Anonymous wrote:Why don't you start putting money aside each month for clothes or other personal expenditures? It doesn't have to be a lot, but if you allocate yourself a little bit each month, then you have a pot of money that is specifically for you and you don't feel like you're spending what you should be saving. Just a thought.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here whose in the same boat at the same age. Just wanted to say that while I own my condo, DD (3) has never slept in her room ever!lol So really, my 2 bedroom is more like a 1 bed with her room as more of a storage area. I have found my utilities to be pretty low, particularly since I close the vents altogether in the 2nd bedroom since its hardly used. The only downside to our living arrangements is that she can't run around inside.

Your DS is still pretty young, but do you eventually plan to allocate more money towards entertainment/pampering for yourself?

Oh PP! You've asked an excellent question...and it actually goes back to the title of my post.

So ever since Ive become addicted to saving its been very hard for me spend money for anything other than the essentials for myself and DS. Its like I get a high off of putting money into my savings account and its very hard for me to spend money recreationally.

For example last weekend I went to TJMAXX to buy DS some socks since he has outgrown his old socks. While there I saw this beautiful $100 sweater. Now ladies you know how hard it can be to find a good quality sweater. That day I had a temporary lapse in judgement and bought the sweater. Once I got home I thought about how ridiculous it was and how I really didnt need a $100 sweater so I returned it and got my money back.

So as you can see my first attemt in a loong time to do something nice for myself failed miserably because I just couldnt bring myself to spend the unneccessary money.

It also helps me to not spend since I have to watch the baby Mon-Fri nights after work and on the weekends too so this literally doesnt give me the ooportunity to go out and pamper myself. I dont have any family in the area so my only opportunity to get some time to myself would be to take a day off work while DC is in daycare.

So I guess the answer to your question is that I have two challenges to overcome a) I need to get over this mental roadblock that is not allowing me to spend money on non essential items b) I need to come up with a solution about how to snag some free time to myself to enjoy a day at the spa, for example. I dont think I'm ready for either of these yet but maybe as DC gets older and becomes more independant and maybe after I save up some more money I will feel comfortable with the concept of buying something just because.

Anonymous wrote:OP, this post made my week. You sound like a really terrific person with a great outlook on life and I hope you see your dreams realized because you truly deserve it. Your DS is lucky to have you. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story!

Anonymous wrote:PP here whose in the same boat at the same age. Just wanted to say that while I own my condo, DD (3) has never slept in her room ever!lol So really, my 2 bedroom is more like a 1 bed with her room as more of a storage area. I have found my utilities to be pretty low, particularly since I close the vents altogether in the 2nd bedroom since its hardly used. The only downside to our living arrangements is that she can't run around inside.

Your DS is still pretty young, but do you eventually plan to allocate more money towards entertainment/pampering for yourself?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious OP, you said that you rent a 2 bedroom condo but share the rent with your roommate. Does this mean that you and your child stay in the same room or you have a separate room from your child? I think you are doing a great job! I am a single mother too but don't make nowhere close to what you make in a year but I try to save too.

Yes, DC and I are in the same room. DC sleeps in the bed with me. I'm going to be transitioning him soon to his own toddler bed. I just need to rearrange the some furniture first. I'm going to reposition the dresser thats up against the wall and put his toddler bed there. Of course, as he gets older this set up is not going to continue to work for us but hopefully by then I will have saved up a nice chunk as a down payment on a house and he can have as much room as he'd like Sharing a room is not ideal at the moment because DC is a light sleeper and I literally have to tip toe around while he's sleeping so that he does not wake. To me though this is a minor inconveniance bc I know that things wont be this way forever.

Just keep at it and keep chipping away. Even if you are putting away only $50 per paycheck for example...its going to add up. If you have any debt I would say the key is to get rid of that debt! That was the lifesaver for me bc I was able to take that money that was going to the bill collectors every month and start putting it towards savings.

Off topic but I just wanted to say I find your posts cheerful and upbeat. I'm impressed with your tenacity, determination and what appears to be pretty easy going style with a situation I imagine isn't so easy going all the time. If it wasn't creepy as fuck and my wife would beat me senseless, I'd buy you a beer.

Anyway, just want to say I admire your attitude. Keep it up

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious OP, you said that you rent a 2 bedroom condo but share the rent with your roommate. Does this mean that you and your child stay in the same room or you have a separate room from your child? I think you are doing a great job! I am a single mother too but don't make nowhere close to what you make in a year but I try to save too.

Yes, DC and I are in the same room. DC sleeps in the bed with me. I'm going to be transitioning him soon to his own toddler bed. I just need to rearrange the some furniture first. I'm going to reposition the dresser thats up against the wall and put his toddler bed there. Of course, as he gets older this set up is not going to continue to work for us but hopefully by then I will have saved up a nice chunk as a down payment on a house and he can have as much room as he'd like Sharing a room is not ideal at the moment because DC is a light sleeper and I literally have to tip toe around while he's sleeping so that he does not wake. To me though this is a minor inconveniance bc I know that things wont be this way forever.

Just keep at it and keep chipping away. Even if you are putting away only $50 per paycheck for example...its going to add up. If you have any debt I would say the key is to get rid of that debt! That was the lifesaver for me bc I was able to take that money that was going to the bill collectors every month and start putting it towards savings.

Anonymous wrote:Just curious OP, you said that you rent a 2 bedroom condo but share the rent with your roommate. Does this mean that you and your child stay in the same room or you have a separate room from your child? I think you are doing a great job! I am a single mother too but don't make nowhere close to what you make in a year but I try to save too.