Shopaholic tips please

ms_london

Mischa8 wrote: »

I know exactly what you mean about clothes (choosing better etc) - see reply above. Same with makeup now - I got something new recently and was disappointed (but already used) as it wasn't the same as what I wanted before and wasn't needed, really, I was just sold by the sales assistant. Now, I'm more wary.

Thanks though.

There is nothing wrong with using cheaper branded items, I can highly recommend Aldi's Lacura range, skincare & make up - you can read a lot of good press about them if you google them, and cheap and cheerful - fantastic serum for £3.49 and mascara for about the same...

xx

foxgloves

Yes, I agree with the above post. I used to buy a really expensive foundation & it was lovely. Now I buy an ordinary one & always use a layer of Avon Magix (which I only buy when it's half price)underneath it & I can't really see a difference. I was a complete sucker for the Bonus boxes where you have to buy 2 or 3 full size products from an expensive cosmetics range & get a free box of smaller sized goodies. Sometimes these were great, but I also used to get a lot of lip & eye colours i didn't wear and when I think back, I often bought 2 full size products I didn't need just to get the bonus box so the overall winner has to be the cosmetics company not yours truly!

BettiePage

Mischa8 wrote: »

I think the cash idea is great. I'd love to be able to not bring my debit card but it's so handy for emergencies. I rarely use my CC now anyway and don't know the PIN offhand.

What emergencies do you envision needing your card for?

Mischa8

BettiePage wrote: »

What emergencies do you envision needing your card for?

Well actually in the past if I've been out at night and needed to get a cab home and I've spent the money I've brought out on drinks or say if I was mugged/robbed (been mugged once and also had my bag snatched too etc) so in those cases it's handy.

You don't *need* to have it but it's useful.

DebtFreedom_2

Hi there

What I've found really helpful is thinking in a couple of ways:
1. A quick 'demotivator' - If you want to buy something that costs £100, you'll need to earn almost twice that in your salary to be able to buy it (after tax, National Insurance and pensions are deducted). Really makes you think about the cost!

2. When you're faced with a spending moment, tell yourself to 'stop' - you might even need to do it out loud. Do it persuasively, like a parent telling a child. Then think - 'what good things do I want to happen to me from this?'. I've had this happen to me recently with an Amazon Kindle - and here's how it went:

Q. 'What good things do I want to happen to me from this?'
A. 'I want a neat toy'
Q. 'Why do I want a neat toy'
A. 'Because I'll be able to read more'
Q. 'Why do I want to read more'
A. 'Because I want to relax more'

So, what I really want is more time to relax, not really a Kindle at all! A much cheaper solution!

Hope this helps.

Mischa8

DebtFreedom wrote: »

Hi there

What I've found really helpful is thinking in a couple of ways:
1. A quick 'demotivator' - If you want to buy something that costs £100, you'll need to earn almost twice that in your salary to be able to buy it (after tax, National Insurance and pensions are deducted). Really makes you think about the cost!

2. When you're faced with a spending moment, tell yourself to 'stop' - you might even need to do it out loud. Do it persuasively, like a parent telling a child. Then think - 'what good things do I want to happen to me from this?'. I've had this happen to me recently with an Amazon Kindle - and here's how it went:

Q. 'What good things do I want to happen to me from this?'
A. 'I want a neat toy'
Q. 'Why do I want a neat toy'
A. 'Because I'll be able to read more'
Q. 'Why do I want to read more'
A. 'Because I want to relax more'

So, what I really want is more time to relax, not really a Kindle at all! A much cheaper solution!

Hope this helps.

That's a really good idea and one I'm thinking of putting into place with a Wii Fit I'm after. I already do 2 yoga classes a week and an aqua fit class so maybe the Wii Fit would either save me money in the long run or not. And also, do I prefer socialising in a class (exercising in a group) compared to solitary, at home?

I've also put off buying a new laptop (I do need one) for the same reasons as I want to be able to look for the best deals, see which one suits my needs (have done some light research) rather than jump in and buy.

Same with Ugg Cardi boots - read some reviews - intend to try before I buy and even then not 100% sure they're for me.

But thanks. I wouldn't normally think of the cost (ie what I have to make in tax/NI etc) but that's a good pointer too.

Mrs_Ryan

I've just read through this thread - its really good, some great advice. My problem is I tend to splurge - I dont usually have my purse on me for work and we have no facilities to buy food even if I wanted to. So when I go out for something specific (for example, the other day I went to John Lewis to buy some cross-stitching materials to make a Christmas present for my friend. I came out with the cross-stitching materials alright but I also came out with a Nottingham Rugby shirt that I definitely didnt need )
Only taking what you need in cash is a good idea but I dont do cash - at all. I've had my purse snatched several times containing a fair amount of cash and have also had my debit card cloned at a cashpoint so I dont use cashpoints either, if I need cash I either get cashback or have to go into the branch to withdraw.
How on earth do I keep myself focused on what i need and stop being distracted? This time of year is a killer as all the lovely Christmas gift stuff is starting to creep out (again, in all fairness I have also done well there, only bought the presents I needed - so far! )

foxgloves

It can be a tempting time, but just tell yourself that if you buy what you need, you're the winner, if you splurge, then the banks/businesses have won and managed to get one over on you! When I'm feeling a bit like I might wobble (tho' this is now quite rare), I have to make it feel like a game. I also make sure that I now always save a little bit each month and tell myself that I'm paying ME! So much of it's psychological isn't it, different things work for different people.

ms_london

nancypearl wrote: »

I would see a top I liked and buy it in several colours - kidding myself it was a 'wardrobe basic' and that I would 'regret' it if I wore the original top to death because I liked it so much and then couldn't buy it again, because they didn't make it any more. Forget about the 40 other tops I have in the wardrobe. THIS was the one that would change everything!

Hilarious, I do this too - if I love something I am unable to just buy it in one colour!

This does sound really really corny, but if you are confident from within it doesn't matter what you wear, you could wear jogging bottoms and no make up and still feel confident.

Confidence isn't found in makeup or beauty products either, its from looking after yourself, eating well & exercise - a glow that most certainly doesn't come from a bottle.

Yep that is totally cheesy and naff, sorry!

(I used to be very materialistic and although I still have to buy something in all colours, after paying back my £19,000 I know how easy it is to spend what you don't have all for the sake of wanting to look good!) xx

debtdesperado

Quote:
Originally Posted by BettiePage
What emergencies do you envision needing your card for?

Well actually in the past if I've been out at night and needed to get a cab home and I've spent the money I've brought out on drinks or say if I was mugged/robbed (been mugged once and also had my bag snatched too etc) so in those cases it's handy.


Keep £50 in £10 notes for emergencies only in your house, then if you need to get home, you can get a cab and pay the driver from the cash in your house - this is a better solution than keeping a cash card in your bag (let's face it, it's there so you can buy more drinks that you didn't plan on buying when you were sober! :rotfl:)

This is also useful for emergencies eg if you needed to get a taxi to hospital and didn't have time to mess about with finding a cash point etc...