I need advice on how to stop spending ...

snowqueen555

Guys, I'm in a position where I need to spend very little for two months. This is a motivation thing which I seriously lack, but I know if I do this then I will be in a much better position come August.

With all bills and food paid for I will have around £80 to last me until the start of August.

I'm just asking advice for how to fight the URGE to spend money, when you are used to socialising in pubs, restaurants and town....


Thanks

Malky

Think long and hard before buying something rather than spur of the moment spending. It really comes down to buying something you need rather than something you want. If you can work on this dicipline for the next few months then you should be OK.

snowqueen555

How about when all your friends go out? I find it hard to say no Two months of little socialising

DrSqueeze

Draw up a list of all the household jobs that need doing, and schedule them on a sort of timetable. While you're busy, you're not spending.

Have a look around this site, there are some handy tips for making some extra cash somewhere.

Go through all your bills and finances, and look for any savings you can make (however small, they all add up).

Sort out anything you own which you no longer need, and see if you can sell them at a car boot sale or via Ebay. Keep yourself occupied and make some money.

Oneday77

You could try the boring, 'Sorry I'm skint' answer to your friends or be more creative.
Tell them your saving up for a once in a lifetime opportunity, for all I know thats why you can't spend money for 2 months

When your stuck for things to do why not help out on the these Forums, always plenty of people looking for advice and support and everyone has some advice to give. The problems people find themselves in and get out of can be very inspirational.
So you could say to your friends that your volunteering as an online 'Samaritan'.

Malky

snowqueen555 wrote: »

How about when all your friends go out? I find it hard to say no Two months of little socialising

You could always take turns in going to each others houses armed with a bottle or two of cheap wine. Just because you can't afford to go to the local doesn't mean you can't socialise. If your friends can't agree to this idea then they're not real friends. Real friends will understand your hardship.

bargainbetty

Go through everything in your cupboards, food and otherwise, and see what you have in stock. Spare books, cds, dvds etc could go up on ebay to make some more money, or do a boot fair which could also raise funds while keeping you busy.

Once you have a household inventory, look at what food stocks you have in and use them up rather than spending more on groceries - that might free up a bit more cash. Same goes for household cleaning stuff. When i lost my job I went through the cupboards under the sink and realised I had enough cleaning stuff for a year - who the hell needs seven bottles of bleach? All stuff you might be budgeting for, but don't actually need to buy this month. Use up everything before you buy - it might mean a night out!

If you do go out, use vouchers, 2-4-1 deals, or find cheap stuff to do - not everything has to cost a fortune.

Good luck x

Bambywamby

Could you start selling things on Ebay to make some more "going out" funds? x

CH27

To resist temptation, leave your credit/debit cards at home & just take enough cash to pay your bus fare or parking ticket.

pleasedelete

£80 a month or £80 in total? That's less than a £1 a day.

LollopyBear

What about getting your friends on board with this? I bet you are not the only one feeling the pinch and it could just take the one person to say so for everyone else to admit that they are struggling too. You could make it a two month challenge - who can come up with the cheapest/free things to do to socialise. I second the suggestion to just take cash with you and no cards. It may be worth just taking the £80 out in cash now and locking your credit/debit card away or giving it to someone trustworthy like a parent to look after until August. You can't spend what you simply don't have!