Want to join me in cutting back on 'extras' shopping?

Catslovelycats

I'm not talking about food shopping. There's already a thread for that challenge. I'm talking online shopping.

I realise that when I am bored, stressed, low etc I tend to grab my laptop and spend spend spend online :eek:! I can go ages without buying anything because life is so full and then at other times will splurge and find it hard to stop. Holidays and weekends are dangerous in this regard!

Anyone else like that?

If so, do you want to join me in 2012 in cutting back how much you shop for all those spontaneous goodies?

My steps towards success will be:
1. Set a budget for spending on 'extras' each month and KEEP TO IT.
2. Try really hard to think about it before I buy anything.
3. Sell more on eBay in the hopes that it distracts me and I buy less on it!
4. Keep a diary of all the extras I buy - I hope that will frighten me into focusing on saving.
5. I've joined the 12K in 2012 and set an almost impossible target of 3K to save in 2012. Maybe having something else to do with my money will help me think about how I use it.
6. Limit how long I spend online on the basis that the less I'm online the less I can buy!
7. Use this site to keep me on the straight an narrow.

I can't hide my CC as I know it's number off by heart. Plus I don't have the discipline for that and I like to collect my points on it.

What things do other people do to help them cut back on buying unnecessary things?

natlie

Hi
I am terrible for this, this year it was the garden, spent a fortune getting it ready for veg and fruit, seeds etc planted everything then I got far to heavily pregnant to manage it all and we wasted a lot, year before it was holidays and weekends away. I have been avoiding it while on maternity leave by doing competitions havent won much - 1 thing - but better than spending and great for lunchtimes when I go back to work to stop me going out and spending on rubbish!

dippykitty

I used to be good at not doing this but lately I've been spending too much on stuff I don't really need so some motivation in cutting down would be great!

arbroath_lass

I look for freebies instead of spending. It is good fun and you still get the anticipation of a package arriving.

Millie_Millsters

catslovelycats wrote: »

What things do other people do to help them cut back on buying unnecessary things?

Reading the posts, in this forum, from people who'll take years to get out of debt scares me to death :eek: and always makes me think twice before I spend on stuff I don't need.

tealady

arbroath_lass wrote: »

I look for freebies instead of spending. It is good fun and you still get the anticipation of a package arriving.

Thanks ever so much for that tip, I have been splashing the plastic a bit recently on things I don't need, fortunately I can pay the bill in full but it is a dangerous habit.