How do I stop shopping?

immoral_angeluk

Spending diary, spending diary, spending diary!

marmiterulesok

Lots of great ideas already.I also do the 'No Spend day' challenge and it does make you think about how you spend your money.I've found that nabbing a 'NSD' is as addictive as spending used to be.

I also have a weekly budget.I have that week's money in my purse and keep my debit card at home.Once it's gone,it's gone,though sometimes I have to 'borrow' from the next week.Sometimes I have money left over from one week to another.It depends.

Another very helpful thing for me is that I no longer 'go shopping' /window shopping.I used to go into town on a day off with the express intent of spending money.I used to be,and still am,a very impulsive buyer.If I don't go shopping,I'm not tempted.It's as simple as that.I use a shopping list as much as possible and try to stick to it.I also realised that I don't actually need many new things.

If you see something that you feel you need,try and wait until the next day and see how you feel.Ask yourself if this is a need or a want.Often the next day the temptation has gone.

Hope this helps.You will get there...

TeaForOne

I have the My Weekly Budget app on my iphone which is brilliant.

I work out how much money I will have available after direct debits & regular payments and then divide it by 4 or 5 depending on how many weeks there are that month, and tap it into the app. This is my food, petrol, presents, haircut, clothes and entertainment money and everything I spend (including 89p for a chocolate bar at Euston station :eek:) gets put into it. It makes me conscious of everything I've spent and stops me from worrying.

Rolling over money from one week to the next is a great feeling, as is using "surplus" at the end of the month to pay a chunk off a credit card.

TBagpuss

keep a small note book, and wrte down EVERYTHING you spend, when you spend it. Keep a running total as well as the individual prices.

You can see exactly what you are spending, and where. It helps focus your mind on where your money is going, but by seeing the totals you can also compare it with your debt, and how much it would help to reduce it.

Also budget, and allow a small amount each week/month for treats. If you know you can treat yourself to something nice once or twice a month you may find it is easier to resist the rest of the time.

Naomim

marmiterulesok wrote: »

I also have a weekly budget.I have that week's money in my purse and keep my debit card at home.Once it's gone,it's gone,though sometimes I have to 'borrow' from the next week.Sometimes I have money left over from one week to another.It depends.

Another very helpful thing for me is that I no longer 'go shopping' /window shopping.

If you see something that you feel you need,try and wait until the next day and see how you feel.Ask yourself if this is a need or a want.Often the next day the temptation has gone.

Hope this helps.You will get there...

Have to agree with this post. I do the same. On payday I withdraw a months "spending" and split it into how many weeks are in the month. I also tend to actively "avoid" shops now.

I do the "payment a week" challenge so anything left over from my pot goes against the dreaded cc debt and chips it down.

Naomi x

cutestkids

try allocating yourself a set amount each month it can be £50 or £500 whatever you feel that you can afford, draw this out in cash and then leave the debit card at home, limit yourself to just a couple of pounds cash every day in your purse and at the end of the month everything left over from your budget put directly to one of your debts.

If you do not have the cash or plastic with you then you can not spend it.

the_cat

Sunshine22 wrote: »

but I can't help buying things. Just things.

. I know its naughty but its some sort of addiction

By calling it an addiction you are trying to justify your actions to yourself (and us). It is not an addiction. Just a normal desire for something which you are choosing not to deny yourself

If you are serious about stopping, then you need to acknowledge it for what it is. An addiction is an uncontrolled urge to do something usually with a biochemical reaction (alcohol or nicotine dependancy etc)

You do not have this. Stop giving yourself a get out clause and pretending you don't have a choice and are not in control of your actions. You are. So either stop the spending (and take the stuff back if you can) or accept that you will not pay off your debts

(sorry for bluntness, but I'm on good cop/bad cop too!)

marmiterulesok

I forgot to say that the whole thing is a 'work in progress' and it's not always easy.

For me,having a budget really has made all the difference and given me financial stability.

I still use a credit card but what I do spend,I pay off in full each month,which means that I don't overspend in this area.

I suppose you have to find out what works for you.

YORKSHIRELASS

OK, I am guessing that like me you didnt get into debt overnight, its built up slowly over the years? And these bad spending habits they have become part of your lifestyle over the years too?

It took me about a year from my lightbulb moment to really truly accept that I was going to have to change my lifestyle and spending habits for ever. No fudging, no convincing myself it was only a tenner so it didnt matter, no saying I will pay it off next month.

Thats not to say I am letting you off the hook, you have to keep working at it but all I am saying is that it takes time. The biggest change for me was keeping proper records of my finances. Seeing it in black and white makes it real. I record every penny that comes in and where it goes. I add it up as I go through the month, I keep month to date and year to date figures. I keep totals of my debts, record how much interest I am paying and I check my online banking religiously. This is what really stops me spending.

Sunshine22_2

Hi all

Thanks so much for your responses. I have dug out an old notebook (not gone and bought one ... first success!) to use as a spending diary. I've not spent anything unnecessary this weekend, made a strict list before going to the supermarket (a girl's gotta eat) and spent £17 This will hopefully do me for three meals a day until next weekend!! And I feel pretty good now and positive that I can make a dent in this debt!

Now all I have to do is resist the urge to sneak to the shop at work for a cheeky coffee!

Thanks