ALTER EGO GAME+ EAT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN FULL

The lesson from each of these spending alter-egos is simple. In fact, he can almost pretend that his budget does not exist. You might have allocated a certain amount for your mortgage payment, but if you need to use some of those funds for eating out, well, you do what you need to do … right? Mike makes boundaries with his spending, but he does not have too many qualms about switching things up. If you are like Mike, you think of your budget as a suggestion. How can you stick to a budget when you can not follow how much is being spent and where it is being spent? Move Stuff Around Mike Budgeting is a nightmare because there are just too many financial accounts to keep track.

ALTER EGO GAME+ EAT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN FULL

Card Collecting CarrieĬarrie’s wallet is full - not with cash, but with credit cards. Patrick’s positive outlook can be admired, but he (and his budget) might be due for a healthy dose of reality. This works just fine until you find yourself with costs you didn’t anticipate. You do not like to dwell on the chances of unexpected expenses like storm damage to your home, medical costs, or a wrecked car, so your budget does not either. You might consider yourself an optimist - your budget is great and everything is on track … until reality hits you like a ton of bricks. Nancy loves her budget, maybe a little too much, and could learn to be a little easier on herself when it comes to finances. You have a certain amount of dollars for groceries and if you have to live on Ramen noodles for a week to stick to that budget, then more power, and sodium, to you. There is no wiggle room in your budget for even the smallest spontaneous purchase, let alone any emergency spending. Your budget is law and you never step a toe out of line. Why fix something that did not break, right? No Chill Nancy Stanley has taken the first big step of creating a budget, but he fails to adjust it for the ebb and flow of monthly finances. So far, the budget works just fine, so why would you change it? Even when your expenses change each month and your old budget does not quite fit, you stick to the tried and true budget of yesteryear and keep plugging through. You have a budget - it is the same one you created this time last year. Bridget has a lot on her plate, so budgeting is one of the first things to get cut. Besides, where do you even start if you want to make a budget? It becomes overwhelming, and the last thing you need in your life is more stress. Your to-do list is already a mile long, so adding “create a budget” to it is pretty much out of the question. You often feel like you are running a marathon - on any given day you sprint from one thing to the next. Larry errs on the side of caution when it comes to investing his income, sometimes, ironically, at his own expense. The idea of visiting a financial planner or the word “investing” makes you shudder. You play it safe and keep your spending to a minimum, keeping any extra income safely saved away. You are a diligent worker who does not need too much to get by. After all, budgets cannot wait for deals.

If a deal exists Sally will know about it, and you can bet she will be there ready to spend. You hear the word “sale” and you are walking out the door with a shoebox and plans to come back for the season blowout blitz next week. You walk into the store, and there it is: the perfect pair of kicks for that one outfit that has been hanging in the back of your closet for months. What is your spending alter-ego? Shoe Sale Sally

Whether it is a matter of time, resources, or personal vices, there are countless quirks that can make or break a financial plan. However, l ess than one-third of Americans put together a budget each month. Budgeting - it’s something everyone knows they should be doing.

Alter ego game+ eat as much as you can