How to cope when you have had enough of money saving!

Legacy_user

Just feeling a bit down lately,will be glad when we head towards spring.
As most of us on here are feeling the pinch and not wanting to waste money,do you ever just feel fed up by it all?
I don't like wasting money on things and like to find the best price and always research any big spend item before commiting myself.
But like so many this is a necessity now not even a choice and it leaves no room for margin.
some days i just feel like going into a supermarket etc and just buying what i want! instead of what we can afford or have to buy just to eat for that week.
how do you all cheer yourselves up at times like these!
even cake(homemade of course!) isn't helping:eek:

Beccatje

I know how you feel.
Sometimes I just get so fed of having to watch the money. Sometimes I just don't want to think, budget, plan and weigh things..

I'd like to just take my daughters into town on a shopping spree.. ..

So, no sorry I don't have the answer you are looking for.
I fee the same way.

tiredwithtwins

toomuchmess wrote: »

Just feeling a bit down lately,will be glad when we head towards spring.
As most of us on here are feeling the pinch and not wanting to waste money,do you ever just feel fed up by it all?
I don't like wasting money on things and like to find the best price and always research any big spend item before commiting myself.
But like so many this is a necessity now not even a choice and it leaves no room for margin.
some days i just feel like going into a supermarket etc and just buying what i want! instead of what we can afford or have to buy just to eat for that week.
how do you all cheer yourselves up at times like these!
even cake(homemade of course!) isn't helping:eek:

I have a job that brings me into contact with those much less fortunate than myself and my family, so when i go home after work i look at what i have and i count my blessings to have a fab partner, 3 wonderful kids, we are all healthy and we have a roof over our heads with running water and heating.
it kinda puts it in perspective, so i dont need cheering up - i just count my blessings and thank heavens i dont have to cope with the misery some of my patients do.
dont get me wrong, im not well off (overdraft curently stands at about a grand!), but im wealthy in nearly every other aspect of my life so i cant complain.
take care of yourself luv xx

meritaten

Poundshops! If you feel you need to go on a shopping spree........you can come out of poundshops with an amazing amount of stuff for a few quid! and some of it you may actually NEED!
but, the best stuff is the ones you dont need - but would cost four or five times the amount in the ordinary shops!
eg, Nails............my local chemist is very reasonable, but the false nails in there are £3.99 - last week in the poundshop they were two packs for a pound! I got some for DD.
They also had fancy wool at 3 for a pound - the local woolshop were charging £1.99 per BALL! not the same make, but otherwise no difference.

beemuzed

Good post tiredwithtwins - but often hard to remember. The feeling that it's all just a struggle to get ends nearly meeting at least is really hard to put out of your head. You're right tho' - if we look around we can fairly often find someone in an even worse state than ourselves. ((Hugs)) to everyone out there feeling it's all just too much sometimes.

jess1011

I try and turn it into a game and see that I'm saving money. Reality is that I'm not 'saving' anything just repaying the money Iv already foolishly spent which isnt mine! I know what you mean though, sometimes I have a spree in £ shop or home bargains then get home and feel guilty!

One day I'll be debt free and this will be a game, one where I can have a primarni blow out every now and again One day.....

cakeadoodle

I do get a bit fed up sometimes with the constant researching to find the best price and thinking about whether every little thing I pick up is the best value. Then again, if I just grab something without thinking I tend to feel guilty about it later, so you can't win

I'm trying to break the habit of food-based cheering up, e.g. hot chocolate (at home) made with milk instead of water, or a sticky bun now and then. A huge mug of tea and a nice chocolate biscuit is always a winner too

My colleagues had a good laugh at me this afternoon, when they discovered that I had Fois Gras on my toast :rotfl: It was a gift and it was just sitting in the fridge about to go out of date. That was a real treat but I have to say, not my normal lunchtime fare!

Any tips for a wee cheer up without face-stuffing are most welcome!

Diflower

I know just how you feel!
For me it was one week at the farm shop, having gone in to buy pork belly, found myself almost drooling over the joints of beef.

I went outside and sat in the car...realised it was about 5 months since we'd had a joint of beef (occasionally buy Sainsburys when half price, cut into 3 small joints). And pork is always the answer - cheap, variety of cuts, lots of possibilities.
But for so long we'd had whatever was cheapest, or would provide the most meals. I went back in and bought the topside, and we had the most lovely meal (and did of course have leftovers).

That piece of beef was worth far more than its cost, we really appreciated it and enjoyed every single mouthful:)

Another time though, it was just an avocado - no, not on the list. Not in the budget. But, it was not too expensive, it was actually ripe, and omg I did fancy it.

So as far as I'm concerned, if just once in a while there's something you really, really fancy, then see if you can work it into the budget. And if you can, then it will see you through (mentally I mean) for another few weeks or even months.
It does make you understand what it is that makes your mouth water.

grumpybear_3

I usually keep to a pretty tight budget, but know how you feel, sometimes you just want to scratch that itch to treat yourself or do something for yourself.

Like Oscar Wilde I can usually resist everything but temptation so usually try and keep a bit of mad money aside for times like this and treat myself.

I don't go overboard, a bus ride to the next town over to visit see a favourite picture at the museum, a pot of tea and a sit down in John Lewis or a withdrawn book from a library sale, a new potplant or a new jumper from the charity shop - just something I just "fancy" all seem to scratch that itch and I always go home happy - even if it is to beans on toast...

oldtractor

Yes I've been there several times over the past few years. I find it useful to build "treats" into the money saving programme. Set your own rules eg save £100 give yourself £5 to send on whatever you want;even rubbish!.
also once every 6 weeks we "celebrate" and have a good sunday lunch this week its Imbolc [Lady Day] ; gives a purpose and something to reach to;gives definition and stops just spending coz I feel like it! We cant wait for xmas all year;i give myself regular "xmas" weekends .the next will be the spring solstice March 22ndish. Good thread this BTW very relevant.

kittycat204

i find feeling fed up about penny pinching easier that feeling guilty for over spending, especially on thing i don't need or want, but think i do in a moment of insanity. try to live within your means, and reach a happy mid ground.