
@Blake - hah! he was def. in the back of my mind while I was writing part of this. actually, if you click that link in the 3rd paragraph it references him :) you know your bloggers.
I think what is more important is that we learn from our mistakes. I am you you will probably focus more next time Pizza Hut cravings hit or your lips are drying up. I know I learn and re-learn everyday from my mistakes.
Thanks for sharing your faults along with your success'
Dave
LifeExcursion
Making mistakes is not the problem, repeating them is what kills you!
we all mess up with cash. even the richest people do the same, no one is immune to falling into the temptation of buying something that you just had a fleeting desire for, like a jet or a ferrari or a blogger buying a high powered business laptop with features that he will never use
I can't be your friend if you spend $3.50 on chapstick when you could get it for $0.99. Do you want me to run the numbers on what that $2.50 you wasted could have been if invested in a money market account at 3% for 20yrs...that $2.50 could have turned in to $4.50!!! As far as I'm concerned you owe all of us $2 ;)
you can't see me but i'm crying over here :*(
I hear you! I have good days and bad days, but more good than bad. And even on the bad days, I still don't spend more than I earn. But there are times when I NEED to have a latte and I just go get it - it's not the end of the world, folks.
We all have good days and bad ones but what we should do is learn from the bad ones. There are times we do things and innovate our ways out of it but never take time to analyze what happen. Instead of saying I messed up and move on look at it and never do it again. So if you see a sale make sure it is indeed a sale before purchasing because at the end of the day you will find it cheaper somewhere else.
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