How do you resist spending money on 'stuff'?

oops_a_daisy

It is so hard not to spend money. I try to keep coming on here to keep me inspired and also try not to carry cash. I am getting back into shopping from a list in supermarkets only and limiting visits ( I drive past a large Tesco to get to my house so can easily go in every night and spend a fortune on carp ). I dont go into town on a weekend unless I have something specific to buy and then I only put enough parking on my car to go in and get out before I have chance to be tempted. I have also just started actually using my spending diary - 5 days in now and have worked out that my DD's hobbies cost me a fortune. Leaving credit/debit cards at home helps too

All the best - OOPS

Sea78

I am struggling with this myself - haev lots of goo dintentions and even take limited cash, but then if I get s bargain or BOGOF, I end up using the saved money on something else!

Sea xx

frugalpam

oops_a_daisy wrote: »

It is so hard not to spend money. I try to keep coming on here to keep me inspired and also try not to carry cash. I am getting back into shopping from a list in supermarkets only and limiting visits ( I drive past a large Tesco to get to my house so can easily go in every night and spend a fortune on carp ). I dont go into town on a weekend unless I have something specific to buy and then I only put enough parking on my car to go in and get out before I have chance to be tempted. I have also just started actually using my spending diary - 5 days in now and have worked out that my DD's hobbies cost me a fortune. Leaving credit/debit cards at home helps too

All the best - OOPS

I try to avoid supermarkets as much as possible - it can be tempting for me when I see such a huge choice of stuff and stop myself from impulse buying. I tend to do grocery shopping online so I just stick to my shopping list, and actually COOK instead of buying instant meals. I buy fruit and veg locally from a farm shop, and also tend to buy other stuff (that I truthfully need) online also e.g. at Boots. I'm really better keeping out of shops When the urge hits though, I make that fiver stretch a long way.

Pam

woohoo_postingid

I must admit, my weakness is books, I love books.
I could easily spend a lot of money in Waterstones, but every time I go to buy a book, I go through the following process

1) Do I need it (usually no)
2) Do I want it (yes)
3) Do I really want it (sometimes yes)
4) Can I buy it cheaper (almost always yes)
5) Buy it in Tesco
6) Not available in Tesco, buy it in charity shop or second-hand on amazon/ebay

golddigger_3

I have started spending cash rather than using my debit card. (Have no credit cards left - all cut up). I take my card out in case I need petrol or have an emergency but Im strict with myself.
Spending cash is harder because you don't want to see it leave you purse or wallet. its far more real than using a card.
I still buy stuff but not as much.

catz1ct

I'm usually pretty good but its when I go into town that I just can't help myself.

ZTD

MinnieSpender wrote: »

By all means, look at the pretty shoes in the shop and promise yourself that if you ever get paid properly you will treat yourself to them because you need a pair for work. And resign yourself to the fact that when you do get paid properly they'll be sold out.

Stand in front of the mirror in the shop - do an Obi Wan Kenobi Jedi hand wave and say "These are not the shoes you're looking for." Then move along...

HairyHandofDartmoor

I avoid the shops! I go to the supermarket once a week and that is it! It can be done.

I very rarely buy clothes (about twice a year with birthday or christmas money), if the kids need clothes I get them at the supermarket (Tesco kids clothes are very cheap), birthday cards and gifts can be found at the supermarket too, there really is no need to go anywhere else.

By not even window shopping I avoid temptation. So many people seem to go shopping for 'something to do'. If we want to go out we go for a walk by the sea or on the moors, which is free as we always take our own food and drinks. It also helps if you don't take any money with you.

I also (and this is a good one) have a motivational picture in my chequebook and purse of my dream house, and if I am tempted to buy stuff I don't need, this reminds that with every purchase my dream house is getting further away!

calleyw

Join all the cash back sites you can. You can convert some of these in to boots/Amazon etc voucher and some in to cash.

This what helps feed my book/cd/DVD hunger when I have the need to spend.

As I am not spending any of my own money but I still get goodies. Yes it does take a few months to get some money.

But then you can spend it with out feeling guilty and it is free so you can buy what you want :j

Also I find buying birthday/Xmas presents through out the year also helps to feed that I need to buy something hunger.

Well that is what I do anyway.

Yours


Calley

exil

To answer the OP - with difficulty.

Actually my weakness is not "stuff" in the sense of clothes, gadgets, CDs and DVDs, but "treats" - days out, takeaways, nice cups of coffee when out, meals out. None of them cost much on their own but they add up over the months.