Oh my, we have been spending the money lately!!! Yes, alot of it is things that we have been planning on for a long time, like our fence and pool. Those things don't really bother me since we have planned and saved for those. But, holy cow, we have been ordering pizza, Subway and eating out like crazy. I guess my only concolation is that I haven't spent money one groceries But I definitely could have cooked for alot less than what we have spent (there are at least 7 people at my house at a time!) I have no motivation and I really need to find some. School ends on Tuesday so I will be home, BUT I also will not be getting paid unless I pick up hours at my other job. I need a shot of motivation big time. If someone sees me posting about eating out (except on Wed when dh and I go out alone every week) please yell at me!!!!!!

Dh is going into the hospital in a few weeks and will be there for about 7 days (an hour away from home) so I know I will be spending alot of money on gas and eating out at that time.

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~Happiness is a large family~

My only suggestion is to plan ahead - especially when you are away and at the hospital. That way whoever is watching the kids can have premade food.

But, we just ate out tonight. Don't know how I got talked into that so I am in the same boat.

Feeding the kids is not a problem. Mil will be here and cook. It is food for me when I am at the hospital with him that gets spendy. Plus it is a 60 mile drive each way to the hospital. So gas will be spendy! I know that hospital cafeteria food is spendy, but I will want to be there with him as much as possible.

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~Happiness is a large family~

I know what you mean by hosp. food being spendy, when my DH was in the hospital for 3-4 days a few years ago what I did was to pack my food in a small cooler that fit inside my tote bag that I took with me. I basically had a mini home in that bag it seemed. I had the same travel distance and place that you have to go to. I would suggest trying to take food with you from home to cut on cost.

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I have a couple of thoughts on this...
1. I know that when I get like that (you are not alone!), there are other stressors and the fattening, salty, sweet treats of drive thru end up being comfort. Just consider that it might be attached to emotions and stress. This might help you talk yourself out of the eating-out spending. That cruddy food only makes the situation worse, it depletes your body at the same time that it packs on pounds--that's the opposite of what you need right now. YOU DESERVE BETTER!!!

2. On the other hand...you might need the extra time that eating out is giving you right now. Consider putting some money (but not a lot) in a "restaurant/pizza" envelope. Once it's gone, it's gone.

Happymom--you bless so many people on this forum, so don't be so hard on yourself. We'll help keep you in line!

Thanks guys!!

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~Happiness is a large family~

Yeah, you're SO not alone! I've been feeling guilty, too, b/c dh and I dropped a couple hundred this weekend like it was nothing, and I HATE that!! We'd decided not to spend money on any non-essentials until we closed on our house, just to make sure that we had enough money in our checking acct. Well, we had a few grand (!!) left over, and dh is NOT one to deprive himself like he did in our spending freeze, so we went out to eat--twice in three days (we did have a gift cert. to the expensive rest.) and went shopping for our upcoming camping trip, which included a $40 cooler, a $15 life jacket... Ugh!

Anyway, you're not alone, and it's so easy to fall off the wagon. But it sounds some extra planning for your dh's hospital stay couldn't hurt. When I was in college working for cash tips, money was SO easy to spend! So, just as soon as I got home from a shift, I'd put a bunch in an envelope, seal it up, and bury it deep in a box of stored clothing and stuff in my closet so that I wouldn't see it or think about it. You could try taking a chunk out of your checking account and doing that, to make sure you have it later. If it was out of my checking account and out of my purse, it didn't exist anymore (in the short run) and I didn't spend it. I have trouble telling myself no, but this worked pretty well.

I'm sorry to hear that your dh is going to be hospitalized! I hope everything goes well, and that it isn't anything too serious. You're in my thoughts!

We are the same Way , and it is a Slow Financial Killer!

20 Bucks For Pizza Here, 40 Bucks For Breakfast out there.
Man It adds Up Fast.

I Am Only that way when I Have To Cook for Others though.

For Myself I Could Live off of Cheap Foods and Not Eating Much I Guess.

For instance yesterday was so easy. MIL had all the Kids , So No one was complaing They Were Hungry , or asking when lunch Was.
I ate cottage Cheese and A Handful of Sesame Sticks And I Drank my Coffee.
DH heated up some leftovers and That was lunch!

I too Would Pack a Cooler Of Drinks , healthy Snacks and Foods For Myself to eat at the Hospital.

I Don't know how your Hospital Works , But Our Local One had Snacks available at all Times to The Patient and any Family. member Staying with them for A Long time. We also Had Acess to The Fridge to Put in any Foods or Drinks that we brought.

It has been an expensive spring for us, too.

Yes your not alone, DH and I use every excuse we can find not to cook. I really have to plan out my meals ahead of time for the dine out bug not to bite,

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006