Priorities

So my friend Kate over at A Year of Frugality has inspired me. Financial priorities and everything that comes with it.

I will admit to being horrible at sticking to a budget but that's usually both myself and The Man Thing buying things we don't need and at the worst possible times. Last week we spent most of our grocery money on takeaways and junk food! It was terrible! I guess even though we did that we still had 3 meals a day each and the Munchkin had nappies and formula to last him so there was at least SOME prioritizing. Also all the bills were paid.

We usually stick to a fairly strict budget but sometimes we slip up and then sometimes we slip up bad! Luckily we don't have a credit card or the like so we can't rach up a massive debt but let's just say that unless we are on a very strict budget, The Man Thing and I are hopeless with money.

Having a budget it our only saving grace. If we didn't have a budget we would be right royally screwed. It's actually suprising how easy it's been for us to have one and keep on top of all of our bills. Our budget is what has enabled us to go from piddly slow-as-a-wet-week dialup to broadband recently.

I have friends who have no idea how to prioritize and it's hard to see them falling over their feet time and time again but I've tried giving them advice and it always fails. Don't you hate that, trying to give someone advice and they come back with "But...but...but" to everything. People from all different walks of life have shown me this attitude. There's a point where I have to give up.

I always try to live within my means and I think we do a pretty good job, except when we have a bit of a blowout but then we're only human.

So after this ramble, what are your priorities?