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Impulsive spending..
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Kitty777
Posts: 450 Forumite
Hello 
After bills and savings, I have a rough budget of £50-£70 a week.
However, if I am honest I do not know where most of this goes to...I tend to spend it on rubbish.
The odd £2 there, the odd £3 there....and I guess it all adds up.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to stop impulsive spending? It isn't much and often random things (bubble bath stuff is the worst for me, and costa coffee)....I have been thinking to myself 'do I really need it' but things still creep in.
The ideal plan would be to keep a money diary for a month I guess. Write down everything that I have bought.
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After bills and savings, I have a rough budget of £50-£70 a week.
However, if I am honest I do not know where most of this goes to...I tend to spend it on rubbish.
The odd £2 there, the odd £3 there....and I guess it all adds up.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to stop impulsive spending? It isn't much and often random things (bubble bath stuff is the worst for me, and costa coffee)....I have been thinking to myself 'do I really need it' but things still creep in.
The ideal plan would be to keep a money diary for a month I guess. Write down everything that I have bought.
If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!
[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]
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Comments
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Only carry cash for what you are going out to get, don't have it, can't spend it (:0
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I always seem to have this worry an emergency will occur so always take my card...uh oh
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Keeping a daily spend diary is really good. Its helped me, as I really didnt notice how much I was spending!
Another good tip is to leave the cards at home, and just use cash. It will make you assess whether you really need it or not, if its a choice between bubble bath or feeding yourself you will make better choices.Total Debt in Feb 2015 - £6,052 | DEBT FREE 26/05/2017Swagbucks £200 Valued Opinions £100Dave Ramsey Baby Step 2 | Mr Money Mustache Addict0 -
I always seem to have this worry an emergency will occur so always take my card...uh oh
coffee and bubble bath arent emergencies. You'll be fine!
Emergencies are rare, and true emergencies hardly ever take card!Total Debt in Feb 2015 - £6,052 | DEBT FREE 26/05/2017Swagbucks £200 Valued Opinions £100Dave Ramsey Baby Step 2 | Mr Money Mustache Addict0 -
Keeping a daily spend diary is really good. Its helped me, as I really didnt notice how much I was spending!
Another good tip is to leave the cards at home, and just use cash. It will make you assess whether you really need it or not, if its a choice between bubble bath or feeding yourself you will make better choices.
I get paid on friday, so think I will do a diary then.
I used to be almost addicted to scratch cards etc...but have gone this pay period without buying one. I guess I hoped I would win like £200 from a £2 one...and a 'fix' would often be like £10 a week!!!
and yes you are right. I suffer badly from anxiety anyway so just worry about everything...need to realise seeing an offer on shampoo in boots is not an emergency
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I agree with the spending diary. We are very similar in that my weaknesses were Lush and hot drinks. I reach the end of the month and often don't have a lot to show for it.
I bought a diary, and now every day I mark down every single thing I buy, be it a big or small spend. I keep my receipts so I can write the correct amounts on. Then at the end of the month I assess how much I have spent as to how much I have saved.
Now, I find myself spending much less by doing something so simple. I really do recommend a diary. It helps to show just how much you are wasting on things you don't always need. Plus, you appreciate that bubble bath/Costa much more if you buy as a treat. CC1: £1000 £826
CC2: £4500 £4195
Wedding Loan: £6200 £5443
Car Loan: £10000 £5066
Very: £200 £50
Total: £21900 £155800 -
A diary it is then!!!
Thank you
I am also going to write a list before I go shopping, and not buy anything that is not on that list...roughly work out how much it will be...and then leave my card in the car and take the cash 0 -
Keeping a diary has helped me so much!
After week one, I had a read through it and when I realised i was spending £25 a week in Starbucks and £30 in Boots, I was honestly mortified that I was being so irresponsible.
Luckily, I dont even feel the need to spend my money there now that I've seen it in black and white!0 -
A diary it is then!!!
Thank you
I am also going to write a list before I go shopping, and not buy anything that is not on that list...roughly work out how much it will be...and then leave my card in the car and take the cash
If it's food shopping, i've found ordering online helps massively. When i go into Tesco i grab everything on offer and think about filling my face with cake... online the night before, at home, i think what we realistically need, and can see it totting up. Also have a delivery saver plan as i order every week, so £15 for a year ( i got a discount for renewing)... seems wasted money, but i would spend more than that in petrol... then you can get the odd bubble bath treat along with your shopping (:0 -
I agree about keeping a spending diary. It is one of the most useful things you can do. I would also recommend you don't go anywhere near any shops unless you really have to. I do my grocery shopping online and don't even go into town at all some weeks. Boots has always been tempting for me so I just go once a month and buy the toiletries I need. I think a lot of people with spending problems will say they will curb their spending, but will still spend their lunch break or weekend wandering around the shops as a leisure activity almost. You need to find alternative sources of entertainment.0
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