A Not So Tight Belt

The other night my husband and I were sitting out on our patio, while he grilled up some $8.00 hamburger patties, discussing how we really aren’t saving all that we can. For instance, we are eating at home more, but we’re still buying high-quality pre-made meats. We’re still shopping at our regular grocery store instead of a discount store. Yes, we use our rewards card and receive coupons in the mail every 3 months or so, but we’ve really not cut out all of our frivolous expenses. We also bantered about how other people over the past year, with the economy being what it is, have really tightened their belts. Instead of purchasing pre-made patties, they are making their own with inexpensive meat, or forgoing meat all together and eating more pasta. We even discussed how friends that we know have disconnected their DSL and live on a shoe-string budget to support a family of 7. We are only a family of 2, yet most likely spend more than double.

I began to feel guilty. That I could do more. That we could save more. Then I started to think about the things we are saving on, to make myself feel better, of course. For instance:

• We rode to the grocery store on our bikes instead of driving our car; we saved gas
• We only bought what we needed from the store, even though I wanted to purchase Magic Shell for my ice cream. I decided that the chocolate syrup I had at home was good enough; we didn’t over buy
• We enjoyed a night out on our patio, not in a restaurant; we saved money on eating at home

These savings are small, but they’re a start. Maybe I’m just in denial of the fact that we’re really not tightening our belts as much as we could. In the coming months, we will probably have to suck it up and feel the pain a little more. But until that time comes, I’ll just feel guilty.