De Nile Is Not JUST A River In Egypt
Image via WikipediaI have to admit that I have been suffering from a LOT of denial in regard to our spending habits of late. My budget/spending book is an absolute MESS!
I think denial right now is my way of coping. Particularly with the rapid rise in prices at the supermarket (grocery store).
I’ve been feeling kinda ill doing the grocery shopping of late.
My coping technique is to kind of close my eyes (not physically but mentally) to the final tally at the checkout, hand over a wad of cash and then get out of there as fast as possible. 
So it’s not surprising that my enthusiasm for updating the spending book is waning a little.
The problem is that denial is causing me more anxiety that facing up to the truth.
WHAT IS THE TRUTH?
Drought, rising interest rates, rising fuel prices and no doubt other factors ARE having an impact on the prices we are paying at the checkout.
BUT
We need to be careful how we view rising grocery prices. As I’ve said before, news of rising grocery prices can actually cause us to spend MORE than we actually need to.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
1. Dig our heads out of the sand
NOT knowing really is WORSE than knowing. Knowledge gives us power to implement change. Lack of knowledge can result in more stress and going on my experience, stress = more spending.
2. Continue Our Education
If you’ve yet to read my series on “Reducing the Grocery Budget”, the links are in the sidebar. I’m a firm believer in never having enough knowledge. There are ALWAYS new ways we can learn to trim things here and there. Of course, time and interest both factor into this as well. I’m not saying we HAVE to find new ways to cut spending. Just that we CAN if we NEED or WANT to.
3. Celebrate our Successes
One of the great things about being frugal is that you’re already ahead of the game when it comes to spending. Generally costs rise as an overall percentage. 15% of $1000 is a LOT less than 15% of $3000 for example.
I always try to begin my year with some “wiggle room” in my budget. Particularly when it comes to groceries. My growing children are eating more and more as time goes on and prices are nearly always going to increase. I know this increase is a little more than we normally get but I’m grateful I have at least a little “wiggle room” to help absorb the impact.
4. Time For a Reality Check
Just after my “I feel sick at these prices” grocery shop, I picked up our mail. Inside was a letter from one of our sponsored children. How’s that for a timely reality check? Here I am worried about the cost of fruit & veg rising as it might mean I can’t afford to buy CHOCOLATE or my favourite magazine. While so many people in the world don’t even have ACCESS to healthy foods, let alone a way of paying for them.
5. Don’t Give Up
One of the biggest problems with dieting is that slipping up causes people to give up. Rather than accepting a small slip-up and getting back to it, they decide they’re no good at it and forget about trying. Budgeting can be the same. Slip-ups WILL happen (at least to MOST people). The important thing is to get back on track and do the best you can with what you have. I’m in the process of sorting things out with my budget book in an attempt to get back on track. Starting over is also an option.
The main thing here is NOT to GIVE UP. Every small step we take towards a better handle on our budgets brings us closer to our own goals and dreams.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Anyone else paddling up the river of denial and getting nowhere right now? Pleeeeaaaasssseee tell me I’m not the only one who’s been living in denial.
(Note to my regular readers: I have deviated away from my series on The Complete Tightwad Gazette discussion over the past couple of Fridays. I do intend to come back to them. Please bear with me.)
Similar Posts:
- Challenge to my Grocery Challenge
- In Shock
- I… Must… STOP… Shopping!!!!!!
- Reducing the Grocery Budget - Part Three
- Time for a New Budget
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I found your grocery series quite helpful. I’ve spent the last, oh, 12 months with my head in the sand. About 2 months ago we decided to ditch our credit cards. EEEKKK! That meant a serious budget and no more denial. It’s hard work to change shopping habits but we’re slowly making headway.
I’ve been in denial for so long and now I’m well on the way to understanding and budgeting and it terrifies me, I’m really struggling to keep the budget on track and organised. Its something I’m going to have to work on A LOT over the next few week especially. Unfortunately I see the current situation here in Australia getting much worse, food and petrol costs will probably get higher, and interest rates on mortgage will rise as well. So my aim is to get organised and really make a difference to our spending. Thanks for your series, its was very helpful.
I’m so there!
Not looked at the accounts in about 6 weeks.
We had to increase our credit card limit to cover MBF fees which had gone up. Now I’m struggling to pay off the card. Hubby keeps sneaking it off to work to buy McDonalds and Hungry Jacks, which makes me cranky.
Hopefully I will find the time and the right head space soon to sit down and do our accounts because they are getting into a right mess.
Total denial this month over here too. I seemed to suddenly need a few things I don’t normally buy (my lone handbag finally gave up the ghost, as an example) and having to go to Target to buy one thing is a slippery slope to buying ten things since I rarely go there now, lol. But Ben’s decided that he wants to see if he’s suitable for laser eye surgery, so that potential 5k bill is going to be my budget reality check. Thinking another no spend is in order.
Not only am I paddling that river, but I’m paddling backwards!!!!
Rising costs plus teenagers swarming my pantry like a plague of locusts plus DS growing out of his shoes for the second time this year!!!!!
Not to mention DD has a social life….a mummy funded one!
Hi Jodie,
I have to admit I haven’t actually reviewed my budget for a few months and I know I should! I seem to manage to spend just a little bit over my grocery budget each week! I’m going to rework it over the weekend. Thanks for the reminder!
-hugs-
Lis
I’m paddling over here too!
Today is usually my grocery day but I have 2 sick kids at home so I am going nowhere. Instead I thought I’d take a look at our budget and see what I can do to tighten it a little. But in true form I thought I’d just check my emails first, then I thought I’d check my Google Reader before I getting stuck into it, can you tell I am trying to put it off for as long as possible….lol!
Rachel xxx
argh!
We were doing so well with the whole budget thing but fuel costs are are really hurting us right now. We’ve noticed the increase in grocery prices but I feel pretty confident I can make ends meet in that department at least for a little bit longer just by being a little less lazy - it has motivated me to finally try and night train the girls and to use more cloth nappies with Muski so we don’t have to buy disposables! LOL But fuel… it’s a bugger cause we live a long way from everything and we can’t just not take the girls to kinder or hospital appointments…
We are paddling in circles here I think!
Oh and I tagged you for a Me me!
I have been paddling up the wrong creek for a few weeks too and just yesterday decided I must focus on my bank balances and what the budget is up to. I feel very out of control when I don’t keep up! It was a shock but sure gets me motivated to do better this week!
The hard part is putting the knowledge into practice.
I’ve been thinking about stockpiling for a few days re the food shortages and figured out that its better to be prepared than not - hence my large shopping trolley today which sure made some eyes boggle and also created a few questions from the checkout lady! It something you never regret doing even if I have to live on rice for weeks and weeks in the end.
In these hard times - and we will see harder ones yet - its hard to be remain focussed. Above all I firmly believe we need to look after our family and relationships, which tend to get forgotten amongst the busyness and pressures of life! Blood is thicker than water and we need to nurture… ourselves and others to help each other through these depressing times….. afterall, is money more important than cuddling a sad child? or giving a call to someone we love?
Food for thought hey?
having gone from shopping every week to now only shopping once a month and buying many things in bulk now thats a nightmare, not knowing what you are going to feel like eating three weeks from now and trying to keep within a budget.. thankfully i still have quite a few things from the last shop and will be able to shop fortnightly when DH changes to 2 on / 2 off. instead of three on.
Unfortunately I clambered out of the river and decided to look hard at the reality - I wanna go back in the water!!!
No dearest L, you are not alone. I hit the panic button yesterday when filling up the magna cost nearly $96…. I went to Woollies to buy milk, fruit and bread last week and came away $50 poorer, with three shopping bags worth of food. I’m panicking but still denying the fact I need to be a more active house manager. I’ll get there just as soon as the next 160 assignments are marked. (that’s my latest excuse….what was that about denial?)
I’m getting back into the habit of checking the fridge, pantry and freezer before I shop now and only shop fortnightly with top ups of perishables like milk, bread and fruit when we need them. This morning’s grocery shop came to a bit less than $90 which I was quite pleased with. Usually I spend about $130 in the supermarket.
Wow, so many people in the same boat! I know why I am going to Vancouver there are so many bloggers to help become free
I rarely but vege and fruit at woolies or coles- I do use Aldi and save loads and there stuff is much fresher- but I save lots by going to out local Farmers narket each week and the food is soo fresh
I went to the bank today to find out how much my smallest student loan is. My VISA will be paid off in 1 more payment! Wahoo! So I’m on to tackle the next bill. Thankfully it’s much smaller than the horrendous visa bill was so that should be paid of in about a 1.5 months.
The rising food costs haven’t exactly hit yet here in Canada, I’m sort of waiting for the shoe to drop. In the mean time i’ve stocked up on rice and pasta (both of which were on sale of all things lately!) As for gas (petrol) prices, I heard someone say that Canadians are paying about 5$/gallon. They were comparing what Americans are paying, which is 4$ a gallon. For liter prices it was 1.20/litre. As I don’t drive I’m rather unaware of what the going rate is. Living in my own bubble I guess.
On the other hand, I wont be surprised in the least if public transit prices go up to compensate for gas prices. Unfortunately I can’t walk to work, so I might have to pay more than 66$/month for transit.
That being said, considering some people pay nearly that much or even more per week for their cars, my transportation costs are minimal.
And just last night I was offered some freelance work — some extra pocket money to set aside for rising costs. All things considering I’m doing ok here.
Cheers,
Maggie
ps I suppose I should answer the original question lol — yes I am mildly in denial, but I am trying to face facts and pay off debts. No one else is going to do it for me.
I know the feeling! We aren’t in denial but the price of stuff is impacting us, NO DOUBT!
I am working real hard to get the most out of every grocery we buy, wasting less and leaning how to make meals with the basics is something that has helped me so much.
When you can make stuff from scratch you can buy more of the “kitchen staples” that are more versatile and can be used to make more that just one meal. I am buying fryer chickens these days, I can get 3 meals out of them!
Ugh, the economic state is depressing the crap out of me!
I’m poor too at the moment, I JUST got the bill for my car… £600 ($1200) and after 4 weeks work they’ve only cleaned out the fuel tank, pump and filter! I am UNHAPPY!!
It’s ok though, I’ll be winning the lottery soon so it’ll be all good… and of course I will share!
(oh and, hey, this is my first visit and comment - which is quite bad to say you’ve been commenting on mine for a while).
Excellent post.
I live in denial too …I tried to track spending but it scares me.I can’t even afford the paddles.
I am trying not to buy anything ( buy nothing challenge - but essentials) hard with two growing toddlers and a teen who has grown out of everything and still growing.
Yes, every time I get the World Vision magazine or letters from the two children we sponsor I get a huge reality check.
Wow! Based on all the responses, this is a topic that has hit home with so many of you!!! Not all that surprising really.
Trish - it is scary but at the same time it can be very empowering. Why not start with just tracking 1 or 2 categories?
Mrs Fancypants - what’s happened with your car just sounds plain wrong. I HATE it when stuff like that happens. Thanks for dropping by. I hope you do so again.
Dirty Laundry Diva - sorry to hear that.
It IS hard at the moment.
Talina - that is so true and we really notice it when I’m not feeling up to cooking from scratch (like at the moment).
Maggie - glad to hear things are going well for you. All your effort is really paying off which is great. Fuel here is around $1.60 a litre and rising almost daily.
Suzie - it’s great when you can make use of a farmer’s market. Our closest one is around 500km away.
River - so glad to hear you’re keeping on top of things. I find keeping a well stocked pantry to be quite a difficult balance at times.
Lisa - hours in the day is a definite problem.
I guess at least by marking those assignments you’re bringing money IN.
Jeanie - LOL. I doubt you’re alone in that feeling. Honestly though, reality is rarely worse than imagined reality. Or at least it gives you the power to do something about it. That being said, denial for a little while does make for a nice break from a constant struggle against rising prices.
Nicole - I think you’ll find it’s easier as time goes on. I prefer to do bulk shops and then top up shops in between. I’m doing the opposite at the moment. Smaller, “what we really need” type shops until I can get to a cheaper store to stock up.
Lynette - yes, it does seem that things are going to continue to go up. Especially fuel prices. Maybe it’s the wake up call the world needs???? I’ve not heard about food shortages. Whats up with that?
Kate - yes, fuel prices are really biting hard. And they will drive up the costs of producing food and transporting it as well. I understand the issue of having to “drive everywhere”. We’re in the same boat.
Rachel - ROFLOL. Sounds exactly like what I’d do!!!! Hope you got the budget somewhat sorted.
Lis - How did you get on with resorted the budget?
Sharon - I HATE to think what my kids are going to go through in terms of food when they’re teenagers. They eat constantly NOW!!!!
Lauren - I’m terrible when I enter Target so I can understand. I heard Ben was contemplating eye surgery. Sounds interesting.
Marita - it is really HARD when a spouse isn’t on board quite the same. And sometimes blokes can be the worst culprits at spending money to make themselves feel better if finances are tight (my dad was like that).
Kathy - I’m glad you found my series helpful. I’m working on a website dedicated to “save money tips” which I’m hoping will also be helpful (it’s just taking a while for me to get established). Hang in there. It is possible to tame the budget - but it can take a bit of time and effort.
Journeyer - you’re a braver girl than me. One day I’d like to ditch our credit cards. Not that we actually use them for credit but I’m sure I still spend more by using them. They allow me to stay in denial for a few week’s longer!!!! I think one of the most frustrating things about budgets & tracking spending in the current climate is that efforts are eaten up by price rises. Technically you’re still saving money on what you WOULD HAVE spent but it’s not quite as obvious and therefore doesn’t have quite the same rewarding feel to it.