Off My Schedule and Paying for It
Posted on March 7, 2012 7 Comments
I feel like this when my schedule's off
I am a person who thrives on a weekly routine. I hate deviating from my usual schedule, which is: wake up, commute, work, commute, eat, workout, sleep. I plan my meals and workouts weekly, DVR my TV shows, pre-schedule blog posts, and generally overplan everything, down to the minute sometimes. I do this because when I don’t have to think about my schedule, it’s far easier for me to stay disciplined and spend less. It takes a lot of unnecessary stress out of my life.
But this week, my schedule’s been completely thrown off by a production I’m co-leading at work. My wake and sleep times are off, I’m on different bus schedules, I’m away from my desk all day, eating meals at weird times, and generally feeling frazzled. And, as I could have predicted, I’ve paid for it with cash. Yesterday I spent nearly $10 on lunch, today I spent $17 on cab fares (I forgot my shuttle ID at home and missed a bus AND a train), $9 on snacks because I left my pre-made snacks in my office, and even bought a decaf latte for $4.
I used to do this a lot when I worked in PR. It’s so easy to throw $5 here, spend $10 there, hop in a cab to make the next train, stop at a coffee shop on the way in or out.
It makes me cringe to think about how much money I wasted on those little expenses throughout the years. Spending is so easy to control with a little weekly planning! But when I don’t sleep my usual hours, my brain gets all tired and just wants stuff NOW. At least I recognize the pattern, even if I am powerless to stop it.
My week won’t get better. I’m still in production tomorrow and Friday, and Monday too. I can only try to adapt as much as I can, and keep a few extra things like water and food in my bag.
Category: Money
Tags: Spending
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7 Responses to “Off My Schedule and Paying for It”
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March 8th, 2012 @ 6:55 am
Thatshow I was last week. I was so out of sorts and had things before and after work, and I felt likei could not get ahead. Just make it to the weekend, and allow yourself to relaxant unwind, and start fresh on Monday.
March 8th, 2012 @ 11:00 am
i have had this problem.. when things are going really well for me, i am able to keep to a schedule. wake up early, exercise, knock out a killer blog post, have a nice healthy breakfast, all before anyone else even wakes up!
but lately, due to a variety of reasons, i haven’t been able to make this happen.
March 8th, 2012 @ 11:59 am
Ahh, that’s been my life for the last 2 years going to school, work, commute, and raising a kid. My program is at night and I’m a morning person……..now it’s finals season. Can’t wait for it to end.
March 8th, 2012 @ 4:49 pm
I am curious as to what you weekly planner looks like! Anyway you could post a copy? Plus, do you have any good tips for planning lunches? It feels like such a chore to make lunch in the morning?
March 9th, 2012 @ 10:46 am
Amy, oddly enough, I don’t have anything electronically. I keep everything n a notebook with various to-do lists and schedules intermixed. I’ll try to post next week’s schedule this weekend.
As for lunches, every great once in a while I’ll make something like BBQ chicken or big-pot chili and eat it multiple times during the week, but I get bored really easily so I usually rely on Amy’s frozen entrees for my main course and then do a fruit (apple, orange) and nuts or chips/popcorn or yogurt with my meal. I eat a pretty big lunch.
March 12th, 2012 @ 11:30 am
I’m exactly the same way! I have to plan everything every day. I mean, I’m flexible when things change, but in my mind I’m making a new plan to take in the changes! I hate when things don’t work as planned because like you, I notice I spend more money. It’s always food where I overspend if things are not on schedule. Last month my family went over budget in groceries and eating out.
March 14th, 2012 @ 9:00 am
I hate those weeks when I get off schedule. I feel like everything falls apart and I’m constantly 1 step behind. And I really hate buying lunch because I didn’t plan, or having to drive instead of bus because I’m running late by 5 minutes.