Nervous of my own challenge - reduce or stop spending!

BOGOF_Queen

"My main problem is that I can’t seem to stop spending! It’s alnost like an addiction."

I know it can be difficult, but try to buy something only when something needs replacing such as clothes and shoes. With grocery shopping, I do not do a weekly shop any more, instead I walk to the supermarket each lunchtime and buy only what I need. As it has to be carried, I cannot buy too much stuff in one go and I make sure that I stick to what is on my list. Also, the walk there and back is quite good exercise - I clock up quite a few miles over the course of a week and saves on gym fees. Also keeps me out of the clothes shops in my lunch hour - another way to stop spending.

I keep spreadsheets of income and expense for each month so I know what I have left over once I have put money away for things like car service/tax etc and direct debits have been taken . Put a bit into my online savings account and then what is left (not usually much!) I can spend as I wish. In fact, I would rather see a bit left at the end of the month instead of frittering it away on things I don't really need - really got the savings bug now.

At the weekend, I try not to go near any shops if at all possible - find plenty to occupy my time at home what with looking after the garden (grow my own veggies and save quite a bit that way) and other hobbies I have. I spend time at the weekend making my own bread and cooking from scratch so that I can freeze stuff for quick weekday dinners. So I don't buy any ready meals at all and know exactly what is in the food I eat. Reckon I only go to the shops (live about 25 miles from the nearest shopping centre) about 3 or 4 times a year now - with petrol prices the way they are, makes me think twice about going shopping as a leisure activity. I wait until I need to get quite a few things before I make a trip to town and get all those things in one go - again just buy the things on my list. I tend to get quite a few bits from ebay - brand new Monsoon clothes for a few quid! Also face creams - named brands for under half the price in the shops - keep a constant lookout so I don't run out of the brand I use. Started to use Quidco when I do buy something - ie flowers for MIL birthday last week - got 10% back on those.

Hope some of this helps you - good luck with your money saving - this site has helped me no end!

mineallmine

Hi lizzyshep, You've already achieved a lot in realising things need to change. Motivation is a tricky thing as different things drive us. For me, debt of around £20k became unbearable for us. I then began a project of throwing everything I had to clear it. We'd collect coppers and loose change and pay it. At first everything had to add up to units of £1s or whatever, but in the end if I have £1.50 (or whatever) I paid it and looked the other way if any bank staff huffed!

There are loads of challenges (thanks for the person with the link to them). I currently do the toiletry challenge as this was (and remains) a challenge for me. The only way going forward is to taken action - so what one thing can you do today? Sometimes it's baby steps, not everything has to be huge.
I used to haunt around certain shops and always find something to buy which I just didnt need. You need to find other things to do, or start restricting your time in these shops (gradually cutting down your temptation). Or cold turkey it! A programme called Spendaholics made people go cold turkey. So say if they spent £200 a week on stuff (other than food and essentials) they would given them only £30 or something for the week.

There's also a thread called something like - What deft free things have you done today - that may be useful for daily inspiration. :A

Butterfly_Brain

At least you have woken up to the fact that money is a precious commodity these days; and that instead of spending you should be tightening your belt.
If you love books CDs and DVDs why not join the library - it will save not only money but it will keep the house clear of clutter - because houses in this country are small (and getting smaller!)
Start a penny jar - put all your loose change in a jar at the end of the day and you will be surprised at how much mounts up - the added bonus is if it is in loose change you are less inclined to spend it.
Make a list of everything that you have in the freezers and cupboards then see how many meals that you can make - if you need to buy anything make a list and keep to it. Only take cash when you go shopping and leave your cards at home that way you will see just how much you have in your purse and won't be inclined to overspend.
I wish you luck and hope that you keep us posted on your progress x

greenbee

Seeing as lent has just started, how about using that as a way to kick-start your new habits?

Resolve to run down your freezers and storecupboards between now and Easter, when you can give them a really good spring-clean.

Resolve to use all those longed-for kitchen gadgets during this time, and if they turn out not to be worth the effort, ebay them and put the money you've recouped into a savings account.

Sort through your clothes & shoes and ebay or charity shop the ones you don't need/won't wear, and give the rest some TLC, mending, cleaning etc and making them look their best so you don't feel the need to replace them.

Listen to all the CDs you already have - go through them and pull out the ones you haven't listened to for a while and as with the kitchen gadgets decide whether they go in the keep or ebay pile. And you know what to do with duplicates.

Avoid going to the shops - I mostly shop from a farm shop or the shops in my village. They have everything I need but not much that I don't, so my bills are much lower than if I head into town or go to a shopping centre or supermarket.

Invite friends over - share the benefits of your full cupboards and freezer, and get to spend some relaxed time with them listening to all those neglected CDs...

katieclampet

All the above is really good advice! One step at a time, and set yourself a goal, eg a fab holiday, then you have got something to aim for. Go and get some travel brochures, and start deciding where you want to go with all the money you have saved!

good luck, katiex

ps you will get lots of help, support and good advice & tips on here.:)

EC12345

flutterbyuk25 wrote: »

As other's have said once you get into it, moneysaving can be quite addictive!

I get real pleasure from using something up from the cupboards/freezer rather than having spent £15 on a takeaway! I also like the satisfaction of using something up, be that an old bottle of moisturiser that's been sitting there for a year or a free sachet of shampoo.

I found about 18months ago that I had a fair few bottles of shampoo and conditioner that I had been sent as free samples or had free with maagzine subscriptions. And then I won a big box of shampoo/conditioners in a competition. I decided not to buy any until I had used up this stash! It took me about 15months to do, and now I appreciate what my hair likes and doesn't like.

I find it easier to save money when I have a goal in mind. Be that goal a holiday, new outfit, day trip away, etc.

If I don't buy lunch at work (or I get a free one) I put £3 a day in a savings account - all online so easy to do! By taking in lunch I save myself money, use up leftovers, and I'm not tempted to buy stuff I see in the shops at lunchtime cos I don't go! I empty my purse at the end of each day, and put coppers and small change in a big jar, and try to put £1/day (or £2 coins) in a giant piggy bank it's really sad but I enjoy doing this!

I'm no angel, I do have days where I think sod this and buy lunch even though I've got a salad made ready. Or when I spend too much in the supermarket, but I make myself rein in my spending after that for awhile.

I could probably easily live out of my storecupboards/freezer for a good 2 months without the need to buy anything other than fresh veg/fruit!. But I do feel secure knowing that I have this food here to keep me going should I need it!

Little changes is the way to go, and day by day they will turn into bigger monseysaving lifetime habits!

HTH and good luck

x

What a brilliant post - sums up myself exactly. :T

mineallmine

katieclampet wrote: »

All the above is really good advice! One step at a time, and set yourself a goal, eg a fab holiday, then you have got something to aim for. Go and get some travel brochures, and start deciding where you want to go with all the money you have saved!

good luck, katiex ps you will get lots of help, support and good advice & tips on here.:)

Great post katieclampet, what a great idea. Mmm, think I may try that idea of brochures with some other savings goals, such as a TV, or other house projects. Thank you. :A

babyshoes

A little thing I do which helps, is to not let myself impulse buy anything over about £2. If it is something I want, I tell myself that I will go back for it. Then, if I remember it the next time I am in that shop and still think I want it, I buy it. Quite often, I forget it completely or decide I don't really need it, though it would be 'nice'...

Ironically, I also found that I spent a lot less money when I had a car, as I wouldn't go past a load of shops on my way to/from the bus stop. As my daily journey is quite short and the car was small and economical, it was actually cheaper to drive! Unfortunately, the car is now overdue an MOT and won't get through one so I am back on the bus until I can find a suitable cheap replacement!

The cash/card debate is a big one. Some people find they spend less if they carry cash only, others spend less carrying card only. It is up to you to try both and see what works for you! I find that carrying cash is a problem as it just evaporates! Unfortunately I need to do so as I am the one who gets milk & bread from the cornershop on a daily basis...

Ladyhawk

Defintely - cash is sooooo easy to spend! And the points that I saved on my credit card paid for my flights (£700) to my brothers wedding last year.

Fire_Fox

I go through phases of buying until my cupboards are groaning and then using everything up too! Freeze your cards in a block of ice or, better still, give them to your partner or family member and take a cash allowance in cash each week or each month. Go to the supermarket with no card, just the £40 cash you want to spend. I allow myself to buy a few bits from Amazon immediately after each payday but at no other time in the month. If you do online surveys you can get paid in Amazon vouchers and this means your treats are much cheaper.