Nervous of my own challenge - reduce or stop spending!

larmy16

I allow myself £10 per week maximum to spend as I please. I see it as my present to myself for working so hard. I tend to use it to buy bits and bobs from the charity shop. It could be an item of clothing or something for the house.

For example this week I bought a brand new laundry basket and a lovely imitation plant for £4.00.

I have a rule though, that for every item that comes in, one goes back to the charity shop, so this week two will have to go back. It keeps my home fresh and updated with new stuff and helps the charity.

Some weeks though I don't find anything I want, and then the money goes into the Sealed Pot challenge or it goes towards getting my hair cut.

Good luck.

LilacLillie

Almost the end of the month...........where did it go?

I'm doing much better than I could have ever imagined, even if I say so myself

Saturday...................NSD, was due to look after dgs1 but he was unwell with the tummy bug doing rounds, so didn't come.

Friend wanted me to teach her crochet, which meant I needed to pop out for a ball of yarn. I got a migraine laid down for a rest and woke at 5.30, to late for shop

Sunday..............Went over to friend for late lunch and stayed till about 8.30. Took wine already in the house and a cake. NSD again :j

Monday.......................... Went to funeral of great aunt
Very sad, but had a great time after at the wake, catching up with family members and the next generation of them :rotfl:
We all decided to throw a big party later this year, so the occasion will be a happier one than yesterday.
Last time we did this about 3 yrs ago, there was about 200 of us :eek:
It takes a lot of organising!
Spent 40p on water, forgot to take my bottle of tap in the car.
The flowers I am not going to count towards my spend for the month because my aunt dying wasn't part of my folly

Tuesday..................... Accupuncture appointment today (free) lasted 2 hrs and I feel great. Had the burning things and cupping/needles.

After last week session I have slept straight through the night 4 times.
I haven't been able to do that for almost 10yrs!

Came out starving and bought a croissant for 80p, pears 30p and carotts 30p in Morrisons. Waited till I got home for the coffee to go with croissant :A

5 Days left, including the meet up on Saturday at the war museum.

I CAN do it :j I almost have.............yeah!!!

LL

foxgloves

I've frittered loads of money away in the past, but since 'seeing the light' re budgeting, my mantra is that no amount of tat that I buy is going to make me as happy as debt-free feels. Works every time. Not spending is my new addiction.

lizzyshep

Thanks for your comments, they really do help me to stay motivated

Another NSD today, leaving the cash and cards at home is really helping. £3 in my pot now, to spend at the end of March as I wish! :T

Disflop

Most of the time I live my careful, thrifty life feeling very happy and content with my lot. Then, out of the blue I suddenly start to feel restless and want to dash off and spend money we simply do not have on 'stuff' we really do not need! Mostly I can talk myself round and get involved in something crafty or go to the library for an hour etc, but just sometimes this nagging feeling wont go away!

Is it just me or does anyone else get like this? We have no debts and are lucky enough to have a reasonably comfortable life - providing I dont give in to these irrational urges. So please can anyone offer some advice on how to stay on the straight and narrow - or is it just me after all!

LabLover

I get like that from time to time where I think that buying a coffee table really will make me feel better and I try and justify it by thinking maybe I could sell something to pay for half and I do work hard etc. But then I log on here and I get engrossed in reading all the things you can do with scraps of chicken or what you can make with old fabric etc and I feel alot more positive. It is annoying tho because we all know someone who appears to have it all , has the money to go out every weekend for meals and drinks and buys all the latest clothes and computers and youre sat figuring out how many meals you can cook with one roast chicken but you never know what goes on behind closed doors. Last week when I was feeling a bit low I bought some really fancy bubble bath rolled back to £1 in asda and a good book reduced to £1 and it actually felt like a real treat having a nice hot bubbly bath and reading a really good book. :T I guess maybe over time you learn to appreciate the smaller things in life

sunflower76

I used to but in the past 6 months or so I've gone the other way and now I hardly ever spend on new things. I needed new bathroom furniture and have waited and got a freecycled chest of drawers and I'm waiting for a cabinet to appear.

I ordered lounge furniture on boxing day from Next but felt a lottle guilty about it so have swapped some furniture with my mum instead.

I could spend the money if I wanted to but enjoy being frugal and having some money tucked by but I do get worried I'm getting too frugal sometimes. I tell myself that it's because I'm environmentally aware rather than tightm, which is true - I'd much rather re-use than buy new and I enjoy chaning somehtings purpose through crafts etc.

Purpleclutterbuck

Mmmmm... sometimes that's exactly how I feel and I find that trawling a couple of charity shops and giving into the odd treat is the only way that this feeling will go away - it only happens when the money situation seems to be really bad and there is some "irrational urge" devil :eek: just waiting to take over ! I have to keep checking the forum to keep a reasonable hold on the little blighter - but it only seems to be when times are hard and I know full well that I don't need any more stuff/groceries etc!
It's not just you by any means and over time everything regarding possessions/keeping up with the Jones's/spending sprees takes on a different perpective when you can keep coming down to earth (and not with a bump but more of a gentle glide) with the suggestions on here
Maybe you have just started the "Keep me on the straight and narrow please! ideas thread". - nice to know that I'm not the only one -many thanks!

PollyFlinders_3

I feel this way every week when I look down in the supermarket trolley and wonder why on earth I'm buying so much stuff when I have a full freezer and full food cupboard. My other weakness is crafty stuff - I could spend all year using the stuff I "had to" have, and probably not run out. I try to reduce my trips to the shops to try and manage the urges but it doesn't always work!

keys_2

Yes I am the same sometimes , but I try and focus on maybe a small treat but I make suree I spend plenty of time looking for the best bargain .
For example I will look for a kitchen table and search on Ebay for a few days , charity shops , freecycle , and other cheaper internet sites .
By this time I eithe rhave my eyes set on a real bargain I have seen on teh correct item or I get bored of looking at the same item and give up { then saves me the money }

For quick fixes when i have no money I try to save my vouchers up and spend these instead or i browse car boots , jumble sales and charity shops for bargains and only spend a few pounds , but I stil lfeel better for it .

Another idea I try to keep in mind as I am definatelty a Shop Alcoholic my by own admission and everyone who knows me says the same . Is when I get the real urge I look for birthday presents / xmas presents I know I will use in the future , whilst im getting theshopping urge , because at least then you know you have spent your money on something that is needed