Shopaholic tips please

Mischa8

themull1 wrote: »

Only buy something that you can take back the next day for a full refund. And see if your Library has the shopaholic books!!!

that's a really good idea - not only about the refunds but also the library! Thanks!

Mischa8

Hannah_10 wrote: »

I think you mean psychological?

You know what is sad though?! they had Denim Days (£10 off jeans) in H&M last week and my best pair of jeans ever I got there!

why if life so cruel?! If I hated them I'd feel better!

tellmeitsfriday

Hi,

While you're weaning yourself off these purchases, why don't you stop taking your debit/credit card to work. I reckon I have saved thousands by only having £2 or £3 in my purse rather than my cards.

I was an ebay/amazon addict, so I changed my bank account and "forgot" to update my bank account/card details on there too...

I realise this isn't dealing with the fundamental issue, but it will help while the cravings still attack you xx

Hannah_10

The sandwiches was just an example. Start with the Elys boots, tell us what you think is good about them, what makes them special, in as much detail as you can. Then read back what you just wrote, you'll start to see what you were really looking for (what the boots looked like they'd give you). It wont have been anything as simple as "need footwear".

You may already be onto something when you say about wanting to find something to do, are you shopping out of boredom?

Deep_In_Debt

OP, think I know the HoF you mean as I work in Victoria and fortunately it's not open when I pass by in the morning. It is when I pass by in the evening but I'm in too much of a rush to get the fast train home to be able to stop in there. At lunch time, I tend to buy a sarnie in the work restaurant and sit in St James' Park and read my book or just go for a wander, as I remember that if I buy something then I have to carry it back and there's also a huge risk I'll leave it on the train!

Good idea about leaving your cards at home. I do this now...work out my budget for the week and stick to it. If I spend more one day, then it means I have less the next day to spend. I don't take a huge amount with me, usually work out for about £5.00 per day (max) as my train tickets are paid for. Some days I spend nothing at all if I take my own sarnies. What I don't use, gets carried over to the following week. It's helped me and I only really use my debit card now for withdrawing the money on a Sunday for the rest of the week. Just pay cash now where I can.

ms_london

Perhaps posting your SOA (Statement of Affairs) will help and then we can give you a bit more specific advice?

I used to owe £19,000, had nothing to show for it, and it was all wasted on clothes, going out, beauty products, etc etc - it was extremely hard re-training myself and through the process of repaying it I learnt not to be so materialistic! Nowadays I feel ripped off if I have to pay full price for an item - there is an ex shopaholic thread on this forum somewhere which is a good read, and you can identify others in the same situation.

Just try and avoid the shops, it might be easier said than done, but if you don't see the temptation, you wont want to buy it - go for a walk at lunchtime, or sit and read a book, you'll soon find you don't miss what is in the shops, and it is easier than taunting yourself when you see something you WANT but can't afford it. Sort out your wardrobe and recycle things you haven't worn in a while, add accessories and it will be like a whole new outfit!

xx

Wee_Pilsbury

tellmeitsfriday wrote: »

Hi,

While you're weaning yourself off these purchases, why don't you stop taking your debit/credit card to work. I reckon I have saved thousands by only having £2 or £3 in my purse rather than my cards.

I was an ebay/amazon addict, so I changed my bank account and "forgot" to update my bank account/card details on there too...

I realise this isn't dealing with the fundamental issue, but it will help while the cravings still attack you xx

Hi there. I would second what tellmeitsfriday said above - it really does work. I've done this since the start of the year and I can't really comprehend how much I've probably saved myself - but I do know it is a huge amount (based on past performance ).

Another thing that I've only just realised is that you really can wean yourself off spending money on "stuff." I've just come back recently from a planned (and saved for ) trip to New York and it was totally weird because the notion to shop wasn't strong at all. I didn't overspend, didn't use my credit card and I also came back with dollars that will get changed to Great British Pounds and then paid towards the cc balance that I do have. Only when I'd arrived back did I realise that I've changed and that I no longer want stuff that I don't need. It's really worth plugging away at because one day it will happen for you and you probably won't realise it.

Good luck

:hello:

Flat_Eric

Here are my tips :j

freeze your credit card in a block of ice and leave hidden at the back of the freezer !

take a packed lunch to work and have a look on this site for lunch ideas - there is a thread somewhere. Depending on the kitchen facilities you have available, invest in a food flask so that you can take a hot meal to work and thus you are not fighting over the office microwave at lunchtime.

Allow one day a week for treat day - lunch with your colleagues perhaps. I have a weather$poons pub near me and normally go at least once a week ! but lunch typically costs me no more than a fiver.

Keep a spending diary for a month and note EVERYTHING that you spend.

Take only cash to work - just enough for what you need. Leave your cards at home !

If you buy the same magazine each month then look to get it on subscription - cheaper and avoids visiting the shop and being tempted into buying other things....

Take a book to work /or buy a puzzle book / start a craft ? cross stitch ? so you are not tempted to look round the shops ? if its not time to start work, are you allowed to read at your desk / browse the Internet ?

if I think of any more will add them !

ShopaholicNoMore

Hi Mischa! I'm a fellow spendaholic aiming to change my ways! I've already started taking lunches to work and having done quite a big shop last week, I'm going to see how long I can go without splurging in the supermarket!

Good luck!

themull1

Are you not supposed to freeze your cards in ice and leave in freezer, then by the time they've defrosted the urge to spend has passed - and no, you can't put them on auto defrost in the microwave.!!