How do you NOT spend?

Miffi_2

I don't seem to have been born with much (if any) will power. I know I'm in debt, I know I can't afford to spend, but I do...some how I must rationalise it to myself at the time but not sure how.

Do you think I should just do what they do on spendaholics and try cold turkey. Leave my cards etc at home and try to get through the week in almost zilch? I don't think I've left myself in much choice - I don't feel I'm getting anywhere and it is because I get so tempted.

Thinking about my week ahead, I need petrol tomorrow :mad: , pay dentist on Wednesday :mad: - but that should be it. This will mean thought that I need money on me.....balls....

Dan2779

I struggle with my will power loads too!!!

I have learnt to walk away when I have seen something I want (Clothes/ handbags etc..) and leave it for at least 1 day so I can give it some serious thought, 9/10 times I dont go back the next day to get it and the things I do go back for.. I dont feel guilty about and are generally good purchases

Most of the things I buy on impulse.. I end up not using / wearing more than once

Hope this helps!!!

nearlyrich

You have to know how much money you can spend on "stuff", it might help you to take out your fun money in cash and keep a spending diary.

elantan

i wish you all the best in succeeding with this one if you manage it please let me know the secret i'm totally useless when it comes to will power hence the reason i'm more than 16k in debt....

Snaggles

I'm a bit 'all or nothing' so I find the cold turkey treatment works for me. But I can't keep it up all the time, so I alternate weeks of getting by on nothing, and weeks of allowing small treats. It seems to work for me as I know that I've only got a maximum of a week to wait before I can spend some money (although even then I try and stick to cheap treats - a new lipstick, a bar of Green and Blacks chocolate, or before I got pregnant, a bottle of rose wine!).

I know that if I totally deprived myself I would be off the wagon within days so I try to be realistic. I also write down what I have spent on 'stuff' because it's easy to deceive yourself and think 'I've hardly spent anything this month' when actually, the little things have added up to £200!!

Bambywamby

Only take the cash you need with you.

Anastacia

Are you my husband??

Seriously, I take lunch with me, avoid the shops & only take minimal cash. You really just need to make new habits.

Good luck

lynzpower

Ive got into the swing of this thought process - say somethings a fiver. that is the same as the min payment on my b/card. I convince myself to spend the fiver on the b/card instead, and transfer the money if it is legiimately spare. Which it isnt, as im in debt lol

dudleyboy

Hi Miffi, I'm afraid to say that if you don't get your will power under control then you'll never be debt free. Everyone here can provide encouragement, suggestions and advice, but if you switch the computer off, walk down the high street and forget/ignore everything you've learned then you really do only have yourself to blame. I do know what you mean, it can be hard to begin with but it has to be done otherwise you'll be in debt for the rest of your life.

You're fortunate that your debt isn't that huge (although I don't know what your comparative income is) and could be paid off in 18 months with installments of about £230 pcm.

I think the key is to stop going into the places where you're likely to want to spend, to stop taking out your credit cards and to stop spending more than you know you can clear in a month.

Things like food, petrol and dentist appointments are a necessity. Shoes, handbags and magazines are not. If you're into the 2nd week of the month and already finding it hard to make ends meet then I think you should revisit your SOA again.

It's one thing to admit you have a problem, it's another to do absolutely nothing about it.

In light of Martin's announcement I just want to highlight i'm not having a go. I'm just saying it like it is.

CAFCGirl

lol @ Lynz.

Got to admit I'm like most other posters, I've just calculated that I've spent £202 on non essential items so far this month.

That would have been almost one complete debt for me. Thats when I kick myself for being so stupid!

I've now cut up all my credit cards and store cards. Have the numbers so I can pay amounts off but thats it!

I've also just set up another current acc, that I'm going to set up a transfer to from my main account to give me my spends money. £75 a month should be enough for anything and everything. Then I'm going to adorn my current account card (where the wages go) with a permanent marker pen drawing of the New York skyline, so when I feel tempted, I'll think of how much longer it'll take for New York to be real!

Plus I wont be keeping it in my purse. So i'll have the spends money and nothing else. When its spent, its spent!

Miffi_2

Thanks everyone, I've decided my plan of action:

* Start a Miffi Spending Diary Thread on here so I can keep track of what I'm doing and others can see where I am...

* Going to try and go cold turkey - I'm going to be as strict as I can and help myself by taking minimal with me - so in theory this week I should only spend on the dentist and petrol

* Continue taking my packed lunch into work every day

* If I need to buy any 'essentials' (ie shampoo, tampons, deodrant etc) then do it in the weekly shop when my husband will be there to supervise and he will know whether it is actually essential!

Brain's too tired to think about much more, so will post my new thread tomorrow and hopefully prove to myself that I do have self control!