Someone please give me a good talking to .....

chloe99_2

How do you all stick to old style frugal spending as I really need to but can't seem to stop spending on the small stuff that i tell myself I really need (when most of it i probably don't NEED). I can manage for maybe a week but have never had the will power to stop buying non-budgeted things for a whole month even.

How do you stick to it? Is that what grocery target is for?

THank you all.

SAP_Saver

It is not easy but there are many ways.
Try working out how much you can afford to spend and take this money out the bank at the start of each week in cash and try to spend ONLY that! try not to use the plastic.... It worked for me and I realised I really needed to sort myslef out after I did a monthly budget and found I only had enough cash for £4.80 for my weekly food shop!! thats what they call a light bulb moment I think...

Tallymanjohn

When you go out, don't take any 'just in case' cash & definitely no cards.

chloe99_2

ahhhhh - just in case cash and definitely just in case cards - i always take them with me AND i have never tried cash only for a month - that'd put a stop to the good old internet bargain hunting - thank you both

nidje

I find by not having cash on me I'm not tempted by the glossy magazine, bag of sweets, lipstick .... the little things that mount up over the course of a month.
Planning helps to. Work out a menu at the start of a week and buy the food for the menu and stick to it.
It's not easy but with a bit of determination you'll get there

Punky

I've started to use the Alvin Hall method (sorry to mention another moneysaving guru but he and Martin are both great at what they do). I have a book that I write down all my expenditure in and keep receipts - I was shocked at how much I was treating myself and now really question if I NEED it rather than WANT it. In a short time I was spending much less on myself. I also find using cash rather than card means I think about what I'm buying more.

dumpy

I don't browse around the supermarket any more.

I have a list and I buy what is on the list and no more. I know from my menu plan that if I buy all that is on the list I WILL have enough food to feed us for a week. Even if something gorgeous is on special offer I don't buy it because we will survive without it.

I do this once a week, I have milk delivered but occassionally have to top up with a pint from the local shop and again I don't browse.

So if you're in a supermarket and some nutter charges past with a list, looking neither to left or right it'll be me!

I suppose the question to ask when you look at something is "Do I NEED this or do I simply WANT it?" If it's the latter I don't buy.

justin138

My goodness, I'm SO lucky! I never ever go shopping at all, so don't get tempted. I leave it all to Justin, and God help him if he overspends

Jo

SAP_Saver

I must point out never to take this MS too far not treating your self every now and then can turn you into Gillian McKeith - and she is so depressingly withdrawn she is pure UGLY..!!

tawnyowls

Yes, you can take it too far! The odd treat now and again is OK.
My tips:
Don't do any grocery shopping more than once a week - the more often you go, the more opportunities there are for temptation. I find the filtered milk (Cravendale or own brand) lasts much longer than normal milk, so don't need to go for that, and bread can be put in freezer - anything else should last at least a week.
Old cliche, but it's true - don't shop when you're hungry!
Stick to your list.
Go to the far end of the shop and work backwards - shops are laid out so that as your eye goes from right to left and stays about eye level, you spot all the expensive stuff first.

Blairweech

Work some 'fun money' into the budget - money that's just for you, your treat. A lovely cup of hot chocolate with a book (from the library of course)at a nice cafe, a new lipstick etc...that way you won't feel deprived but your still getting what you want, when you can afford it. Makes all the extra hard work worthwhile if you can look forward to a treat.