Guilt

myteeduck

Hi all,

Im just wondering something. Im not in debt per se, as my debt is 0% and due to finish in September, for a measly £260 odd, so I have a little tiny amount of spare cash each month.

I had approx £50 left for this month, but over the bank holiday I spent most of this, leaving me with £11 to last the rest of the month.

All of my bills are covered and what I bought was just some bits for the house, some new clothes and I had one night with friends (I am only 26!) but now I feel guilty for going out and for buying the clothes even though they were needed.

Does anyone else feel guilty for spending money and wish they hadn't, even though it's justified and you can answer the questions of Do I need it, Do I want it, Can I afford it?

I can live till the end of the month on £11 quite easily, but how do I stop myself spening all spare month in the first weekend of the month??

Please help. x

sistafromanothermista

:wave: Hi i'm the same:o i've only been a bonefide DFW for a few weeks but already i'm getting into the swing of things. I follow the mantra though do i want it or do i need it? if i need it then fair do's (ice cream/chocolate/shoes don't count apparently ) If i want it i think about all the £1's i will have left at the end of the month if i don't buy it and how that will bring our mahoosive debt down

asparagus1968

I feel guilty sometimes too.but now and again,we all need a treat,otherwise it seems life is just one long slog of depriving yourself.
I think for you situation now-make a budget plan for that £11 (is that enough for the rest of the month/) and stick to it.
keep those new clothes hung outside of your wardrobe,so you see them all the time and remember what a lovely time you had with your friends.
then next month-stick to the usual budget!
good luck.

a little ps. i have actually returned things to the shop if iv'e had a splurge then regretted it.obviously(!) only things i haven't worn'used,with the tags and receipts

bargainbetty

Buyers remorse. It's terrible. If you are worried about doing this, divide your 'spare' cash up and only take a week's worth at any given time. You feel more in control.

Would you have felt so bad if you had the night out this weekend, had bought the clothes next weekend, and had bought the household bits in dribs and drabs over the month? Perhaps it is because you did it all at once?

After being frugal for so long, a splurge feels terribly naughty, whereas small amounts of justifiable expenditure (clothes, household) plus a night out, might not feel so bad.

seriousDFW

I have come to the conclusion that if I allocate £150 for 'entertainment' or general spending a month, then I could happy spend it. Or if I allocate £20, I can happily make do with that. But whatever the amount, it's normally gone before the end of the first week of the month and then I spend nothing for the remaining 3 weeks.

So I've now accepted this - I allocate my spending money at the start of the month, spend it promptly, then do without for the rest of the month. It works for me and I don't feel guilty as once it's spent it's not burning a hole in my pocket and I just know I don't have anything to spend.