Physically preventing myself from spending

Layo909

Recently read about somebody hoping to lose weight who entered their house through the back door, therefore avoiding the kitchen, and avoiding the temptation of snacking.

Anyone tried doing similar with spending eg only take the necessary cash out to the shops, and leave all cards at home.

VfM4meplse

Perhaps if you find other things to occupy your time? For example, if you committed yourself to 90 mins of exercise every day, you won't have time to spend money you shouldn't.

I personally get more satisfaction from spending a little and being MSE, eg last night I went to the supermarket, knowing I've got loads in the freezer and that I can get fruit and veg from my local stall this weekend restricted myself to some artisan bread (reduced, so very MSE) and a litre of value soya milk. Total spend: £1.34, will enjoy a soya latte and bread for breakfast this am.

wolfehouse

wasn't there a tip once that included your credit card in the freezer (frozen inside a block of ice)
so you would have to wait for it to melt to use it?

Enterprise_1701C

I have got into the habit of putting what I want into my basket and wondering round the shop for at least 15 mins. That is about the length of time it used to take for me to decide I really did not need that item after all. It is amazing how many items I put back on the shelf having decided I really did not want/need them. I often leave the various shops empty handed now!!

sharnad

Jane_Blackford wrote: »

I have got into the habit of putting what I want into my basket and wondering round the shop for at least 15 mins. That is about the length of time it used to take for me to decide I really did not need that item after all. It is amazing how many items I put back on the shelf having decided I really did not want/need them. I often leave the various shops empty handed now!!

Thats the length of time it takes me to put twice as much stuff in my trolly

Ben84

Layo909 wrote: »

Recently read about somebody hoping to lose weight who entered their house through the back door, therefore avoiding the kitchen, and avoiding the temptation of snacking.

Anyone tried doing similar with spending eg only take the necessary cash out to the shops, and leave all cards at home.

What is it you're buying and when/why?

As general advice that works for me however, I'd say try to make purchasing decisions outside a shopping situation/environment. At home you can think about it carefully, look to see if existing things you own are suitable and there's just so much less temptation to spend in general. There's also a time delay so spur of the moment ideas will come and pass without you spending money on them.

If you do go to a shop, hopefully with a good idea what item you're planning to buy already, it's fine to look a bit at other items, just don't buy on the day! It will be there another day. I know shops try their hardest to convince us it won't, but this is the age of mass production and endless (often grossly exaggerated) sales. The plant pot/jumper/whatever is just an item, you can if you go away and still feel you want it next week come back for it. If the precise item isn't there, you can just find another similar one. Mass production means the world is full of stuff, often very similar stuff. Besides, why do we get attached to the idea we have to buy such specific items? Why do we fail to accept we might leave it and return next week to discover an item we like even more? Just as likely really, so don't let yourself feel pressurised to buy something immediately without considering it just because it's there and possibly on sale.

Don't worry about the price going up either. The value of the amount of stuff you'll leave and forget about entirely will far outweigh the penalty of missing out on a few sales for the items you did return for.