Being tired is not uncommon for me. I have terrible issues with sleeping. Not so much in that I don’t like to do it, but more that it doesn’t like me. I can’t turn my brain off at night, my bed is uncomfortable, and there are way too many bodies sharing my bed (let me clarify for all of my dirty minded readers. Yes, Joe, I’m looking at you. My dogs sleep in bed with my husband and me). Also, my room gets way too hot, I get thirsty, and a vicious cycle starts. And the common thread in that cycle is that I don’t sleep.
Now, one of the advantages to not sleeping is having an excuse to take a nap in the middle of the day. Another advantage is ramping up my productivity at 2AM when everyone else is asleep. And yet a third advantage is being able to watch Roseanne because it’s only on in the middle of the night. However, although I enjoy all of these aspects to my delightful inability to sleep, the negatives far outweigh the positives. So much, in fact, that I’ve assembled a list of the 5 worst financial things that happen as a result of my chronic insomnia:
- I buy shit I don’t need. Today, while buying cat food and paper towels (I know how to party), I bought travel sized nail polish remover. I have no idea why I need that. I don’t travel that frequently. I may also be prone to buying unnecessary stuff for others as well. Particularly those I love the most.
- I hate to cook. Or I forget to buy important ingredients and then I get pissed and decide I’m not cooking that day. So we go out to eat. Usually somewhere unhealthy but delicious. And totally not factored into the budget.
- I fall down. And I get hurt. At the gym the other day, I fell of a step riser and messed up my ankle. This almost cost me a co-pay and a trip to the doctor. But I hate the doctor (or, more specifically, my doctor) so ice and ibuprofen seem to work for the time being. Let’s not even discuss the fall down the stairs a few months ago.
- I forget to pay bills. Although most of my bills are automated, there are still a few that I pay manually. I *might* occasionally pay some late, which doesn’t necessarily incur a late fee but it does cause a headache when the bank won’t stop calling because the mortgage was 3 days late even though 3 days late is included in the grace period.
- I rely on my vices. I don’t have many vices. I don’t smoke, I’m pretty good about finding free or inexpensive options for books, movies, activities, etc and all that jazz that PF bloggers normally brag about. But I do have vices like soda, green tea and music. When I’m tired I’m powerless against them. Resistance is futile. Mainly because they keep me awake.
I’m sure there are more ways that my insomnia costs me money but I’m too tired to remember what they are.
Readers, what are some of the financial side effects that happen when you’re tired?
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[…] Although it’s fine for me to go a few days on very little sleep, after awhile, it catches up to me. And I become very grumpy. And even more forgetful. And completely unmotivated so nothing gets done. And I have a tendency to spend money I shouldn’t. […]
I keep track of my finances on almost a daily basis, but if I get tired, I get lazy and I’ll fall behind. Then it takes a long time to get everything caught up.
Money Beagle recently posted…Weekly Roundup: September 14, 2012
I work so much that I rarely have a problem not sleeping. On occasion I will wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep for a couple of hours. I just lay there. You can;t do much damage if you don’t get out of bed.
Sean @ One Smart Dollar recently posted…The Tax Effect of Earning More Money
Good point, Sean. For me, I wind up staring at the wall which then makes my brain work on high speed which means that I need to get up and deal with it. It’s even easier to do since my office is directly across the hall from my bedroom.
My biggest one is that I’m unproductive with work, so I may get behind on a project. And lack of sleep also releases cortisol in the your body, making you feel hungrier than you really are, so I eat more. Not good on many levels.
Budget & the Beach recently posted…I’m a Wittle Wabbit
The unproductive at work thing happens to me. Or I’m easily persuaded to spend money by going out, renting a movie or something. I’m not on my best defense so I let it slip by and end up paying for something that is not in the budget.
bogofdebt recently posted…Mid September Friday Link Lovin’
my biggest problem is that is I don’t sleep well, I hit the snooze button a zillion times and then proceed to almost be late for work. Since I’m rushed, I don’t have time to pack an appropriate lunch. I then have to spend $10 or so buying my lunch. Not sleeping directly affects my finances!
Jordann recently posted…Update On the Mysterious Money
Oh, the snooze button. It is both my best friend and worst enemy.
Also, I’d like to know why it’s 9 minutes. It’s a great mystery of the world.
Hey Jana! On the bright side, at least you can party like a champ and outlast us all at Fincon right? Good to meet in Denver! I could not go past 2am. Body couldn’t take it!
Ever thought about drinking a half glass of wine before bed? I’ve found it knocks me out.
S
Financial Samurai recently posted…Refinance Your Mortgage BEFORE Leaving Your Job Please
You’re right, Sam. I can party like a champ and still hang in there the next day. But outlasting everyone? Nope. I, too, was in bed by 2AM most nights.
Insomnia owns me 🙁 Even though I am up I can’t do anything productively. Then the next day I am too darn tired to accomplish anything. Like you, we end up eating out because I forgot to turn on the crock pot, pick up a certain ingredient, do dishes or get my butt to the grocery store.
Jenniemarie @ Another Housewife recently posted…Jenny Lawson Brought Out The Sailor In Me
If I don’t sleep enough, I’m almost guaranteed to buy two coffees to get through a work day, plus some unhealthy snack like peanut M&M’s.
Shannon-ReadyForZero recently posted…Federal Loans Now Up For Grabs by Debt Collectors
My mother in law is addicted to peanut M&M’s. She calls them her “vitamin M”, which I find hilarious.
My girlfriend takes melotonin and it works well for her. I am normally just less productive and grumpy when I don’t get enough sleep.
Lance@MoneyLife&More recently posted…iPhone 5: How Cell Phone Companies Can Afford to Give You a $450 Discount
I didn’t even say anything! I’m reading along and THERE I am….
But thanks for clarifying, because, well….
I go to restaurants when I’m tired and I nearly ALWAYS order an alcoholic drink. That kicks the wallet to the curb in a hurry.
AverageJoe recently posted…Avoiding Sex With Strangers and Other Poor Money Decisions
Alcoholic drinks are the worst budget busters in a restaurant. Especially when they don’t tell you the price but you order anyway knowing how expensive it’s going to be because it just looks so good…
Um, no. That’s never actually happened to me. I just heard about it.
I love to sleep, but I have a similar problem when I work my day job then my part-time job right after. This week I worked two twelve hour days and because of that I didn’t have the time or energy to make meals at home and went out to buy food and coffees almost everyday this week. Money I shouldn’t have spent. Oh well.
Mo’ Money Mo’ Houses recently posted…Meet the Richest Woman in the World
As long as I can remember I have had troubles sleeping.
A couple of things I do which work on occasion are:
– Reading before bed
– A warm glass of milk before bed
– No caffeine after 2pm
– Keep a notepad next to my bed so i can jot something down and not sit there trying to make sure I remember it in the morning.
– Try to get to bed at the same time each night
After adopting these things I was starting to sleep better.
Unfortunately my sleeping patterns have once again been thrown into disarray as my wife has fallen pregnant and needs to frequent the bathroom every 3 hours or so.
Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank recently posted…How to save money when eating out