Is it just me......Always overbudget

You spend $150 on a pair of sneakers? I never go over $60-80 for sneakers for my kid. He loves to skateboard so I know he needs thicker sole sneakers, but it can be last year styles for all I care. When he starts working, he can buy the expensive sneakers all he wants to. I been stop going over my means but definitely needs to budget better.

Not sneakers. Dress shoes for work.

Here is an example. Shoes for kids $150.00 School fees $200, birthday presents for other kids $75.00 come on! New shoes for me $150.00 Needed them.

I'm doing life the Dave Ramsey way. After going through Financial Peace University, it's completely changed how I think about money, what I spend and what I save. For the first time I have an emergency fund and will have all debt except the house and student loan paid off by Thanksgiving! It's been such a relief to know if something comes up, I've got it covered!

Those are the cheapest shoes where I live. In canada.

:noway: Wow, do you guys get paid more than we do in America I wonder?

Less actually. Thats why we sneak over the border a few times a year.

You COULD always..dip your foot in molten rubber every morning. Every night just peel it off.

Or shop online :-D Lots of good deals can be found if you look hard enough!

I belong to a financial board that discusses this kind of topic everyday. What is interesting to me about this is it sounds a lot like that one would.

Here is the thing. Those who are good at budgeting and are generally frugal and do well with money are rearely good teachers to those that do not have a clue.

On one hand, it's easy, you have some money. That number is finite,. It's 3rd grade math.

On the other hand, for people that don't live in the budget concious world, they don't understand what you are talking about.

I know because I came from that world...twice. This time, I think it might stick. But, I deeply understand the mentality of people that have "needs", but can't afford them. The problem is, when they are complaining, they don't see the problem like you and I do. To us, it's simple. You are spending more than you have. So, stop doing that and the problem goes away. But, to them, from their brains, they think the over spending part is critical. And, if you challenge them on it, they get defensive and sometimes agressive. They will claim that you don't understand and all that.

The truth of the matter is that it is impossible to spend more income than you have. You can fake it for a while, with credit cards, and other types of financial instruments, but eventually, all that catches up. You have to one day pay it all back.

The solution is to start to look at what you are spending money on. Really look hard at it. And, question everything.

I wear a $300 pair of shoes to work everyday. I used to think I needed to do that. But, the truth is, it's just kind of BS. I don't have to. I can easily buy a pair for under $100 and wear those. It requires taking your ego out of the purchase process and being more practical about what you are actually doing. You need shoes. It's that simple. Start shopping and looking around. You might find alternatives that are less expensive. Everything is that way.

I also bought a Lexus. Trust me, that causes me existential turmoil daily. What does it mean? I just need to get somewhere, it just doesn't matter. But, that is a left-over reminder from a time that is gone. Its a good reminder though about where I came from and where my head was and where it is now. It actuially has turned out to be awesome. Everyday, I have to get into a car I despise, and it reminds me how stupid we all are for buying into brand names. And, that this one is elite and that one is not. It's all so stupid and it's all made up by people wanting to take more of your money.

Start by writing down everything you buy everyday. Every single thing. Put it in a spreadsheet. You will see all these Starbucks, and all these stupid little things, and you'll add them up and think "Holy Cow, I spend all that in a month on that stupid crap?" You will say that. If you don't, you're not really paying attention or you're lying to yourself. After that phse, you'll start looking at cable tv. You'll start looking at magazine subscriptions, newpaper, internet sppeds, any service with a monthly fee attached. All of those are out. Gone Nada. You don't need them. Civilizations have lived for thousands of years without TV. You'll make it. I promise. If that's all you do, think of it as an opportunity to get your butt off the couch and do something. If your kids whine because they are bored, hand them a mop.

The deeper you dive into it, the more you start to see things. The more you start looking at your CC bills and start thinking, "Man, if I paid these off, I'd have an extra $xxx.xx in my pocket every month". And, you start working on that goal. You start thinking more long term about your money and how that Starbucks coffee doesn't fit in at all with your long term goals.

Anyway, there is a big disconnect sometimes between those that understand all this and those that don't. I haven't read the Dave Ramsey book because I don't really feel like I need to. But, since so many are into it, I might if I can get my hands on a free copy. I aint gonna buy it though. But, it sounds like Dave understands the gap and has adressed it pretty well in his book.

Good luck. For those that do have trouble, understand that those that have this figured out don't understand why it's so hard to figure out, and you feel like they don't understrand your problem. They do understand it. But, it seems so simple. Like I said, it's really 3rd grade math, and making grown-up decisions based on that simple math.