Logic vs emotion

CAFCGirl

Have just had what i would term a lightbulb moment! It's not about the amount of debt I'm in.I already know that horrid little number!

It was mainly thinking about what I pay out on a regular basis. Now it may all be down to the fact that I'm a piscean. So obviously I think a LOT, and all the time! I'm a dreamer and live in a naive little world where I think everyone will eventually be lovely to everyone else, and I wear my heart on my sleeve.

So on this note I've noted that all of my purchases, aisde from my rent and bills, I buy everything with my heart and not my head. Hence why I am where I am I think.

Not only with my immediate purchases but I'm an emotional eater as well. Now I'm not overweight by any standard, but because of this whenever I go food shopping, I buy to eat, what will make me feel good emotionally, not good for my health!

Now I was wondering if there was anyone here who would say they've bought completely on logic, or if anyone else believes they are like me? And what they've done to counteract this part of their personality!

The one thing I have done since my dawning moment, is to put up a large piece of paper on my mirror in my bedroom so as I get ready for work what I see throughout this time is "Logic before emotion".
I've also attached this to the back of my front door, so its the last thing I see when I leave the house.Now I'm hoping that this will instill in me a better attitude for each and every day.

Emmzi

I find that my busts of emotional buying are always at the weekend, when I have too much free time and feel I need a 'reward' for the week gone by.

I'm very new here, so can't claim to be an expert, but I'm trying to stick to a budget, and I'm starting it on a Friday. I had a small (not all the budget) splurge today on fun things, which means food budget for the rest of the week is very tight - not helped by working away, so no cheap cooking for me!

I am going to try and force myself to live with consequences of splurge by having to live off evil canteen food. Hopefully over a few weeks of this the consequences of emotional buying will start to penetrate my thick skull! (i.e. cheese rolls for all eternity...

PaleScene

I'm an overthinker too and this usually helps me with spending as any potential purchase has to go through layers of justification - unless of course it slips under the radar, I will happily spend a lot of mini amounts which makes the supermarket a dangerzone for me.

Ali-OK

You are not alone...another idealist Piscean here who thinks too much!

I've had to change my mindset about money totally. It's taken since Nov to Feb to move from heart to head money making decisions. Reading Martin's book has really helped too.

I'm a softie, it's hard to be hard on myself. However, I am finding shopping exciting in a different way - it's in the challenge to spend less than the budget, trying new things out (like OS cleaning) and the small steps.

First one was the hardest...not using a CC in a month, but I don't even think about it 4 months on.

It's getting easier!

southernscouser

I'm not a believer in all that astronomy lark but if ot works for you then great!

Me, I bought things coz I "had" to have them! Don't think it matters when I was born! Still a bloody idiot! :rotfl:

nabowla

I'm definitely an emotional spender. I buy beautiful things for the home when I'm lonely or when I'm having a fat day. I buy far too much comfort food when I'm at work because I hate my job. I spend lots when I go out with friends because I want to be seen to have a successful career (I don't). I spend lots on presents because I want to be generous towards friends and relatives. I spend lots when I entertain at home because it doesn't happen that often and I want to make everyone feel welcome.

I think this might explain why I'm in debt

Funnily enough I'm gradually beginning to see how much more 'generous' I am compared to my friends. I always buy everyone birthday presents, one of my oldest friends only ever gives me a card. I always buy engagement or housewarming presents, none of my friends bother. My friends are always thrilled when they get presents but why should I always be the one that makes the effort? It's not just the presents - I'm always the one that picks up the pieces when friends are getting divorced or turns up early to help prepare for parties but there's rarely anyone around when I'm having a crisis (hence the comfort eating!).

Hmmm. Didn't realise that this moneysaving lark was going to provoke so much in-depth analysis of life, the universe and everything :rolleyes:

Kevicho

Dont get me started.

We live in a meterialistic would where earning vast amounts money is the goal people aspire to.
Why do so many people enter the lottery each week?

I think the world is a lonely place where people have such a void in there lives, where thay have no sense of purpose or belonging then they chase unobtainable dreams of a life they cant, and maybe shouldnt have.

I mean why buy lots of ornaments to make the house "look nice"?
Who are we trying to impress? Why do we feel the need to have lots of things?

Money is a tool, it can be good, it can also be evil, poor people slave there lives away to make ends meet while making there bosses and superiors richer.
Unfortunately this is the system we are born into and we vote for at every election.

Just look at the recent riots in france, under 26s have basically become a source of "cheap labour", no job security, they can be fired at any time (in there first two years) without reason, regardless of how hard they work.

Outsourcing to foreign countries is another cost cutting measure, wether these people can do the job or not is irrelevant, at the end of the day its for the benefit of the rich, not to provide us a better service.

Look at bank charges for instance, who are the people being charged late fees?
Thats right the poor, stuck in a trap of wanting the latest fashion while having no money we use credit (at extortianate rates) to obtain our desires, which is funny considering our savings only reach a third or much less rates.

The only way this will stop is if we ALL rise against the current systems.
Stop wasting money in macdonalds, HMV, Sky television, PC world and all the other main monopolies.

Use your local grocers and buy healthy food, support the little guy, no one else will, stop wasteing money on overpriced clothes, electronics, and all the other "possessions" you dont need from high street stores.

Watch local bands instead of going to arenas to watch the latest boy/girl band who you will pay 100s for in merchandise and tickets and then will hate 6 months later.

Most importantly

USE YOUR BRAIN! Think about these things

I for one say ENOUGH is ENOUGH!

Xbigman

I'm a piscean too and I never put any faith in astrology, but its a fact that 80% of us piscean's are emotional decision makers and that especially includes spending and eating. We are also great thinkers and planners but our emotions usually wreck all our plans. :rolleyes:
Regards




X

CAFCGirl

I was never one for thinking that my star sign had much to do with my life, maybe I just am the way I am.But then it all seems to fit, so I can kinda blame it on my birthday.If only I was born a month later, I would be a formidable force!

It's good to know its not just me that recognises it about myself. I just couldn't accept an answer of "I just spend too much".
There's always something much more sinister at work! I sometimes feel I buy through guilt as well, like getting caught by the people in the high street who want you to sign up for DD per month for charity.They must see a sucker like me coming a mile off! Thankfully have cancelled all those now.(It was only 2, my guilt only goes so deep!)

So whats the long term solution? From a piscean p.o.v, get happier, don't think you're alone all the time, the world cannot be saved by me alone so why take the weight of the world, dont fall for the age old tricks of marketing and guilt, those shoes will not make me a better person (I'm pretty good as I am).

Yes pretty things are nice to look at, but you can't take them with you when you're gone, however debt lingers for ever!Do I want my loved one's saddle with my ill made choices. (Thats a bit morbid there so moving on quickly!)

I was just wondering if there was any correlation between those who are more likely to fall victim to debt based on star signs. OK it might be a load of phooey but it's a thought?

CarolinaChiquita

CAFCGirl wrote:

The one thing I have done since my dawning moment, is to put up a large piece of paper on my mirror in my bedroom so as I get ready for work what I see throughout this time is "Logic before emotion".
I've also attached this to the back of my front door, so its the last thing I see when I leave the house.Now I'm hoping that this will instill in me a better attitude for each and every day.

I think you are me in disguise :rotfl: I'm also a very typical pisces... I buy with my heart and not my head, I buy stuff when I feel down as it gives me that "spending buzz" making me happy! I'm the same with food ... An emotional eater (and shopper!)

K9cuddles

I'm an aquarian, so kinda near!!! I agree I overthink and I've ONLY just realised that I have comfort eatten for the last 7 years!!!! I find it very hard to define what you do and why!!!! Hence the money situation I guess!!!

But now if I want to buy something I have to have atleast 24 hours to decide.. if I've forgotten about it next day I really didn't need or want it!!! I was an emotional shopper and I'm getting used to dealing with that!!! I'm slowly getting there with the food too!