A reformed ex frivolous spender

breathe81

Hi,

I got myself in debt by being frivolous. I learnt the error of ways but need to learn how to be more of a spend thrift than a spend a holic. I learnt of this forum. Does anyone have any advice

[Deleted User]

Yes only buy what you need, and not what you want ,pay cash for everything that you can, and plan your weekly menu around what you already have in the storecupboard. Buy essentials to top things up , works for me,well done on your lightbulb moment when you realise how much you have been wasting.
Nothing wrong in the occasional frivolity, its when its all the time it makes thing harder to cope with
My money is always divided like this

A. All bills owing get paid first

B Seperate purse with a set amount in for the month that.
's just for food and nothing else, and when its gone that's it until the next month.(its how most housewives had to cope before the advent of credit cards in the 1960s.Once your purse was empty then you just had to streeetch what you had left until next payday)

C. Always have a small amount of 'happy cash' for yourself to buy anything you fancy with it. At times when a bit brassic I would maybe only have enough left over to treat myself and the two children to a cream doughnut but that was our treat for the week

This way it means that OK you are being sensible but life is also about being silly at times ,and a doughnut isn't essential to life but something silly that you can enjoy

Good luck we have all been where you are
Cheers JackieO :):)

Rossy2692

JackieO wrote: »

Yes only buy what you need, and not what you want ,pay cash for everything that you can, and plan your weekly menu around what you already have in the storecupboard. Buy essentials to top things up , works for me,well done on your lightbulb moment when you realise how much you have been wasting.
Nothing wrong in the occasional frivolity, its when its all the time it makes thing harder to cope with
My money is always divided like this

A. All bills owing get paid first

B Seperate purse with a set amount in for the month that.
's just for food and nothing else, and when its gone that's it until the next month.(its how most housewives had to cope before the advent of credit cards in the 1960s.Once your purse was empty then you just had to streeetch what you had left until next payday)

C. Always have a small amount of 'happy cash' for yourself to buy anything you fancy with it. At times when a bit brassic I would maybe only have enough left over to treat myself and the two children to a cream doughnut but that was our treat for the week

This way it means that OK you are being sensible but life is also about being silly at times ,and a doughnut isn't essential to life but something silly that you can enjoy

Good luck we have all been where you are
Cheers JackieO :):)

Thanks so much for this!!! Great ideas!!! Will be applying these to my life ASAP! :j

hotcookie101

I always thought a spendthrift WAS a frivolous spender?

Main things I have done to curb my spending habits is to stop and think before I put the card in/press enter on the keyboard....
It doesn't always work, but has helped cut down.
Also-don't deny yourself everything-it's like being on a diet, if you are constantly starving, you will binge, if you are allowed a little treat now and again, you do better
Good luck

Butterfly_Brain

Always ask yourself do I need it or want it before buying something, if you don't need it don't buy it.

Decide on a weekly budget, with a little extra for a treat and meal plan for the week, some meal plan fortnightly or monthly, just do whatever feels right with you and that you are happy with, check what you already have then make a list and stick to it.

Only ever take cash when shopping, it helps to see how much you are actually spending.It is too easy to lose track when you use a card.

I would advise building up a little stock cupboard for emergencies such as unexpected bills or God forbid job loss though, create it around foods that you eat regularly and don't forget sundries such as washing powder, toilet rolls, deodorant toothpaste and shampoo etc
Also have a savings account so that you can have a little stash of cash to keep you going for at least three months.

Rossy2692

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Always ask yourself do I need it or want it before buying something, if you don't need it don't buy it.

Decide on a weekly budget, with a little extra for a treat and meal plan for the week, some meal plan fortnightly or monthly, just do whatever feels right with you and that you are happy with, check what you already have then make a list and stick to it.

Only ever take cash when shopping, it helps to see how much you are actually spending.It is too easy to lose track when you use a card.

I would advise building up a little stock cupboard for emergencies such as unexpected bills or God forbid job loss though, create it around foods that you eat regularly and don't forget sundries such as washing powder, toilet rolls, deodorant toothpaste and shampoo etc
Also have a savings account so that you can have a little stash of cash to keep you going for at least three months.

Thanks for this! :jFeel so much more positive after seeing this thread this morning so thanks to the OP for starting it! :j

LameWolf

Assuming you're paid monthly - when you get your pay, earmark the money for all the following month's known expenses - all the direct debits, standing orders, etc; and keep a running total of what you have available for use after this is done.

I use an Excel spreadsheet for this, as it does the sums for me.;)

What I also managed to do, when Mr LW had some overtime, was earmark the money a month ahead; that way, if we get a time when we get a load of unexpected expense (eg a large appliance breaks) we have a financial "cushion" so to speak.:o

j.e.j.

Just another tip/idea: these days I tend to buy clothes second hand. A lot of the stuff being sold is new or hardly worn, and if you're careful and shop around you can get some real bargains, either in charity shops or on EBay. The trouble is, I am now used to paying a fiver for a skirt, or a tenner for a jumper, and I balk at the idea of spending what items like this would 'normally' cost :eek::rotfl:

Gillybean103

If I feel like buying new clothes that I don't need, I go online and for me the best bit is 'adding to basket' so I add whatever I like but don't buy, may sound silly but I feel like I've been shopping

craigywv

gillybean.....i do that too , your not on your own there.

Gillybean103

I'm glad to hear its not just me