I’ve noticed something by watching Toddlers and Tiaras. Pageant moms do both their math and their budgets differently than the rest of us. For instance if I needed Flexo ink cleaner I would pay the amount required and that would be that.

With pageant moms their whole budget is different. They all say that they need to win the money. Only one girl will win maybe $500-$1000. There is an entrance fee for every girl. Plus, there are different costumes and dresses. Some of these cost several thousands of dollars. Then they travel from different states. A few of the moms have said that they’ve spent about $35,000 in just a six month period. I don’t understand why they would spend so much money just for the possibility of winning a small fraction of it back. Their math doesn’t add up.

Some women are obsessed with shoes. I’m obsessed with jewelry. I try not to spend a lot of money on it but I just like to make a statement. The bad part about that is that when you make a statement people will notice it. Then they’ll remember the piece and keep track of how often you wear it which wouldn’t really happen with a more neutral item like a pearl necklace. This means that I feel like I have to buy a lot of jewelry.

I’ve noticed something about Suze Orman, she pretty much always wears the same gold necklace and pair of earrings. Maybe there’s something to be said for just having signature pieces that are unique to you. Then you don’t have to change them out all the time.

I’ve enjoyed watching the series “Til’ Debt Do Us Part” that is on after Suze Orman. It features financial expert Gail Vaz-Oxlade who tries to save couples marriages and financial futures at the same time. If they follow her plan then they can get up to $5,000 to repay their debt. It’s always interesting to see just what people are spending their money on. Apparently here are a few things that a lot of these couples had in common:

They seem to shop at outlet and discount stores for their children. They seem to know that they need to save money but they don’t realize that an easy way to do this is to just stop buying so much stuff.

A lot of couples have grocery bills three or four times the normal size. This either comes from eating out or eating organically.

I think the show is Canadian because they always talk about mat leave or maternity leave. A lot of couples really seem to get in trouble because they keep spending like they did before one of them went on mat leave. Some of them even spend more because they have all that extra time to go to the outlet stores.

The couples end up living out of jars filled with money instead of using credit cards. Most of them find that they can leave on 1/3 of their regular budget just by tracking their spending. There is even a section for gifts, clothes and entertainment so you could get an xbox 360 if you saved up for awhile. It really turns the couples lives around. They go from living in debt to just plain living.