[LuxLiving]

Well, for me it was a process. Once I identified what I needed to budget for, then it began to fall into place. I was once like you find yourself, and couldn't keep myself out of the cookie jar.

What helps me is thinking of my budget as ANTICIPATORY. We know we'll have car repairs, right? So instead of just slapping them on a CC when it comes up and worrying later how to pay for it, we anticipate that we'll have car repairs and save up for them in a Car Repair Fund a/k/a escrow account. And, we anticipate that we're going to have vet bills since we have pets and we save for them in a Vet Fund. AND, we have an Emergency Fund. It's for unemployment or a major catastrophe or unexpected unanticipated major stuff, such as a family funeral out of state or some such. And we have lots of other little 'funds' for various needs.

After some time you'll get to a tipping point. You've anticipated new tires, you've saved separately for them, you can then go buy them and start the process all over. If you have a car, you'll always need to be saving for new tires, right? You'll always have repairs, yes? You'll always need a new hot water heater sometime? You'll always need to have a house-repair fund? Unless you're a nudist you'll always need to have a clothing budget? Right? Right.

These aren't emergencies. They are just rare occurances in most cases, but they or things like them are what might be derailing you now.

No, we won't have the gazillions of dollars we used to think we had to 'spend willy-azz-nilly'. BUT, all the bases are covered. There aren't as many bumps in the road any more and things smooth out.

We have our escrow accounts set up in online banks as well. As noppenbd stated above, the time-frame to get it back can help slow you down.

Keep thinking. You're on the right track!