'can't help it' spends

sweetilemon

Wasn't sure where the best place to post this would be.

I always have great intensions not to spend at the start of the day but always end up frittering my money away on stuff I regret spending it on! Just wondered what other people just "can't" help spending on? For example, diet coke, I buy some for the house or juice when i'm out. Take-aways when I could have eaten at work instead. Magazines. A bottle of wine. Lottery tickets. I know where i'm wasting money, promise myself i'll stop, then carry on. Drives me crazy. Anyone else the same?

hieveryone

I'm a nightmare for candles, scented oils, oil burners, air fresheners. I cannot walk past the aisle in any supermarket without buying something! Home type stores that sell all the diffusers, scented pot pourri etc are also a big danger flag for me!

sweetilemon

Unfortunately I have expensive taste in candles :eek: buying the white company and molton brown ones...they smell so good! Must try harder

Boris_Allen

I'm a MASSIVE fan of cider

Better_Off_1983

Candles are my weakness too!

determined_new_ms

Are these items a problem to you or can you afford them? I would say try to get in the habit of getting them at the best price you can - i.e if you like diet coke get a bottle or a multi-pack so you can have one, same goes for cider.

re the candles as lovely as they are surely you only need so many for each room and then after that when they run out or are on a "they're giving them away" offer???

If you can't afford it try to retrain yourself, don't take your purse to work. If you aint got it you can't spend it!

OrkneyStar

determined_new_ms wrote: »

Are these items a problem to you or can you afford them? I would say try to get in the habit of getting them at the best price you can - i.e if you like diet coke get a bottle or a multi-pack so you can have one, same goes for cider.

re the candles as lovely as they are surely you only need so many for each room and then after that when they run out or are on a "they're giving them away" offer???

If you can't afford it try to retrain yourself, don't take your purse to work. If you aint got it you can't spend it!

I agree with this. I am not in debt but we are on a very tight budget. I also try to think about how I will feel about the item 2 days, a week, a month after I bought it- if fairly quickly I have forgotten about it then I am less likely to buy it. Of course this works differently for food say, than a candle, than say a larger item, but the general idea works. I think this can stop the 'here and now' excitement of a new purchase. I used to buy loads of cheap clothes when I lived in Glasgow, and tbh, half of them I didn't even wear and ended up giving away- good use of money? NO! Best of luck everyone, it isn't always easy, and a wee treat budgeted for sensibly can lift dampened spirits. Charity shops can be good too, though set a cash limit!

WantToBeSE

I agree with determined new mrs- dont take your purse/wallet out with you.

I think not wasting money becomes almost like a habit. This time last year i could have easily spent £20 a day on rubbish that i didnt need, like sweets, lottery, wine, notebooks (my weakness)...but now i probably spend less than that a month on those things

katy_ann

Clothes are a massive problem for me, so I withdraw the cash I know I can spend and leave my card at home. If I dont have the cash I cant buy it x

Loopylou1

Chocolate
:EasterBun

mildredalien

Yep I often have the best intentions but spend on things I don't really need... clothes largely! I do a lot of online 'window shopping' - looking at things, filling my basket and then not ordering them hehe. It's nice to look at things I would buy if I have spare cash, but I mostly don't actually order anything.

Half the battle is taking responsibility for your spending though - you CAN help it! You are in control when your hand reaches into your purse and you hand money over It often just takes finding the right thing to say to yourself when you are tempted, whether it's thinking of what else you could afford with that money, why you don't actually need it, to think about it for a day and if you still want it buy it later etc. etc.