Comments on: Are You Suffering From Budget Avoidance Syndrome?

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:12:51 +0000

I went through the same thing thing in October … or maybe it’s just an early mid-life crisis (I’m almost 40)
I said to hell with my budget and partied the entire month.
Well $1,500 later, I’m now paying for it and have had to cut back in Nov/Dec.
It was kind of fun, though.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:55:01 +0000

I totally agree with Bill – I’ve been much more relaxed about money since I adopted a zero based budget, and have found lots of “extra” money fro savings and having fun. I feel much more proactive doing it this way, and would never go back.

By: Nicki

Nicki — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:45:03 +0000

Yeah I’ve definitely had this syndrome before. I actually might be feeling a little ill from it today

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:35:43 +0000

I was a BAS sufferer until I completed my first Zero Balance Budget and found that I had a $400/month surplus that I was blowing on non-essentials!

So now, keeping up with my budget is like earning an additional $400/month. If I don’t keep up with the budget that extra cash seems to vanish into thin air.

Great post!

By: Amiyrah

Amiyrah — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:33:17 +0000

Oh man, I am suffering from B.A.S. badly! Since we’ve gotten back from our trip for thanksgiving, I just didn’t want to deal with it all. Actually, about a week before we left, I was so busy getting everyone ready(and then suffering from a bout of food poisoning) that I just had no time to update the budget and double check the account. Account was checked before we left the state, but I DID NOT even try to update the budget for bills. Thank goodness I was smart enough to pay all bills earlier in the month, otherwise we’d be in deep doo-doo right now. I gotta get back on that frugal horse though! Thanks for the inspiration!

By: Chris @ BuildMyBudget

Chris @ BuildMyBudget — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:02:36 +0000

Lol, I love that you labeled this “syndrome.” It is actually one of the number one reasons why I created my website, BuildMyBudget.com. Not only is it painful to sit down and look at the numbers in your budget, but it’s compounded because it takes SO long to catch up if you are using a financial program such as MS Money, etc. I love the Bmb budgeting method because no matter how far you are behind, you can quickly catch up…assess the damage(usually =) and then figure out how to proceed. I think the spreadsheet style of budgeting is the simplest, most flexible, and easiest to overcome B.A.S!

By: marci357

marci357 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:35:30 +0000

I find that sometimes I just need to tell myself that I cannot do something ‘fun’ until the checkbook is looked at, balanced, and the utility bills are paid….

Usually, the reward I am looking forward to (something non-monetary) will make me get the deed done

By: Frugal Bachelor

Frugal Bachelor — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:58:37 +0000

I have the opposite problem, “Budget Obsession Syndrome”. I re-balance my accounts constantly and log in to each of them about five times a day even when I know I haven’t deposited or withdrawn any money. Any advice?

By: Dawn

Dawn — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:40:54 +0000

“You feel a combination of anxiety and apathy towards your finances.”

Yep, I know that feeling. I’ve been doing pretty good lately, having hard, set monthly goals has been helping. I don’t DARE slip up too much.

By: frugalgrad.com

frugalgrad.com — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:08:26 +0000

When I first started in college, I didn’t even think about budgeting. It is a new yet painful concept. To make things worse, I believe I didn’t need it. So the result is I have no idea where all the money goes, little here and there and by the end of the month, nothing left (sometimes it even goes negative?!!!).