Need not Want.

minicooper272

I've had the worst weekend for wants and not needs. I bought some new DVDs, spent about £30 in body S on bits. I did buy a new pair of work trousers, and found a blazer I likes, but after spending so much in body S, I couldn't afford it as well. Had carry-out on Fri (OH is visiting) and we went to the cinema today.

Next week I will be re-doubling my efforts on all fronts. No unnecessary spends for the rest of this month! I need a new tax disc, and sandwich fillings. I'm going to keep an eye on flea bay for work clothes as well, but nothing over £5 for me!

Katzen

Sad times Mini! You do seem to be stuck in a bit of splurge/ guilt loop- have you thought at all about why that is? I know I spend when I'm bored and sometimes just because money is burning a hole in my pocket. I satisfied that urge this weekend with a trip to the wholesalers. Bought a lifetime supply of toilet paper and showergel, and managed to get DH to pay so even better!
Maybe it's like being on a diet, you know that feeling when you give up bad food and then it's all you can think about. Would it work if you set yourself a weekly or monthly allowance for 'wants', a bit like pocket money as a kid, then you know you can buy whatever you want but some things will need to be saved up for? Worth a try I reckon, would save you a fortune in guilt if nothing else

Katzen

Morning all.
Just wanted to share my latest big Need not Want decision-making I'm selling my car. Its just cost me £350 to get through its MOT and has cost me money every year so far. Was acceptable when I worked 50miles away but now I walk to work I can't justify the cost, I reckon its at least £1000pa to get it on the road, then petrol on top. The only reason its a hard decision is there will be some stuff I can't do whilst DH is at work in his car but I think I can overcome, and not paying £700+ this summer for tax and insurance would really help the savings! That's it, talked myself in to it, now just to do it!. Thanks for listening

The_Boss

Katzen wrote: »

Morning all.
Just wanted to share my latest big Need not Want decision-making I'm selling my car. Its just cost me £350 to get through its MOT and has cost me money every year so far. Was acceptable when I worked 50miles away but now I walk to work I can't justify the cost, I reckon its at least £1000pa to get it on the road, then petrol on top. The only reason its a hard decision is there will be some stuff I can't do whilst DH is at work in his car but I think I can overcome, and not paying £700+ this summer for tax and insurance would really help the savings! That's it, talked myself in to it, now just to do it!. Thanks for listening

It's a good idea if you don't need it plus encourages you to walk more than just for work. I am selling my car too later this year. We just don't need two cars and mine costs £450 in tax each year and drinks excessive amounts of petrol and oil. I've loved having it, but this summer is time to let go.

Skint_but_Optimistic

Ive found that stretching myself so far with the payments stops me from wanting too much, apart from three bottles of wine a week. I am attempting to do without so many things and funding at least 300 in overpayments every month.

I can see a time though,when I will just need to give in to a want. I dont want to feel bad about it but austerity like this is reminiscent of a religious order.

I am not buying toiletries until I have used up what we have at home, and I am going to go another de clutter, with luck it will generate some ebay listings.

minicooper272

Katzen wrote: »

Sad times Mini! You do seem to be stuck in a bit of splurge/ guilt loop- have you thought at all about why that is? I know I spend when I'm bored and sometimes just because money is burning a hole in my pocket. I satisfied that urge this weekend with a trip to the wholesalers. Bought a lifetime supply of toilet paper and showergel, and managed to get DH to pay so even better!
Maybe it's like being on a diet, you know that feeling when you give up bad food and then it's all you can think about. Would it work if you set yourself a weekly or monthly allowance for 'wants', a bit like pocket money as a kid, then you know you can buy whatever you want but some things will need to be saved up for? Worth a try I reckon, would save you a fortune in guilt if nothing else

I have been thinking that's quite possibly the case, as it's where I always used to go wrong with diets. I get over the guilt of it pretty quickly though. It's not all bad, as I think twice about a lot of things, and saved about £50/month the last 2 months (based on how much cash I have left at the end of the month), which can only have come from cutting out wants.

A budget wouldn't be a bad thing, but I just couldn't work out how much to budget!

The_Boss

I now need new earphones. Grr.

kerri_gt

Skint_but_Optimistic wrote: »

Ive found that stretching myself so far with the payments stops me from wanting too much, apart from three bottles of wine a week. I am attempting to do without so many things and funding at least 300 in overpayments every month.

I can see a time though,when I will just need to give in to a want. I dont want to feel bad about it but austerity like this is reminiscent of a religious order.

I am not buying toiletries until I have used up what we have at home, and I am going to go another de clutter, with luck it will generate some ebay listings.

There's nothing wrong with giving into a want if it's within your budget. Cutting back on little things makes that treat seem all the sweeter as well.

Not sure I agree with your quote about a religious order, no one is dictating what you need / want, that's entirely up to you - but its a good place for a sounding board, and since this is on the DFW board, it's reasonable to assume that we're all in debt and trying to pay things off to be debt free. The point about need not want is that by thinking about where we're putting our pennies, we may reach that DFD sooner - if indeed that's what you want.

FireWyrm

kerri_gt wrote: »

There's nothing wrong with giving into a want if it's within your budget. Cutting back on little things makes that treat seem all the sweeter as well.

Not sure I agree with your quote about a religious order, no one is dictating what you need / want, that's entirely up to you - but its a good place for a sounding board, and since this is on the DFW board, it's reasonable to assume that we're all in debt and trying to pay things off to be debt free. The point about need not want is that by thinking about where we're putting our pennies, we may reach that DFD sooner - if indeed that's what you want.

I think it's also about stopping to evaluate your purchases and establishing whether you truly do need whatever it is you are buying. We are all working to break a lifetime of habit and learned/conditioned behavior where we simply buy whatever we want regardless and dont ever stop to think about whether it is worth what we are paying or whether it was truly necessary. Ultimately, by breaking these habits, we get to the ultimate goal of being debt free, but also having the funds to pay for what we really want to buy as opposed to pure need. The purpose of this thread is to change thinking rather than imposing austerity and misery on ourselves.

Let the breaks off occasionally otherwise you end up in the law of diminishing returns. The only proviso should be that each purchase is truly and honestly evaluated before it is done.

Katzen

minicooper272 wrote: »

I have been thinking that's quite possibly the case, as it's where I always used to go wrong with diets. I get over the guilt of it pretty quickly though. It's not all bad, as I think twice about a lot of things, and saved about £50/month the last 2 months (based on how much cash I have left at the end of the month), which can only have come from cutting out wants.

A budget wouldn't be a bad thing, but I just couldn't work out how much to budget!

Hmmmm, hard to offer help there as I've no idea of your situation! Would suggest you pick a number to start with that would allow some fun things but not all. E.g. enough for a takeaway or DVD and wine each week but not a lot else, then if you want £30 of toiletries you have to deny yourself other treats and save up. I enjoy treats more when I've sacrificed for it first- think its the catholic genes!