addicted to......

george567

money saving.......
My name is george567 and I'm addicted to moneysaving.......

I feel it's getting a bit out of hand. Anyone else ???
I went out for a lovely coffee with a lovely friend in a lovely cafe yesterday ...... and all i could think was ..... my goodness I've just spent a fiver.....Aaaaaagh!
My grandmother died - many years ago now in seeming poverty with 100 k in a current account. I feel I've inherited her genes....

I've always been a bit tight but feel its getting out of control!
Any advice?

KiKi

Hiya

There's nothing wrong with saving money. But you're right, it can go too far.

I realised I had gone too far one day when I looked back at what I'd bought my family for Christmas and I felt very ashamed. My mum sounded disappointed on the phone. She didn't say anything, but I knew she was upset. I wasn't in debt, I had an excellent job. And whilst I wasn't prepared to spend a whole month's salary on Christmas presents, I could have done a lot more than I did.

I think if you're in debt, that's different. But I try to take a much more balanced view, now. An extra tenner won't kill me each week. In fact, it's rather liberating!

I find that I get worried if I go over my budget. So all I did was increase my budget! I allow more for Christmas and Birthdays, and more for each month's spending. I still look for bargains, but I can enjoy my money more; as long as I'm within my budget (whether that's £100 or £200) it's fine. That helped me.

I also prioritised things I was happy to spend money on without any guilt or any focus on it. I have absolutely no qualms about buying a return flight to Australia because I don't spend money on clothes or shoes or gadgets, for example.

KiKi

pupsicola

It is very easy to get carried away with it all and miss out on enjoying life a bit. Moneysaving should be handled the same as everything, with balance.

I have always worked hard and have got myself in a strong financial position. No debts, loans, credit cards, own my home and car outright. All my bills are set up on direct debit so I dont even have to think about them. I do regularly check that I am getting the best deals on utilities, phone, broadband, insurance etc etc.

Yet I still berate myself if I make a financial blunder. No matter how small. Was spitting ink the other weekend. Drove all the way to Tunbridge Wells to snap up a couple of bargains. Things I had wanted along time but was not willing to buy till they were at sales price. Managed to get them at a wicked price. Driving home I got flashed by a speed camera. Im still upset and annoyed by it, lol.

What I will advise is if you know you are doing the best you can then relax a little and accept that you are worthy of having a treat.
Dont feel guilty about it. As you mentioned with your gran whats the point of having 100k in the bank and living frugally. You cannot take it with you.

LJM

hmm good that you are good at moneysaving, but as others have said it can go to far, remember we are only here once and if a £5 meant you had a relaxing morning spending time chatting with a friend then its money well spent

RLH33

Moneysaving is all very well but what are you saving it for? As others have said, it is very very important if you are in debt but if you are living within your means and you have no debt then it can border on the mean side.

My friend and I were talking the other day about food shopping, we have a mutual friend who will spend 2 hours wandering round looking at every price and every product to ensure she gets the best price for her shopping. Whilst I am by no means extravagant I would rather have the two hours than the £5 or so I may save!

george567

Thank you for your kind words!
I know it has got a bit out of hand - all got a bit excessive when i started a spending diary -became a bit of a competition with myself not to spend! keep trying to stop that but cant quite break the habbit!
i have no debts - apart from mortgage - never buy on credit and so dont need to be like this - and you would think that after seeing what my grandmother was like I would learn but I haven't yet! Must try harder! I'm also really quite generous with other people - would buy anyone else anything! -give - and have raised over 20 k for a charity recently - it's just spending on me!
Thanks anyway everyone! Guess I'm just weird!

Hermia

I definitely think MS can get out of control. I have seen friends start out as MS and then it tips over into just being tight (it seems to happen to those who have an obsessive streak in their personality). I know people who never go out to dinner any more ("I could make it cheaper at home") and end up missing out on great social occasions etc etc. I don't see the point of having money if you are just going to spend your time sat at home not enjoying it.

If you just judge everything by how much it costs than I think you have gone too far. To misuse Oscar Wilde's phrase you can end up as someone who "knows the price of everything and the value of nothing". Try to judge things by their value, not their price. Yes, you spent £5 on your coffee, but surely £5 is a good price for coffee and a chat with a friend in nice surroundings?