Handling Money and Changing My Character

[jmcrae]

I understand what you’re saying about starting off with a small amount. That’s almost as difficult for me as tithing all together. I think it’s the former-Protestant in me that says that I’m supposed to give 10%. Not that it’s bad to give less than that, but that 10% is supposed to be starting point and that I’m supposed to increase from there. Somehow I feel that if I don’t give 10%, then I’m somehow cheating God and not trusting Him as I should. Of course, giving something is better than giving nothing, so starting out at less than 10% probably isn’t a bad idea, either. Or, maybe I use the 10% as an excuse not to give-saying “I can’t afford to give 10%, so I won’t give anything”.

Scout :tiphat:

My mother (a devout Methodist) says, 5% to the Church, and 5% to other causes. That’s pretty much my rule of thumb, too. We have three Third World foster children, so we count that as our other 5%.

 

[Scout]

Okay - now we’re getting somewhere. You buy food at the drive-thru rather than eating at home, but the portions are too large so you end up throwing a lot of it away. And it’s expensive - probably $8-10.00 every time you go, right?

So, let’s break down what the advantages are to going to the drive-thru.

1. It’s quick and easy - you don’t have to figure out what to cook, and you don’t have to wait very long.
2. It’s a solo activity - you don’t have to socialize.
3. It’s convenient. You can eat in the car or else at a picnic table, or you can take it back to the office or home and eat it there.
4. The choices are basically made for you - you pick from a menu of perhaps six to eight items, but there aren’t any big decisions to make - you don’t have to decide what you want in your salad, or what spices to put in the hamburger, etc.
5. You can cheat on your diet, and nobody will know.
6. You can have whatever you want without anybody questioning your choices, or whining because they don’t feel like having that.

I’m betting that one of the above is the primary reason you go to the drive-thru. The next step is to figure out how to get that benefit, without actually going to the drive-thru and spending all that money.

I’m thinking that there’s probably a little bit of every one of these suggestions in my reasoning. Funny thing is-I don’t even really like fast food. Sometimes I think it’s just out of habit. I used to be really heavy and I was constantly going through the drive-thru. It’s been almost 3 years since I took the weight off, but I’m still doing the drive-thru’s like I was before-I’m just not eating it like I was.

Everyone has given me a lot to think and pray about. I hope that more people comment and give me even more to contemplate. Any help I can get is a blessing.

Scout :tiphat:

 

[jmcrae]

Okay, well, how about this. Set up a little “drive-thru” in your own kitchen, with home made food that you buy at the grocery store. Make it up in single-serving batches ahead of time, same as they do at the fast food places, and put it in the fridge or freezer. Then, whenever you want a quick snack, just pop it in the microwave, and there you go - a fast food meal that doesn’t cost extra, over and above the groceries. Take it with you in a paper sack and have it as a picnic, or take it to work with you as a lunch, or whatever you like.

Another thing you could do, while weaning yourself off the drive-thru habit, is buy kids’ meals instead of full-sized adult meals. That would cost less, and you wouldn’t waste as much of it.

 

[Scout]

Another thing you could do, while weaning yourself off the drive-thru habit, is buy kids’ meals instead of full-sized adult meals. That would cost less, and you wouldn’t waste as much of it.

Yes, that’s a good idea. I’ve considered doing that before, but never actually implemented it.

I was thinking about this whole situation last night. I remembered someone saying that it takes at least 30 days to break a habit. So, what does everyone think of me just going cold-turkey and not using the drive-thrus for 30 days-to see if I can break myself of the habit?

I think I’m also going to play a little game with myself and see how long I can go without spending any money (except for paying bills, which happens every other Friday). I could even have my husband do the grocery shopping, if I need to.

What does everyone think?

Scout :tiphat:

 

[cheeto1]

I know it’s a waste of money and do it anyway.

Scout :tiphat:

I don’t actually know anyone who doesn’t “waste” their money
to make themselves happy. Do any of us really need this
internet?

I am not in debt, but once I was. I thought the debt would
just gradually go away on it’s own without my noticing or
trying. Eventually, getting out of this debt became an interst of mine that I was willing to spend money on to make myself
happy. I put a sign up in the kitchen of how much debt there
was, and each time some was paid, I crossed out the number
owing and wrote in the new lower number. It was fun to watch
the number go down. I guess it took about a year and a half.

Coincidentally(?) we also started tithing at this time. I felt
very wealthy indeed to be giving all this money away. Tithing
only costs 10 percent, and if you make zero, it costs zero.

 

[NotWorthy]

Yes, that’s a good idea. I’ve considered doing that before, but never actually implemented it.

I was thinking about this whole situation last night. I remembered someone saying that it takes at least 30 days to break a habit. So, what does everyone think of me just going cold-turkey and not using the drive-thrus for 30 days-to see if I can break myself of the habit?

I think I’m also going to play a little game with myself and see how long I can go without spending any money (except for paying bills, which happens every other Friday). I could even have my husband do the grocery shopping, if I need to.

What does everyone think?

Scout :tiphat:

My only advice (other than cheering you on in this quest) is to make sure you feed your husband a big meal before sending him to the grocery store!!! “Pasta again?!? Is it time to go to Kroger’s already???!”