How do I stop shopping?

Sunshine22_2

So I've had my light bulb moment, assessed my budget, moved debt to 0% cards and reduced outgoings...

But ...

I have a shopping issue. Not a small drip fed issue. I can resist new clothes and shoes, but I can't help buying things. Just things. I have just got a new job, and justified a new bag, new thermos flask, bracelets, trousers, a kindle (for the commute) :eek:

Does anyone have any good ideas to stop myself doing this. I know its naughty but its some sort of addiction and I really want to get this debt paid off.

Thanks all!

VfM4meplse

You need to apply the 2 stage, "do I need it, do I want it test". Walk away from anything you want rather than need - and go back to it if you're still thinking about it 20 minutes later.

Martin's Demotivator tool also helps give some perspective.

FireWyrm

If you conclude that you need rather than want something 7 days after seeing it...you next ask if you have cash to buy it. If you don't need it and you don't have cash, don't buy. I'm sorry, there's no easy fix, it's all will power.

[Deleted User]

Every time you see something you want to buy, calculate how many hours you would have to work to pay for it.

Barneysmom

Meanwhile I can see why you need those things................


Stop buying stuff!

You're a grown up now and can't have everything you want!!!! xxxx

(Me being good cop, bad cop).

niccatw

Join the NSD thread: "No Spend Days". There's a new one each month. You choose how many days in the month you are aiming to spend no money and then you try to keep to it.

It works best if you pop onto the thread as close to daily as you possibly can, especially when you are starting out. And don't aim too high when you know it's not realistic.

It was a great learning curve for me in terms of thinking before I spent money - and who knew just how quickly NSDs become your new addiction! They really helped me focus.

I do it less these days, purely because it's a very fast moving thread and I don't have the time to keep up with it right now - but it's my go to when I'm wobbling on the edge of the wagon.

Barbeduk

Definitely do the NSD challenge. Try the weekly spend challenge, allocate yourself your pocket money and spend no more! Join one of the debt free challenges or pads, then paying off the debt becomes the addiction! Leave your cards at home. Cut them up. Don't wake up in your 40s like me and still be in debt, then you really will feel like an idiot!

kerri_gt

Welcome, I do the NSD challenge and it is really helpful for making you think about what you do (or rather don't need) to buy and when. I start it after I kept a spending diary (which I strongly suggest you do - write everything in it)

i work in the town centre and was shocked at how all those £1 / £2 spends on things added up (not lunch as i'm good at taking my own but things from £1 shops or cleaning items etc) The NSD challenge really helped me get organised so I spend much less often at lunchtime.

I saw a couple of good tips on Spendaholics once. First one was take a notebook out with you. When you see an item you 'really want' write it in the book with a couple of reasons why you want it so much and mark it out of 10. Then re-read it the next day and ask yourself whether you still feel the same way and what score you'd now give it. chances are after the adrenalin rush has gone and you're at home, you'll find you don't need / want it quite so badly as you thought.

The other one was a lady in a well paid job who also kepyt buying 'stuff'. she wanted a holiday home in tobago, so they printed off lots of pictures of tobago, put one on the fridge, one as a screensaver, one in her wallet and stuck them to her credit cards (you get the idea). Every time she went to buy something new, she was to look at the pic of Tobago and think 'would / should I be putting this money towards my dream holiday home' It really worked for her - perhaps you could try it with something you really want (hey even if it's a big sign saying 'debt free!'

Pink-Angel

Welcome!

Keeping a debit card sized copy of Martin's demotivator sloagns in your purse can help. Do you really NEED it or just WANT it? Keeping the total of your purse could help help too when you do get those tempatations. It may be a lot of 'little things' but they add up and probably have contributed to where you are. Don't look in the shops, only go for real necessities (ie food!) and when you a go take a list of what you need and stick to it.

It can take a while to change habits we've got into, but we can go it with willpower. Take out just the money you need for that day (for anything essential - like a loaf of bread). Don;t buy something that day. Go away and think about whether you really need it.

I do sympathise, I couldn't stop spending, and it doesn't help that going shopping is very much a social thing to do. But my debts have given me a wake up call. I don't look in the shops in my lunch break, I go for a walk or to the library or stay in and read a book. I'm horrified with how much money I've wasted on things over the years, but at least now I've seen the light - better late than never.

Good luck!

lamarsi

I draw out money and keep my debt card at home, for some reason I find it harder to hand over 'hard cash' and it stops those little purchases being added on and I love to see my debt go down, nothing tastes/looks/feels as good as knowing one day i will be debt free.. and I can see it a comin!!!

pandora205

Whenever you are tempted remind yourself that Amazon/River Island/whoever are rich and you are not. They are trying to get richer by getting their hands on your money. You are tempted but you are going to resist no matter what. All the lovely shops are set up just to get at your hard earned cash - It's all a big marketing trick.

When you've walked away, congratulate yourself on how strong you are and how much money you've saved.