How do you stop yourself spending?

debtfreewannabe321

i'm on a DMP anyway so can't spend on the credit cards or catalogues so that helps me, but i just had some extra money come in and I also am finding myself online looking at things thinking, it's only £30 here - £5 here etc, I haven't joined the NSD challenge (although might go find that in a min) but i do keep a daily spend diary, last month was my first month of it, so i was pretty good....this month i filled out one day and have left the rest so far (oops) ...BUT i do find it helps! so i will make myself fill it out and I aim for say 10 NSD a month and 15 LSD (the others are usually my shopping days so are the biggest spends, and i try to get any clothes etc we need on those days as it makes me feel better if i have just a few days a month where i spend) It is hard and if you are tired, stressed etc that's the worst times-for me anyway, i just think s*d it! I go run myself a bath most of these times & grab a book and spend a few hours away from the laptop (internet shop!) and by the time i come back i USUALLY think - I don't need it! Sorry for the long post lol hopefully you can find a way around it though!

CH27

Allow yourself a small budget each week for treats.

immoral_angeluk

CH27 wrote: »

Allow yourself a small budget each week for treats.

Agreed 101%!

/end Simon Cowell

Brighid

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

I go run myself a bath most of these times & grab a book and spend a few hours away from the laptop (internet shop!) and by the time i come back i USUALLY think - I don't need it!

Thats a great idea! Time is such a luxury in itself that treating myself to it may just be the key

Brighid

lilac_lady wrote: »

Always factor in a little treat for yourself or you'll get fed up quickly and give up. Mine is 70% dark chocolate!

Oh, I'm with you there!!

DragonflyCandy

i definatly think that after working 60 hours you need a treat, if you dont treat yourself every now and again then you get fed up and fall off the band wagon!
your doing really well so far so i dont think theres any harm in getting a naughty treat i give myself £5 a week for a treat and every friday i decide wether to bank it or spend it. If ive had a good week it gets banked if ive had a really crappy week i get some chocolate or a cheap bottly of rose :rotfl:

go get yourself an ice cream hun

LAM2011

I have spreadsheets of everything (actually I have spreadsheets lists listing the spreadsheets lol) and I go internet shopping and get all the lovely stuff I need and then I look at my 'basket' have a heart attack and realise what I could do with that on my debts and just delete it. Once ccards are paid off I can go shopping with money I actually have.

I still get takeaway now and again but on a smaller scale eg just starter or a cheaper place.

foxgloves

Have some treats, that's really important, but keep in mind the bigger picture. There aren't really any situations in life which are improved in any way by being in debt, so the choice is yours....either spend within your means, put a little away for emergencies such as horrible unexpected car bills, etc, get any debt paid down and just choose not to waste money. As I've said before, I've wasted no end of money over the years, coming home with clothes, expensive skincare & makeup, piles of magazines, all the usual stuff, but I can't remember any of it making me as happy as the feeling of finally being in control & more financially secure does now. In a consumerist society, the odds are stacked against being sensible....getting credit is still relatively easy, the advertising industry spends millions on getting us to buy tat we don't need....we have to be strong & do what is the best option for us, & that is always going to be living within our means. I used to come up with no end of reasons why I got into debt......now I can see that there was only one.....I always spent more money than I earned because I didn't budget.....at all. I think it is one of the greatest lifeskills anyone can learn & how I wish I'd discovered it 20 years earlier!!

ms_london

I tend to just avoid the shops or the websites that will make me feel as though I am missing out, if I can't go into a shop then I won't see something I am tempted to buy. You do need to allow yourself money for a treat here and there though! My biggest downfall is the money I fritter on rubbish, magazines, junk food, and even alcohol. I am purposely staying at home this weekend so I don't spend anything! xx

beanielou

Avoid shops & if you do go out only take a wee amount of money.
If you havent got it with you then you cant spend it!

How you doing IA?
Long time no see.