Solution to our Overspending?

If you have looked at any of our month to month financial update posts, you know that we have a problem with overspending on eating out. Restaurants, fast food, coffee shops, convenience stores...somewhere or other there is always money spent that we did not budget for.

And as much as I know this, it never seems to change our habits.

So I have a trial of a solution that I am going to give a go.

Photo source

During the month of July, Chip will be on orders, meaning he won't be around to eat at our house. At all. So just me and the kids. This is when I will try my trial. That actually seems funny because I'm more of a problem (usually) with this than he is, but I think I can control myself better than I can make both of us do this. So I'm going to give it a try while he is gone and see if it works. Then we might roll it out for the household.

My solution? 

The money I DON'T spend on eating out AND the money I save below my grocery budget will go to our missions budget at church. Above and beyond our regular giving, I will give that extra amount to the penny. No over-giving allowed - not because I'm trying to be selfish or stingy. But if I allow over-giving, I will just give regardless of what I spend, so that rule is in place to be a checkpoint for me.

That's it.

Doesn't sound really complex, does it?

But honestly, I can't seem to stop myself for reasons of our debt, so I obviously need a more motivational reason. And I think giving to those who don't have food?  That's a pretty good reason. That's a reason that will make me say, "You know...I'm not going to go to lunch with my coworkers today because someone else needs to eat with that money."

Let's see how it goes, okay?

Would this work for you on any overspending area?  Want to try it with me?  

Will this work for me?  I don't know, but you can check out what does work for everyone else over at We Are THAT Family.