I got complacent with my budget. I didn’t balance my checkbook last week. I didn’t go grocery shopping last weekend, so I stopped at McDonald’s for breakfast every morning, ate out for lunch every day, and ordered Chinese one night, and took Shaunna out to Ruby Tuesday’s another.
So when I finally sat down and balanced my checkbook today, subtracting the two scheduled bill payments for early next week - I’m broke. I’m worse than broke, I’ll be overdrawn.
Thankfully, I have my ING Direct account that I faithfully deposit money into every week. I am transferring some money back into my checking, so I have enough to cover groceries.
Luckily, I had a well-stocked freezer. I looked at the calendar for the upcoming week, and made up a menu. Since Shaunna has an appointment on Wednesday, I am breaking out the slow cooker and making a pot roast. The recipe does double duty, since I make the leftovers into a beef & vegetable soup the following night, also in the slow cooker. And since Friday is Halloween and we’ll be pressed for time, I am making chicken and veggies, also in the slow cooker.
I don’t have to resort to credit cards to cover me until payday next week. We won’t be starving, since I have a stocked freezer and I had some money socked away to purchase the ingredients I didn’t have on hand.
And I also learned a valuable lesson. Don’t be so damned complacent. Being frugal requires vigilance.
