Reformed shopaholic? please can you give me the benefit of your advice

CompletelyLost

I have different categories like -

toiletries/makeup
clothes/accessories
food
necessities (ebay postage, bus fares, etc)
miscellaneous

I just write next to the item if I returned it. I do my diary in a spreadsheet so it adds itself up

My returns were in the £1000s
And yeah, when I think that £600 is just the money that I wasted... I spent one hell of a lot more, probably over £3000. If I had a family that would be acceptable, but it's really just stuff for myself! I'm sure I could trim that figure down by buying cheaper alternatives.

Oh, and i'm the same as you about buying more expensive items. My computer desk is 15 years old (!!!) and the keyboard shelf has been broken off for months, but I still haven't bought a new one. I've been thinking about buying a treadmill for ages now, too, but never got around to it. Yet £600 could've bought me both of those things

Anglea

Hi Ladies

Inspired by CL, I'm in the process of doing my totals about to watch Eastenders now and will carry on afterwards. I will be back at some stage with the results. Of course it will be nothing like CL's (say's she smugly )

Frogletina

Hi Anglea and everyone - Happy New Year

I spent New Year's Eve sorting out a new budget

There is so much food in the house I am giving myself a limit of £5 a day to spend on food/household items and £3 a day on personal spending and at the end of the day anything left is going into a savings pot and not going back into the budget

Over the last 4 months I have spent £1167.21 on food and £597.26 on personal spending which I feel is too much

Today was a NSD so £8 has gone into savings. :j

Fortunately I don't have any dental appointments or large expenditures this month or it wouldn't be feasible. I don't have a car and have a bus pass each month which is a DD, not in my personal spending budget, but I might need an occasional taxi on a night out, which would take me way over budget

Think I will add more to my travel budget (part of it is separate anyway to personal spending) - costs me 4.85 one way to travel to see my son (I get a lift back home) and I'm not cutting that out for a month!

Anglea

Hi all

Frogletina you seem to be very organised with your finances to know the exact amounts.

There is no way I can finish my totals tonight because I'm feeling really tired (done some excercising) completely forgetting that I went for a very long walk this afternoon and didn't want to overdo things.

However I have made a start so that is something.

I also need to remember to start listing this year's purchases, I bought an expensive magazine today and a few other bits.

Now back to the posts -

NG - so Deman might be one of many? I totally empathise with buying the wrong stuff and avoiding getting what you really need. I make up all sorts of excuses for getting furniture, and get books instead!

CL -I can understand buying clothes that aren't worn, food, and bits and bobs, but toiletries you don't need? It seems to be a very common occupation on MSE. Is that because you already have loads?

I won't have accurate amounts like you because I only put down items with receipts, so a lot of things will be missed out e.g. eating out, trips out, cheap shops. Or if DS went shopping for me.

What I think will complicate my figures is getting cashback in the supermarkets. I'm just going to add that up and leave it as that because I've no idea if I spent it anywhere or not.

CompletelyLost

Hi Frogletina,

you seem to be as precise as me when it comes to recording your spends. I think the personal allowance is a good idea. I'd probably end up spending the whole £90/month in one go though.

Anglea: by unnecessary toiletries, I mean things like perfumes when I have several unused. Shampoos when I have 15+ bottles that I've probably only used once & then slung to the side. Eyeshadows, mascaras, nail polishes... not really necessary as I already have several of each item, I just want to try the newest formulation. My aim is to completely run out of an item before I buy anymore.

I'll be looking forward to seeing your totals I bet you put me to shame :S I have a section in my spreadsheet for cashback/vouchers used, so it deducts the amount automatically.

NGlady2

He certainly isnt one of many at the moment, I just find it wierd to say hes the one - maybe ive searched for him that long, i dunno Im only young so we shall see

Frogletina
that is very organised of you - i hope to be as organised as you

I never get cash back from the supermarket, I always forget i had it and it comes up with a fortune at asda when I only brought a couple of bits so i prefer to go to an actual cash point. CL - the number of unneccessary lipglosses ive brought, oh dear!! I have a big tray full, i wouldnt have a clue which ones i've got i occasionally find one i love and use it several times then it goes back to the vortex.

I like your idea frogletina of having X per day for things then popping it in a savings box if you dont spend it that day. May attempt to try something like this, have a budget of X a day and then when not spent I get an higher budget at wkened or something.

Anglea

Hi all

I see what you mean about all those toiletries CL. I don't have room in my bathroom to do anything similar.

Frogletina

Anglea wrote: »

Frogletina you seem to be very organised with your finances to know the exact amounts.

I won't have accurate amounts like you because I only put down items with receipts, so a lot of things will be missed out e.g. eating out, trips out, cheap shops.


I've always budgeted and have nearly always recorded what I have spent. It's a way of life for me, but just recording it doesn't mean I don't go over budget. This Christmas I spent a lot more on food and personal things (including presents) than I had coming in so had to rely on savings for the balance.

So this year I am budgeting for Christmas/birthday presents separately so it is not such a shock

Frogletina

CompletelyLost wrote: »

Hi Frogletina,

you seem to be as precise as me when it comes to recording your spends. I think the personal allowance is a good idea. I'd probably end up spending the whole £90/month in one go though.

Well, I have only just recently started taking out a small sum with me when I go out to the local shop. This stops me buying too much when all I want is a few bits of veg or milk.

Also if I get a £2 coin in my change, I'll take it home as I am doing the £2 coin challenge and I won't want to spend it

£3 daily personal spend on a night out is more of a challenge - but I often don't spend much more, as I rarely drink alcohol and it buys me a couple of soft drinks. How crazy is it that I bought 12 diet cokes for 1.97 on offer recently and yet I can pay between £1.50 and £2 in a bar for one!

Anglea

Hi all

I couldn't sleep last night as I was thinking about doing my totals and got up very early and carried on with them. Must have got into a muddle because because several of the figures keep coming out different I still haven't finished because Nov/Dec receipts are not written up.

What I immediately noticed is that my personal spends (clothes, books, mags, etc) are miles lower than I thought they would be. I do remember setting myself a number of challenges on this thread to eliminate buying things especially books, so this must be the reason.
Although not writing everything down in the first place is contributing.

I know that before I came across this thread (thanks Salesaddict :T) I could have gone into competition with most of you :rotfl:but after joining I dramatically cut down.

Frogletina thanks for your explanations of the way you go about things in relation to finances.