Need to stop spending so much - Help please!

npsmama

I never ever buy new clothes or shoes (always charity shops), books and DVDs are borrowed from the library but my down fall is groceries (I'm a foodie) and...paypal/Ebay.

The grocery bit I think I can tackle by joining the monthly challenges here.

My biggest issue is Ebay and paypal. I would close my Paypal account except I have quite a lot of stuff I want to sell and I'm under the impression you get less bidders if you say cheques only.
I've tried to say to myslef that I can only buy from Paypal if I have paypal funds but then a "bargain" comes along or I bid on something I shouldn't and win it - very stupid of me!

Can anyone suggest anything?

I'm a SAHM so we just have the one income and we can't afford to go on like this!

homersimpson_3

find other things to occupy your time rather than bidding on things- college course, parent & baby club etc- or play a game called 'find it cheaper in the shop rather than e bay'- you'll be so busy you'll probaly not care less in the end or have insufficient time to look for/buy so called 'bargains'. if you don't need it & only want it, it's not a bargain but an unecessary expense. put money you saved in bank and buy something you really do need (or preferably leave it in bank)

maryb

get a family member to open a paypal account to receive your proceeds and don't let them give you access to it. may need to register separately on ebay as well. Then close your account.

put the mouse down and move away slowly. Keep your hands in the air.....

Chipps

The only way you can find out if there's a bargain price on anything on ebay is if you actually go on the ebay site and look! Or if you have set up any favourite searches.
How about putting a note on top of your computer reminding you not to browse on ebay - maybe charging yourself £1 to browse, or some other penalty - and make sure you cancel any searches that will send you emails and tempt you to look. Make sure all emails from ebay go into a separate folder, so you are not faced with them every time you read your mail.
My ebay emails go into a folder marked "seasonal" - so not obvious it is ebay. (the name originated when I wanted to hide Christmas present invoices from DS - if they just went into the inbox he couldn't help seeing them, and he doesn't look through any other folders except his own)

npsmama

Those are great ideas!
I'm going to close my paypal account -now - and get DH to set one up so we can still sell stuff.

Off to close my paypal...back in a few minutes.

npsmama

Grrr!!
Won't allow me to close it as it still needs to transfer funds from my bank account...don't know why as I haven't anything outstanding.

I was so looking forward to closing it!

janeawej

just remember if you dont need it its not a bargain!

Good luck!!

calleyw

There is normally more to overspending then just over spending for the sake of it.

Are you bored or pulling in the belt too much can make you go off the rails.

Even though I am now in work and earning I still collect my points everyday towards cheques and amazon vouchers so that I can get goodies for free.

I have just ordered £20 worth of DVD's from Amazon cost to me. Nothing apart from my time to earn the vouchers in the first place.

If you pm I will give you some cashback websites links.

I love getting my DVD's/Cd's etc for free gives am a thrill. Sad I know.

Maybe you need to set yourself a limit say a £XX a month which is just me money. You can spend it anyway you want.

Yours


Calley

jcr16

why don't u keep the paypal account but get your other half to change the password and not tell u, then that way u can recive money for items sold. but u can't buy anything with it. as u need the password.

hope this helps.

jellycat40

I have a similar problem to you with the grocery. I spend far too much. My kids like to have the food they like and as they are grown up and contributing to the household I have to take their wishes into consideration. OH and I like to have nice food and we are slimming world members so lots of fruit and veg which is pricey. We can get through 3 packs of strawberries a day!

I probably spend about £550 a month at the supermarket. 6 of us - 5 adults. No pies, no ready meals, no sweets, no junk, no organic and no alcohol.

Louise

Wingman

npsmama wrote:

Grrr!!
Won't allow me to close it as it still needs to transfer funds from my bank account...don't know why as I haven't anything outstanding.

I was so looking forward to closing it!

You don't need to close it, get your OH To change the password and don't tell you what it is:p