It's been a while since I've looked at our budget for the month to see how we're doing. I am diligently tracking my spending each and every day, but haven't have lacked the motivation to sit down and analyze it.
We've had a few things come up unexpectedly this month. Visitors. Out-of-state visitors. On one hand I want to do a very, very heavy sigh, but on the other hand I'm THRILLED anytime anyone wants to take the time to come see us!! But, it's done a bit of a doozy on our budget this month. After this weekend, we'll have had 3 sets of visitors come to see us in March, all giving us less than a couple of weeks notice. One set told me on a Monday that they'd be here that coming Friday for a 2-night stay. One set came for just a day visit. The next set (gave the most notice -- 2 weeks!) and will be staying 1 night. Anyway, I didn't plan in the budget for my friends and family for the month. As I'm writing this, I see how petty this all seems. After all, it's in the annual budget to have visitors, and I know come December we're not going to be broke and the kids will STILL get a great Christmas even though we had 3 sets of visitors who weren't in the budget for this month. Right? So, what's my problem? I love my friends and I love my family. I don't want them to ever not want to come.
So, I guess my frustration lies within myself. I tend to see the plan (the budget) and have a hard time deviating from it. I have a hard time seeing the big picture. Even if we were so broke we didn't have a pot to (you know what) in, I'd still be thrilled to have visitors and find something to feed them and do everything I could to make them feel welcome. Right?
So, while my numbers (for the grocery bill) are going to be out of whack for the month of March (and that's why I'm having such a hard time sitting down to look at them...they're not going to be perfect and that's a problem for me), I'm going to have a great time this month seeing friends and family that I don't get to see but once or twice a year.
I really need to lighten up and embrace my friends/family and not view their (semi-unplanned) visits as hiccup to the budget. But still, I would LOVE to have a little notice...I am, after all, a PLANNER by nature, and if I could at least know during the month prior, I could work in the budget some pretty good meals for you! :)
I'm curious how you all rework your plans for (semi) unplanned visitors?
1 comment:
I agree with you, I do try to stick with my budget, but I think that "experiences" are worth an "off budget" once in a while. It's not like you went out and bought a new pr. of Jimmy Choo shoes & handbag. LOL!! I would just go with the flow! We don't really get 'visitors' like that.. but if we did i'd just run with it. I think you did great!
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