I know I’m beating a dead horse here, but that’s sort of how I figure out stuff financially (in case ya’ll haven’t figured that out over the last seven years of this finance journey), but I’m still fixating on the $24 a day.

I went a little off the rails today. I started out the day on the wrong foot when I found the perfect Christmas or birthday gift for one of my BFFs – so, overall, cheaper than a last minute gift and also perfect, but I bought it. And there was a similar item on the site that was a perfect Christmas gift for one of my cousins that I still usually exchange gifts with so…

By 9 AM, $20 was gone.

And then I got a coffee after my class today and we were maxed out.

It was a lovely day and I’m actually ahead in my lesson planning, so I left the school while the sun was still shining and thought, today is the day to get my oil change – which was true, I was already 1,500 miles past when I should’ve gone.

$45 later, my oil was nice and fresh.

So I thought eff it all, I’m going to Hobby Lobby.

Yes, yes, I know they might are on kind of the worst, but I wanted a crochet hook that was really big and they’re only a few dollars and driving with the windows down and the music blaring in the nice weather was kind of delightful.

So, $3 later, crochet hook.

Nailing it though, cause that’s like nothing.

But…

The mall was around the corner and I had a gift certificate to Macy’s and I’ve been looking for those black bootie boot type things for a few weeks.

And so I continued my hunt to no avail, but I was in the mall, so why not wander the (creepily deserted) mall.

And I found that it had a Francesca’s. So… this could be a problem or no problem at all, because it’s really hit or miss in that store.

But they were have a huge sale a few minutes later I was in a dressing room with like 15 clothing items.

Of course, the two I liked, not on sale, but perfect for Brazil in two weeks. It’s hot there.

So that was $70 more and I have wondered about boho bandeau’s forever and they were at the checkout, so I tossed one into the pile.

The most excellent sales girl said, hey, I can ring this up separately if you want to get another item at half off.

So…. Now I have another candle too.

$94 later, I exited Francesca’s.

Did I need any of these things?

Nope. Well, arguably, the oil change.

(I do feel like my mom is looking down on me laughing and approving of my last minute register purchases though, which is never a bad feeling at all.)

Also, sometimes I’m just done being responsible.

On the flip side, if I manage to be like Hodor and hold the door, I can easily do a no spend day. I just never have to let the barrier break in the first place. I actually did a few this week where I brought my meals to work and ate what I had when I was home and spent nothing.

Anyone have any tips for how to reset your mental state halfway through the day?

Cause after all of today’s spending, calling a friend in Australia and being like, what if I come to visit in June, doesn’t seem too crazy.

…and I just Googled airfares. Nevermind, I do have limits. It’s flipping expensive to get over to Australia on a whim.

So, again, anyone got any tips on how to reign in the spending once you go off course?