Nervous of my own challenge - reduce or stop spending!

anguk

One of the problems I have is I keep reading on here about some gadget or cookbook and think I must have that!

So what I did was start a list of "must haves" in Notepad and instead of buying something as soon as I read about it I write it down. If I find one of those "must haves" really cheap and I've saved the money I'll buy it and cross it off the list, but I find that I often cross things off after a while because they're just impulse "must haves" and I no longer want them.

I also do something similar with Amazon, whenever I read about a new book I must have I'll stick it on my wishlist, then keep a watch on Ebay to see if I can get it cheaper.

valk_scot

When I feel like that I have a little trip to one of the areas in town that has a lot of charity shops, give myself a budget of £5 or £10 and go for a wander round. Or find a jumble sale. Half the time I don't buy anything, but it's nice to look and feel that I can. Unfortunately sometimes while doing this you come across some total must have bargain and spend more than a fiver but it's a Must Have, after all!

Disflop

Have managed to curb the Amazon habit for books by keeping a notebook by pc - when I see a book (or 4) I simply MUST have I make a note of it then reserve it at the library. Spending 60p for reserving them has saved me a small fortune in the last 8 months or so - and its amazing how sometimes when my turn comes around I have already forgotten I was so desperate to own it!!

pepsimax62

I bought a brown fluffy rug to go by the fireplace earlier today although it only cost £14 and looks lovely I am actually feeling a bit guilty.Mind you the dog likes it he went straight to lie on it,grrr.A few years ago I'd have handed over the credit card for a £100 rug and thought nothing of it but handing over actual cash for things is really hard.;)

larmy16

pepsimax62 wrote: »

I bought a brown fluffy rug to go by the fireplace earlier today although it only cost £14 and looks lovely I am actually feeling a bit guilty.Mind you the dog likes it he went straight to lie on it,grrr.A few years ago I'd have handed over the credit card for a £100 rug and thought nothing of it but handing over actual cash for things is really hard.;)

If you really love something and use it, then in my opinion it's not a waste of money so I don't think you should feel guilty.

Taadaa

I get the urge to splurge about every six months or so, and when I get it, I end up spending hundreds of pounds that I don't have. At the moment I want some new clothes, so have been looking on e bay for bargains, and when I can motivate myself I will sew myself a few bits. Much cheaper!

BitterAndTwisted

I also get the urge to splurge and have this mad idea that I actually deserve a treat of some sort after all the economising and doing without.

One solution, as already mentioned is to write "must-haves" down on a piece of paper. Once I've read that list a few times they often get relegated to "luxuries I can most definitely live without". Often I go off and bake myself something nice instead but the real key for me is to stay the heck out of shops and not read any magazines.

I get my real buzz from trawling charity-shops in some of the much more posh neighborhoods to where I live when I find something lovely and/or useful which I definitely couldn't afford new. I've turned into my Granny somehow without even noticing.

scottiedog

I have been very frugal for the past 18 months (throwing everything at the mortgage). To be honest I am really enjoying it - I have reduced, recycled and reused just about everything. Every now and again I feel like I want to spend, spend and then spend some more - so I will tell you what I do. I log onto the internet, I log onto a catalogue website - and I buy,buy and then buy some more -when I am happy i've selected everthing that I WANT - I leave everthing in the virtual basket - go and make a cup of tea - walk out into the garden- have a walk around (weather permitting) look at everthing that is growing from the tiny snowdrops to the buds forming on the trees, I look at the birds on the feeders - I breathe the fresh air - I finish my tea and return to my virtual shopping basket -and I delete the lot.
So let's count our blessings for all that we've got - and not bother to much about what we have not.
Scottiedog

Justamum

I sometimes get a strange urge coming over me to spend. Unfortunately there isn't anything to spend!

I did occasionally treat myself to some chocolate -Fry's chocolate cream or a Ritter mint as they were both vegan. I don't do that any more as I found that I'd gone off chocolate once I became vegan (I just don't like dark chocolate)

I'd love to be able to go mad in a clothes shop as I desperately do need more clothes. On the odd occasion I have been given money to spend on myself I have found myself completely overwhelmed by the choice on offer - and spend it on things for the children instead :rotfl:. I get feelings of panic when faced with adult clothes.

A few years ago I got a Sunday job and felt so pleased I just had to go and buy something - so I popped into Woolworths and bought a plastic container for 99p :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I did go made the other day and ordered a set of Antonia Fraser books from the Book People - but I used my passport points and only paid for the postage, so I don't feel too guilty . I have to say books are my one weakness.

Trinny

I think everyone gets the urge to splurge. I am new to the NSD challenge, and so far have not managed 6 NSD's for February:o
We are doing ok, no major debt apart from mortgage, but i am shocked at the amount of money that fritters away. Eg OH buys a bottle of lucozade each time he fills the car with petrol, i take lunch to work but pop into the bakery for a "treat" costing less than £1 but it all adds up.

For us - its not the big spends, its the small amounts going out daily. Didnt realise how bad i am at it, until i tried NSD as a new years resolution.

For us - its a case of learning not to waste money on starbucks etc. And remembering that popping into Aldi with a shopping list of items, is not an excuse for OH to raid the special offers instore.

Trin