<< Back to all Blogs
Login or Create your own free blog
Layout:
Home > Feeling a little discouraged...

Feeling a little discouraged...

January 24th, 2013 at 12:48 am

It's cold and dreary here in Central Illinois. I feel like I have something, but not sure what...I know I'm congested and I sneeze a lot. It could be far worse. Maybe this is why I kind of had a pity party the other day.

As many of you know, I cook a lot. I don't mind cooking. And I try to repurpose leftovers for other things if at all possible. But last week, I just had it.

I take my lunch to work as well as a Thermos of coffee. I also take an extra drink...sometimes it is cold tea, other times it is cold coffee, for an afternoon pick me up. I drink water from another Thermos for lunch. It just seemed more than I can handle anymore. I'm tired of taking my lunch. I'm tired of lugging these things around. Am I really saving money? Plus, there are some folks who just get on my nerves who inform me that they can buy a bottle of water or run down to the service station and get a Polar Pop for less than a dollar and how silly I am.

I have a large lunch bag that is sort of lined and it started falling apart so I took duct tape to it. It looks bizarre, but it seemed to do the trick. Am I being too cheap?

I keep telling myself I'm saving money.

I have been perusing some saving sites and so many have the same things over and over...take your lunch, eat at home...make your own coffee...all of these things I do.

Anyway, I am hoping my downheartedness is simply because I'm tired and not feeling well.

Posted in Saving Money | 16 Comments »

16 Responses to “Feeling a little discouraged...”

  1. creditcardfree Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 01:15 am 1358990149
    1358990149

    I think taking your lunch and coffee are still great ideas. I wouldn't encourage changing those. It could be your illness, but it could mean you need to treat yourself, too. Buy lunch out once a month, purchase a new bag for your items so you feel more confident and cheery. It just might make you feel more balanced with your money...since some of it is for spending. Smile

  2. rob62521 Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 01:22 am 1358990542
    1358990542

    Thanks, CCF!

  3. Carolina Girl Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 01:47 am 1358992069
    1358992069

    Being fiscally responsible isn't always fun but think of where you will be. I take my lunch every day and drinks from home also. If you want to see just how it does add up, for the next week or so, every time you take a water to work, put a dollar in a jar. Every time you make a choice to take your lunch - put $5.00 in a jar, etc. At the end of the week, you will see just how much you saved by making the smart choice...then take that money and go buy you a rocking new lunch bag. It'll make you feel better. Good luck and know you are not alone.

  4. SecretarySaving Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 01:54 am 1358992488
    1358992488

    I think you are feeling this way because you are tired and not feeling good. You should be applauding yourself for having the dicipline that others lack to do the things that you are doing. I find you very encouraging! You are running your own race. This is your journey. Hang in there and get a new lunch bag.

  5. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 02:09 am 1358993341
    1358993341

    I also think it probably is because you are not feeling well. However, it might not hurt to allow yourself a bought lunch once in a while (1 or 2 x a month maybe ..) and definitely upgrade the lunch bag. Sometimes a new bag will help to make the "bagging it" concept sparkle again.

  6. PNW mom Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 02:22 am 1358994137
    1358994137

    I can understand why you feel down...if I had co-workers who constantly told me how silly and cheap I was, I would feel the same way! Cheer up! You are doing right thing...and saving money. However, I don't think it would be wrong to treat yourself to lunch in once in a while...you deserve it!

  7. rob62521 Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 02:36 am 1358995016
    1358995016

    Thanks, everyone, for the encouragement. I appreciate it.

  8. North Georgia Gal Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 02:38 am 1358995116
    1358995116

    I think it is cruel of your co workers to tell you that you are silly. But I would wear the cheap label proudly! I agree with the other posts about treating yourself. I think it would do you a world of good.

  9. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 03:01 am 1358996512
    1358996512

    Well, I'm proud to cyber-know somebody who has the skills you do!

    If a little indulgence such as others have suggested doesn't seem to be the antidote, maybe a little charity would be. Let that lunch bag do for another few months and send the new lunch box money to Haiti or a charity you really believe in, one for whom every penny counts. The supposedly inconsequential money you have thriftily saved can make a life and death difference to someone else. Your daily savings can be powerful, not just to you.

  10. starfishy Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 03:51 am 1358999475
    1358999475

    your coworkers sound kinda jerky!! Smile is the water at work not drinkable, is that why you need to carry the extra thermos with water? i appreciate what you're doing not only for yourself, but also for the environment. running to the store to get a bottle of water every time one is thirsty adds up to a lot of plastic waste being discarded. i hope your spirits lift soon!

  11. Thrifty Ray Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 04:50 am 1359003009
    1359003009

    There are budget naysayers who just dont get it. Dont let them discourage you!! I think the idea of putting the money you would have spent in a jar is a great idea for re-energizing you. And yes, that cold or whatever it is youve got, is probably contributing to your frustrations...feel better soon!!

  12. JP Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 02:03 pm 1359036225
    1359036225

    Sometimes it helps to visually see and feel your savings and maybe this is what you need. Go ahead and put the cash to buy your lunch and drinks in your bag and everytime you don't buy a drink from a machine or you don't buy lunch, take it out and put it in a savings jar or in an envelope. After a couple of months look at what you have and then you can decide whether or not it was worth it. Smile
    But most of all just hang in there. Jan/Feb in Illinois sends everybody into the yucky feelings.

  13. CB in the City Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 02:45 pm 1359038722
    1359038722

    Just about everybody in Illinois has a cold or the flu, so take care! That could well be the source of your funk.

    You are saving TONS of money packing your lunch. Maybe for a few days you should try to estimate the cost of the ingredients you put in your lunch, then compare to what a lunch out costs -- at least $10 around here.

    I doubt that your co-workers have any idea what they spend on water/pop they get at the service station, or how much your water costs you. Most people are completely unaware of what they are spending -- people like us are in the minority. The smart minority.

  14. rob62521 Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 05:40 pm 1359049208
    1359049208

    I think a lot of it is I don't feel well. I did get a compliment...someone commented on my leftover spaghetti and said it looked good. So, not everyone is jerks.

    Our building is weird that we have no sink in the lounge or near the lounge. There are two drinking fountains and many of the kids put their mouths on it, so I would not feel safe drinking from it or getting water from there. The only sink available is in the rest room.

    I am going to keep track of how much money I would save...I bet seeing it in black and white would make me feel far better.

    Thank you so much for the words of encouragement. I needed it and you all were there!

  15. LuckyRobin Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 09:00 pm 1359061211
    1359061211

    Sometimes we just get weary of doing all of the little things that add up to saving money. I think it is fairly common to feel like that from time to time. But you are keeping plastic out of the waste stream and you are keeping food out of the landfill. Can the same be said for the people who think you are silly?

  16. rob62521 Says:
    January 24th, 2013 at 10:23 pm 1359066203
    1359066203

    Good points, Lucky Robin!

Leave a Reply

(Note: If you were logged in, we could automatically fill in these fields for you.)
*
Will not be published.
   

* Please spell out the number 4.  [ Why? ]

vB Code: You can use these tags: [b] [i] [u] [url] [email]