self-bribe

[jazzfish]

I've been keeping a cashflow spreadsheet for the past several months, in an effort to track and curtail spending. It's worked astoundingly well for tracking purposes. I can now say with absolute certainty that most of the time I do, in fact, spend more money on restaurant food than on books. The 'curtailing' part has been kind of hit-or-miss. I've definitely reduced spending on 'fun' items but haven't managed to get it down to a level I'm happy with. (Yes, that's a well-defined point.)

So, a public bribe. If I can keep the 'fun' part of my cashflow at a point with which I'm happy for the month of March, I get one of these. Probably the nice dark green one, or maybe the celadon. (Annoyingly enough Beehouse doesn't seem to make teapots in 32-oz size, which would be perfect for making four cups. Guess I'll have to settle for a personal teapot.)

Comments

[vond.livejournal.com]

I went ahead and bought a copy of Quicken and imported the last month and a half of transactions. Things aren't really as bad as I expected them to be. I expected eating out to be costing us more than groceries, but they're about equal. Utilities are damn ridiculous, though.

[jazzfish]

I've vaguely considered that on occasion. I still use cash for some things, though, so it's not a perfect solution. And my spreadsheet is working well enough that 'if it ain't broke' . . .

Utilities have only really been ridiculous for me since I started needing the heat on. I expect our definitions of 'ridiculous' don't exactly conicide, though. :)

[scathach.livejournal.com]

I'm tellin' you -- the bribery thing works. I think I've hit on something here. Maybe I should write a self-help book.

[plumbob78.livejournal.com]

"Bribe" is such a vulgar word. Consider it "positive reinforcement"

[playing-tragic.livejournal.com]

Actually, the teapot is a good idea of a tangible reward. Something you get use or see everyday has a better chance of reinforcing behavioral changes than fleeting, one shot deals like a movie night or dinner out because we quickly "forget" those rewards we've granted ourselves.

[jazzfish]

Very, very true. This way there's that little subconscious suggestion that "I earned this" every time I make a pot of tea.

It also needed to be something of a luxury item, though. Otherwise I'd just think "well, I need this anyway, so I'll buy it and then I have to stick to the plan." The problems with the 'cake first' strategy I leave as an exercise for the reader.