How Being in a Funk Can Affect Our Budget

Funks like the one I am in right now are nothing new to me. For clarification, to me, a funk is sort of like being depressed, but not as severe. Being really depressed is also something that is not new to me. Thankfully, I have those episodes a lot less often than I used to.

Funks, although they are less severe, aren’t fun either. They also have a sneaky way of affecting your mood AND your budget.

For me, funks bring about the sweet food like ice cream and candy. The thing about splurging on those? You can’t do it if you do not go near a store. While it can be downright stuffy to stay home during a funk, I know what damage I can do at the store (although…my son loves my funks because I bring all types of goodies into the house!). I did let myself go to the store during this funk and I know I shouldn’t have.

Related to food, I’m also about four times more likely to get fast food than cooking at home when I am in a funk. I normally like cooking a healthy meal for my family. I go all out and even make salads for everyone. That’s one reason I love the weekends. I can cook dinner (normally during the week, I get off work too late to prepare dinner before 7pm). With this latest funk, the $5 subs at Subway called my name and I gave in.

I also get strong urges to go shopping for stuff. Maybe a new pair of shoes or something. The oddest thing about this urge is that I am not normally into fashion. But the minute I go into a funk I must think I need to be a fashionista (not that anything is wrong with that – it’s just totally against the norm for me). Sometimes I budget shop and buy clearance items, but sometimes I don’t. Again, it’s best to stick around the house and not go anywhere. I didn’t do this one (thank goodness – I have enough shoes!).

If you don’t go anywhere, you can’t spend money!

I know that I’m not necessarily dealing with the problem directly, but for now, it’s the best thing I can do to keep our budget intact during a funk. Sometimes I feel like my brain needs to be rewired and I’ve come to accept that it can take some time to turn around years of bad spending habits.

Posted by Tricia on April 23, 2008 at 9:53 PM in Spending Money | 2 Comments »
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SmileyGirl responded:
Posted: April 24th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Tricia, I’m so sorry you are in a funk. It’s been tough for me lately although I never thought of it as a “funk” but that is such a descriptive and accurate word. Can you journal and find some relief? I would totally agree about shooting big holes in the budget during these times – fast food is sooo much easier. Maybe cut yourself some slack for these times and “allow” yourself a certain number of times to eat out. Can a family member (hubby, son, etc.) help out with meals and rotate whose cooking each night? Maybe a meal planner at beginning of the week would help you get through the days without turning to fast food. I certainly don’t have all the answers…just my two cents! I’m here for you in support!
Loren@SaneAtHomeMom responded:
Posted: April 24th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I totally hear you and didn’t even have a word for how I feel sometimes. It must be a hormonal cycle or just body rythm or something. I don’t really have a hardcore answer for you, other than find something to do that isn’t the normal chore, or tackle that looming chore that is bothering you the most. I know for me, when I muster up enough to clean something that I’ve been dreading and has been pushing me further into my funk, I feel so much better. Often times, I will plug in my earbud and talk on the phone to a family member or friend and get it done and it goes by so much faster. Doing yardwork this time of year is a nice change from the norm and I get something done without spending money. There is something to be said to listening to the birds alone, or getting some girl time with friends to switch things up a bit.
FUNKS SUCK!!!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog!